Intelligent station using multiple RF antennae and inventory control system and method incorporating same

Abstract

An inventory control system and method that tracks inventories of items with RFID tags, includes a reader unit and an intelligent station that tracks RFID tags to determine item information of items to be inventoried. The reader unit transmits and receives RF signals. The intelligent station includes a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch, and one or more additional RF antennae connected to the reader unit by the same first transmission cable through additional switches. An inventory control processing unit receives item information from the intelligent stations to update inventory information regarding the items to be inventoried.

1 - 96 . (canceled)  
     
     
         97 . A system for detecting RFID tags comprising: 
 a reader unit that transmits or receives an RF signal; and    a first intelligent station comprising: 
 a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch; and  
 at least a second RF antenna connected to the reader unit by the first transmission cable through at least a second switch,  
 wherein the first switch and the at least a second switch receive control signals via the first transmission cable.  
   
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the RFID tags comprise one or more of the group consisting of: active tags, semi-active tags, passive tags, low frequency tags, high frequency tags, and ultra high frequency tags.  
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the RFID reader and RFID tags communicate using one or more of the group consisting of: load modulation, back scatter modulation, amplitude shift keying, frequency shift keying, and phase shift keying.  
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the control signals comprise one or more of the group consisting of: switch control commands, switch control query commands, sensor control commands, sensor data signals, peripheral device control commands, peripheral device data signals, controller communications, secondary controller communications.  
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the intelligent station receives DC power through the first transmission cable.  
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the intelligent station detects the presence of a stocking RFID tag or a pushbutton or keyed input sequence, alerts the intelligent station that the shelf is completely stocked, and sends a message to a database which indicates that a current stock level is full or at a target level.  
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the intelligent station detects the presence of a customer RFID tag, the customer RFID tag being placed on a shelf where a desired item is in an out-of-stock condition, 
 wherein the detection of the customer RFID tag results in one or more actions selected from the group consisting of: alerting a customer of the condition, generating a rain check, discounting a price of the item when it is in a subsequent in-stock condition, and providing information about the item.    
     
     
         104 . The system of  claim 103 , wherein the information is selected from the group consisting of: being in a stock room, at another store, and on order.  
     
     
         105 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the first transmission cable carries signals with superimposed data other than the RF signals.  
     
     
         106 . The system of  claim 105 , wherein the first transmission cable carries a modulated DC signal with DC offset voltage used for data and control communications.  
     
     
         107 . The system of  claim 105 , wherein the first transmission cable carries a modulated DC signal without DC offset voltage for data and control communications.  
     
     
         108 . The system of  claim 105 , wherein the first transmission cable carries a data or control signal at a frequency different than the RF signal.  
     
     
         109 . The system of  claim 105 , wherein the first transmission cable carries a data or a control signal utilizing load modulation or back scatter modulation.  
     
     
         110 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein a polling scheme is utilized to determine the order in which the RF antennae are interrogated.  
     
     
         111 . The system of  claim 110 , wherein the polling scheme is sequential.  
     
     
         112 . The system of  claim 110 , wherein the polling scheme is altered based on external events from sensors.  
     
     
         113 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein each of the first switch and the at least a second switch is uniquely addressable.  
     
     
         114 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein each of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna is uniquely addressable.  
     
     
         115 . The system of  claim 97 , further comprising a tuning adjustment system that automatically performs electronic adjustments of variable tuning components based on feedback information from the first RF antenna or the at least a second RF antenna.  
     
     
         116 . The system of  claim 115 , wherein the variable tuning components comprise one or more voltage controlled capacitors.  
     
     
         117 . The system of  claim 115 , wherein the variable tuning components comprises a switched capacitor bank.  
     
     
         118 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the intelligent station further comprises signal processing circuits to perform at least a part of the signal processing performed by the reader unit.  
     
     
         119 . The system of  claim 97 , further comprising at least one RF amplifier device to amplify the RFID signals.  
     
     
         120 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein a common tuning circuit is used for the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna.  
     
     
         121 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the first transmission cable comprises an RF cable, and wherein a bypass switch is provided between the RF cable and an intelligent station to either allow an RF signal to enter the intelligent station, or to prevent an RF signal from entering the intelligent station.  
     
     
         122 . The system of  claim 97 , further comprising: 
 an inline switch,    wherein the first transmission cable comprises an RF cable, and    wherein the inline switch is configured to either allow the RF signal to continue along the RF cable past an intelligent station or to prevent the RF signal from continuing along the RF cable.    
     
