Sequential encoding for RFID tags
AssigneeImpinj, Inc.
InventorsDaniel Bowman, Kurt Sundstrom, Christopher Diorio
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments are directed to sequential encoding for RFID tags. An encoding line transports an RFID tag from the reading zone of a first reader to the reading zone of a second reader. The first reader communicates with the tag, writes a portion of an identifier to the tag, and sends a tag write status to the second reader. The second reader, situated after the first reader, communicates with the tag, receives the tag write status from the first reader, then determines a remaining portion of the identifier to be written to the tag based on the tag write status. The second reader then attempts to write the remaining portion to the tag. If the attempt fails, the second reader initiates an error-handling procedure.
Claims14
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system for sequentially encoding RFID tags, the system comprising:
- an encoding line;
- a first reader situated on the encoding line;
- and
- a second reader situated subsequent to the first reader on the encoding line, wherein:
- the first reader is configured to:
- communicate with a tag;
- at a first time, write a first portion of a code to a first tag memory location, wherein the code is at least one of a product code and an identifier;
- and
- send a first tag write status to the second reader based on whether the first portion was successfully or unsuccessfully written to the tag;
- the encoding line is configured to transport the tag from a reading zone of the first reader to a reading zone of the second reader;
- and
- the second reader is configured to, subsequent to the first time:
- communicate with the tag;
- receive the first tag write status from the first reader;
- determine, based on the first tag write status, that the first portion was successfully written to the tag;
- attempt to write a second portion of the code, different from the first portion, to a second tag memory location, different from the first tag memory location, such that the first and second portions, when appended, form at least part of the code;
- and
- initiate an error-handling procedure in response to determining that the attempt to write the second portion failed.
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system for sequential encoding of RFID tags, the system comprising:
- an encoding line;
- first, second, and third readers situated on the encoding line, wherein the second reader is situated subsequent to the first reader and the third reader is situated subsequent to the second reader, wherein:
- the first reader is configured to:
- communicate with a tag;
- at a first time, attempt to write a first portion of a code to a first tag memory location, wherein the code is at least one of a product code and an identifier;
- and
- send a first tag write status to the second reader based on whether the first portion was successfully or unsuccessfully written to the tag;
- the encoding line is configured to transport the tag from a reading zone of the first reader to a reading zone of the second reader;
- the second reader is configured to, subsequent to the first time:
- communicate with the tag;
- receive the first tag write status from the first reader;
- determine, based on the first tag write status, that the first portion was not successfully written to the tag;
- attempt to one of:
- again write the first portion to the first tag memory location;
- and
- write a second portion of the code, different from the first portion, to a second tag memory location, different from the first tag memory location;
- and
- send a second tag write status to the third reader based on whether its write attempt succeeded;
- the encoding line is configured to transport the tag from the reading zone of the second reader to a reading zone of the third reader;
- the third reader is configured to:
- communicate with the tag;
- receive at least one of the first and second tag write statuses;
- write the portion of the code not written by the second reader, such that the first and second portions, when appended, form at least part of the code;
- and
- initiate an error-handling procedure in response to determining that at least one of the attempts failed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.