     
         123 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are each associated with a selector switch and are connected in a series arrangement.  
     
     
         124 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are each associated with a selector switch and are connected in a parallel-series arrangement.  
     
     
         125 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the intelligent station is connected to or contained within an object from the group consisting of: a shelf, a closed receptacle, a storage volume, a room, a closet, a cabinet, a cupboard, a refrigerator, a freezer, a pegboard, a clothing rack, a trailer, a warehouse, a pallet, a counter, an enclosure, a rack, a door, a doorway, a portal, a floor, a floor mat, a ceiling, and a wall.  
     
     
         126 . The system of  claim 97 , further comprising a controller.  
     
     
         127 . The system of  claim 126 , wherein the controller controls the reader unit.  
     
     
         128 . The system of  claim 127 , wherein the controller determines the number of antennae contained within the system.  
     
     
         129 . The system of  claim 127 , wherein the controller unit is operatively connected to the first switch and the at least a second switch, the controller unit generating a control signal that selectively operates the first switch and the at least a second switch.  
     
     
         130 . The system of  claim 127 , wherein signals from the controller unit are routed to distributed secondary control units that in turn operate the first switch and the at least a second switch.  
     
     
         131 . The system of  claim 130 , wherein signals from the controller unit to distributed secondary control units include address information to determine which switches are selected.  
     
     
         132 . The system of  claim 97 , further comprising one or more passive antennae associated with one or more of the first RF antenna and at least a second RF antenna such that the passive antennae are powered through inductive coupling by the associated RF antennae when the associated RF antennae are powered.  
     
     
         133 . The system of  claim 97 , further comprising: 
 a data store; and    an inventory control processing unit connected to the data store, the inventory control processing unit receiving item information from the intelligent station to update inventory information regarding the items to be inventoried.    
     
     
         134 . The system of  claim 133 , wherein the intelligent station is provided with locking devices for access control, the locking devices controlled by the inventory control processing unit.  
     
     
         135 . The system of  claim 133 , wherein the intelligent station further comprises a plug-in bar code scanner to scan bar codes and provide bar coded item information that is correlated and stored with item information from the RFID tags.  
     
     
         136 . The system of  claim 97 , further comprising a shelf, wherein the antennae are incorporated into decorative laminate materials associated with the shelf.  
     
     
         137 . The system of  claim 136 , wherein the laminate materials containing antennae are applied to one face of a corrugated paperboard core to form the shelf or a panel for the shelf.  
     
     
         138 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein at least two of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are energized at the same time.  
     
     
         139 . The system of  claim 138 , wherein at least two of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are operated in phase with each other.  
     
     
         140 . The system of  claim 138 , wherein at least two of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are operated with a phase shift between them.  
     
     
         141 . The system of  claim 140 , further comprising: 
 respective RF cables for each of the at least two antennae,    wherein each respective RF cable has a different length, and    wherein the different RF cable lengths cause the phase shift.    
     
     
         142 . The system of  claim 140 , further comprising: 
 a two-way 90 degree power splitter,    wherein the phase shift is created through the use of the two-way 90 degree power splitter.    
     
     
         143 . The system of  claim 97 , further comprising a peripheral device other than an antenna.  
     
     
         144 . The system of  claim 143 , wherein the peripheral device is selected from the group consisting of: a computer terminal, a display device, a modem, an audio output device, a bar code reader, a temperature sensor, a shelf-edge price label, a keypad, and a locking device for enclosed or tethered merchandise.  
     
     
         145 . The system of  claim 143 , wherein the system interrogates each RF antenna according to a polling scheme.  
     
     
         146 . The system of  claim 143 , wherein the peripheral device comprises a proximity sensor.  
     
     
         147 . The system of  claim 146 , wherein the proximity sensor is used for controlling antenna selection.  
     
     
         148 . The system of  claim 146 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises an infrared sensor or a capacitive sensor.  
     
     
         149 . The system of  claim 146 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises one of visible light sensors or infrared light sensors.  
     
     
         150 . The system of  claim 146 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises a camera.  
     
     
         151 . The system of  claim 146 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises a proximity type sensor that can detect the movement of tags or the presence of a shopper.  
     
     
         152 . The system of  claim 151 , wherein the proximity type sensor is a Hall effect sensor.  
     
     
         153 . The system of  claim 146 , wherein the reading frequency of the shelf unit increases based on feedback from the proximity sensor  
     
     
         154 . The system of  claim 146 , wherein the polling scheme is altered in response to proximity sensor measurements.  
     
     
         155 . The system of  claim 146 , wherein the intelligent station performs an action in response to the proximity sensor detecting the presence or movement of a person or object.  
     
     
         156 . The system of  claim 155 , wherein the action is selected from the group consisting of determining item information and activating auxiliary displays.  
     
     
         157 . The system of  claim 143 , wherein the peripheral device allows a user to enter a pushbutton or keyed input sequence.  
     
     
         158 . The system of  claim 143 , wherein the peripheral device comprises visual or audible indicators on the shelf that are activated to direct a customer toward the desired items.  
     
     
         159 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein at least one antenna not being interrogated alter their tuning, the altering causing the at least one antenna not being interrogated to be substantially non-resonant at a frequency of the RF signal.  
     
     
         160 . The system of  claim 159 , wherein the at least one antenna not being interrogated is altered to be substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal by shunting a tuning capacitor.  
     
     
         161 . The system of  claim 160 , wherein the shunting is performed by a component selected from one or more of the group consisting of: a FET, a MESFET, and a PIN diode.  
     
     
         162 . The system of  claim 159 , wherein the at least one RF antenna not being interrogated is altered to be substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal by a switching element in the tuning circuit.  
     
     
         163 . The system of  claim 162 , wherein the switching element is selected from one or more of the group consisting of: a FET, a MESFET, and a PIN diode.  
     
     
         164 . The system of  claim 162 , wherein the switching element can couple and decouple a capacitor within a capacitor bank.  
     
     
         165 . The system of  claim 159 , wherein the at least one antenna not being interrogated is altered to be substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal by one or more varactors.  
     
     
         166 . The system of  claim 159 , wherein: 
 the at least one antenna not being interrogated is substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal; and    an antenna being interrogated is put into a substantially tuned state.    
     
     
         167 . The system of  claim 166 , wherein each antenna being interrogated is substantially tuned using one or more of the group consisting of: a FET, a MESFET, a PIN diode, or a varactor.  
     
     
         168 . The system of  claim 166 , wherein each antenna being interrogated is substantially tuned through a coupling or decoupling of a capacitor within a capacitor bank.  
     
     
         169 . The system of  claim 159 , wherein the tuning of the at least one RFID antennae adjacent to an RFID antenna under interrogation is altered.  
     
     
         170 . The system of  claim 169 , wherein: 
 a self-test RFID tag is placed within range of the at least two RFID antennae,    the system detects the self-test RFID tags within adjacent RF antennae,    and the system determines which RF antennae are adjacent.    
     
     
         171 . The system of  claim 169 , wherein the system determines which RF antennae are adjacent to each other by detecting RFID tags that are read by more than one RF antenna.  
     
     
         172 . The system of  claim 171 , wherein RF power delivered to the antennae is increased above a normal operating level to increase a chance of reading the RFID tags on adjacent antennae.  
     
     
         173 . The system of  claim 169 , wherein the adjacent antennae are predetermined.  
     
     
         174 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein: 
 a self-test RFID tag is placed within range of each of the at least two RF antennae;    the system detects the self-test RFID tags; and    the system determines which other RF antenna are adjacent based on the detecting.    
     
     
         175 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the system determines which RF antennae are adjacent to each other by detecting RFID tags that are read by more than one RF antenna.  
     
     
         176 . The system of  claim 175 , wherein RF power delivered to the antennae is increased above a normal operating level to increase a chance of reading the RFID tags on adjacent antennae.  
     
     
         177 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein GPS information related to the location of each antenna is used to determine which RF antennae are adjacent.  
     
     
         178 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein a test determines how much RF power must be delivered to each connected RF antenna to deliver the desired power level.  
     
     
         179 . The system of  claim 178 , wherein a power detect sensor measures the RF power level delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         180 . The system of  claim 178 , wherein at least one self test RFID tag is used to determine the desired RF power that needs to be delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         181 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the desired power level for each RF antenna is determined based on an antenna type.  
     
     
         182 . The system of  claim 181 , wherein a power detect sensor measures the RF power level delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         183 . The system of  claim 181 , wherein at least one self test RFID tag is used to determine the desired RF power that needs to be delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         184 . The system of  claim 97 , further comprising an environmental sensor.  
     
     
         185 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the environmental sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, and a weight sensor.  
     
     
         186 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein an environmental condition is recorded with the RFID tags located on an intelligent station during an interrogation.  
     
     
         187 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein the system provides a warning if an environmental condition is out of a specified limit for specific products located on an intelligent station.  
     
     
         188 . The system of  claim 184 , wherein a polling scheme is utilized to determine an order in which the RF antennae are interrogated.  
     
     
         189 . The system of  claim 188 , wherein the polling scheme is sequential.  
     
     
         190 . The system of  claim 188 , wherein the polling scheme is event driven.  
     
     
         191 . The system of  claim 188 , wherein the polling scheme is determined by the system.  
     
     
         192 . The system of  claim 188 , wherein the polling scheme is altered in response to the environmental sensor measurements.  
     
     
         193 . A system for detecting RFID tags comprising: 
 a reader unit that transmits or receives an RF signal; and    a first intelligent station comprising: 
 a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch; and  
 at least a second RF antenna connected to the reader unit by the first transmission cable through at least a second switch,  
 wherein the first switch and the at least a second switch receive control signals via a wireless communications channel.  
   
     
     
         194 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the RFID tags comprise one or more of the group consisting of: active tags, semi-active tags, passive tags, low frequency tags, high frequency tags, and ultra high frequency tags.  
     
     
         195 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the RFID reader and RFID tags communicate using one or more of the group consisting of: load modulation, back scatter modulation, amplitude shift keying, frequency shift keying, and phase shift keying.  
     
     
         196 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the control signals comprise one or more of the following: switch control commands, switch control query commands, sensor control commands, sensor data signals, peripheral device control commands, peripheral device data signals, controller communications, secondary controller communications.  
     
     
         197 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the intelligent station detects the presence of a tag or a pushbutton or keyed input sequence, alerts the intelligent station that the shelf is completely stocked, and sends a message to a database which indicates that a current stock level is full or at a target level.  
     
     
         198 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the intelligent station detects the presence of a customer RFID tag, the customer RFID tag being placed on a shelf where a desired item is in an out-of-stock condition, 
 wherein the detection of the customer RFID tag results in one or more actions selected from the group consisting of: alerting a customer of the condition, generating a rain check, discounting a price of the item when it is in a subsequent in-stock condition, and providing information about the item.    
     
     
         199 . The system of  claim 198 , wherein the information is selected from the group consisting of: being in a stock room, at another store, and on order.  
     
     
         200 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein a polling scheme is utilized to determine the order in which the RF antenna are interrogated.  
     
     
         201 . The system of  claim 200 , wherein the polling scheme is sequential.  
     
     
         202 . The system of  claim 200 , wherein the polling scheme is altered based on external events from sensors.  
     
     
         203 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein each of the first switch and the at least a second switch is uniquely addressable.  
     
     
         204 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein each of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna is uniquely addressable.  
     
     
         205 . The system of  claim 193 , further comprising a tuning adjustment system that automatically performs electronic adjustments of variable tuning components based on feedback information from the first RF antenna or the at least a second RF antenna.  
     
     
         206 . The system of  claim 205 , wherein the variable tuning components comprise one or more voltage controlled capacitors.  
     
     
         207 . The system of  claim 205 , wherein the variable tuning components comprises a switched capacitor bank.  
     
     
         208 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the intelligent station internally contain signal processing circuits to perform at least a part of the signal processing otherwise performed by the reader unit.  
     
     
         209 . The system of  claim 193 , comprising at least one RF amplifier device to amplify the RFID signals.  
     
     
         210 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein a common tuning circuit is used for the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna.  
     
     
         211 . The system of  claim 193 , further comprising: 
 an inline switch,    wherein the first transmission cable comprises an RF cable, and    wherein the inline switch is configured to either allow the RF signal to continue along the RF cable past an intelligent station or to prevent the RF signal-from continuing along the RF cable.    
     
     
         212 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the first transmission cable comprises and RF cable, and wherein an inline switch is provided to either allow the RF signal to continue along the RF cable or to prevent the RF signal from entering the intelligent station.  
     
     
         213 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are each associated with a selector switch and are connected in a series arrangement.  
     
     
         214 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are each associated with a selector switch and are connected in a parallel-series arrangement.  
     
     
         215 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the intelligent station is connected to or contained within an object from the group consisting of: a shelf, a closed receptacle, a storage volume, a room, a closet, a cabinet, a cupboard, a refrigerator, a freezer, a pegboard, a clothing rack, a trailer, a warehouse, a pallet, a counter, an enclosure, a rack, a door, a doorway, a portal, a floor, a floor mat, a ceiling, and a wall.  
     
     
         216 . The system of  claim 193 , further comprising a controller.  
     
     
         217 . The system of  claim 216 , wherein the controller controls the reader unit.  
     
     
         218 . The system of  claim 217 , wherein the controller determines the number of antennae contained within the system.  
     
     
         219 . The system of  claim 217 , wherein the controller unit is operatively connected to the first switch and the at least a second switch, the controller unit generating a control signal that selectively operates the first switch and the at least a second switch.  
     
     
         220 . The system of  claim 217 , wherein signals from the controller unit are routed to distributed secondary control units that in turn operate the first switch and the at least a second switch.  
     
     
         221 . The system of  claim 220 , wherein signals from the control unit to distributed secondary control units include address information to determine which switches are selected.  
     
     
         222 . The system of  claim 193 , further comprising one or more passive antennae associated with one or more of the first RF antenna and at least a second RF antenna such that the passive antennae are powered through inductive coupling by the associated RF antennae when the associated RF antennae are powered.  
     
     
         223 . The system of  claim 193 , further comprising: 
 a data store; and    an inventory control processing unit connected to the data store, the inventory control processing unit receiving item information from the intelligent station to update inventory information regarding the items to be inventoried.    
     
     
         224 . The system of  claim 223 , wherein the intelligent station is provided with locking devices for access control, the locking devices controlled by the inventory control processing unit.  
     
     
         225 . The system of  claim 223 , wherein the intelligent station further comprises: a plug-in bar code scanner to scan bar codes and provide bar coded item information that is correlated and stored with item information from the RFID tags.  
     
     
         226 . The system of  claim 193 , further comprising a shelf, wherein the antennae are incorporated into decorative laminate materials associated with the shelf.  
     
     
         227 . The system of  claim 226 , wherein the laminate materials containing antennae are applied to one face of a corrugated paperboard core to form the shelf or a panel for the shelf.  
     
     
         228 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein at least two of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are energized at the same time.  
     
     
         229 . The system of  claim 228 , wherein at least two of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are operated in phase with each other.  
     
     
         230 . The system of  claim 228 , wherein at least two of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are operated with a phase shift between them.  
     
     
         231 . The system of  claim 230 , further comprising: 
 respective RF cables for each of the at least two antennae,    wherein each respective RF cable has a different length, and    wherein the different RF cable lengths cause the phase shift.    
     
     
         232 . The system of  claim 230 , further comprising: 
 a two-way 90 degree power splitter,    wherein the phase shift is created through the use of the two-way 90 degree power splitter.    
     
     
         233 . The system of  claim 193 , further comprising a peripheral device other than an antenna.  
     
     
         234 . The system of  claim 233 , wherein the peripheral device is selected from the group consisting of: a computer terminal, a display device, a modem, an audio output device, a bar code reader, a temperature sensor, a shelf-edge price label, a keypad, and a locking device for enclosed or tethered merchandise.  
     
     
         235 . The system of  claim 233 , wherein the system interrogates each RF antenna according to a polling scheme.  
     
     
         236 . The system of  claim 233 , wherein the peripheral device comprises a proximity sensor.  
     
     
         237 . The system of  claim 236 , wherein the proximity sensor is used for controlling antenna selection.  
     
     
         238 . The system of  claim 236 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises an infrared sensor or a capacitive sensor.  
     
     
         239 . The system of  claim 236 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises one of: 
 visible light sensors or infrared light sensors.    
     
     
         240 . The system of  claim 236 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises a camera.  
     
     
         241 . The system of  claim 236 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises a proximity type sensor that can detect the movement of tags or the presence of a shopper.  
     
     
         242 . The system of  claim 241 , wherein the proximity type sensor is a Hall effect sensor.  
     
     
         243 . The system of  claim 236 , wherein a reading frequency of the shelf unit increases based on feedback from the proximity sensor.  
     
     
         244 . The system of  claim 236 , wherein the polling scheme is altered in response to proximity sensor measurements.  
     
     
         245 . The system of  claim 236 , wherein the intelligent station performs an action in response to the proximity sensor detecting the presence or movement of a person or object.  
     
     
         246 . The system of  claim 245 , wherein the action is selected from the group consisting of determining item information and activating auxiliary displays.  
     
     
         247 . The system of  claim 233 , wherein the peripheral device allows a user to enter a pushbutton or keyed input sequence.  
     
     
         248 . The system of  claim 233 , wherein the peripheral device comprises visual or audible indicators on the shelf that are activated to direct a customer toward the desired items.  
     
     
         249 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein at least one antenna not being interrogated alter their tuning, the altering causing the at least one antenna not being interrogated to be substantially non-resonant at a frequency of the RF signal.  
     
     
         250 . The system of  claim 249 , wherein the at least one antenna not being interrogated is altered to be substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal by shunting a tuning capacitor.  
     
     
         251 . The system of  claim 250 , wherein the shunting is performed by a component selected from one or more of the group consisting of: a FET, a MESFET, and a PIN diode.  
     
     
         252 . The system of  claim 249 , wherein the at least one RF antenna not being interrogated is altered to be substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal by a switching element in the tuning circuit.  
     
     
         253 . The system of  claim 252 , wherein the switching element is selected from one or more of the group consisting of: a FET, a MESFET, and a PIN diode.  
     
     
         254 . The system of  claim 252 , wherein the switching element can couple and decouple a capacitor within a capacitor bank.  
     
     
         255 . The system of  claim 249 , wherein the at least one antenna not being interrogated is altered to be substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal by one or more varactors.  
     
     
         256 . The system of  claim 249 , wherein: 
 the at least one antenna not being interrogated is substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal; and    an antenna being interrogated is put into a substantially tuned state.    
     
     
         257 . The system of  claim 256 , wherein each antenna being interrogated is substantially tuned using one or more of the group consisting of: a FET, a MESFET, a: 
 PIN diode, or a varactor.    
     
     
         258 . The system of  claim 256 , wherein each antenna being interrogated is substantially tuned through a coupling or decoupling of a capacitor within a capacitor bank.  
     
     
         259 . The system of  claim 249 , wherein the tuning of the at least one RFID antennae adjacent to an RFID antenna under interrogation is altered.  
     
     
         260 . The system of  claim 259 , wherein: 
 a self-test RFID tag is placed within range of the at least two RFID antennae,    the system detects the self-test RFID tags within adjacent RF antenna,    and the system determines which RF antennae are adjacent.    
     
     
         261 . The system of  claim 259 , wherein the system determines which RF antennae are adjacent to each other by detecting RFID tags that are read by more than one RF antenna.  
     
     
         262 . The system of  claim 261 , wherein RF power delivered to the antennae is increased above a normal operating level to increase a chance of reading the RFID tags on adjacent antennae.  
     
     
         263 . The system of  claim 259 , wherein which of the antennae are adjacent is predetermined.  
     
     
         264 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein: 
 a self-test RFID tag is placed within range of each of the at least two RF antennae;    the system detects the self-test RFID tags; and    the system determines which other RF antenna are adjacent based on the detecting.    
     
     
         265 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the system determines which RF antennae are adjacent to each other by detecting RFID tags that are read by more than one RF antenna.  
     
     
         266 . The system of  claim 265 , wherein RF power delivered to the antennae is increased above a normal operating level to increase a chance of reading the RFID tags on adjacent antennae.  
     
     
         267 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein GPS information related to the location of each antenna is used to determine which RF antennae are adjacent.  
     
     
         268 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein a test determines how much RF power must be delivered to each connected RF antenna to deliver the desired power level.  
     
     
         269 . The system of  claim 268 , wherein a power detect sensor measures the RF power level delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         270 . The system of  claim 268 , wherein at least one self test RFID tag is used to determine the desired RF power that needs to be delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         271 . The system of  claim 193 , wherein the desired power level for each RF antenna is determined based on an antenna type.  
     
     
         272 . The system of  claim 271 , wherein a power detect sensor measures the RF power level delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         273 . The system of  claim 271 , wherein at least one self test RFID tag is used to determine the desired RF power that needs to be delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         274 . The system of  claim 193 , further comprising an environmental sensor.  
     
     
         275 . The system of  claim 274 , wherein the environmental sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, and a weight sensor.  
     
     
         276 . The system of  claim 274 , wherein an environmental condition is recorded with the RFID tags located on an intelligent station during an interrogation.  
     
     
         277 . The system of  claim 274 , wherein the system provides a warning if an environmental condition is out of a specified limit for specific products located on an intelligent station.  
     
     
         278 . The system of  claim 274 , wherein a polling scheme is utilized to determine an order in which the RF antenna are interrogated.  
     
     
         279 . The system of  claim 278 , wherein the polling scheme is sequential.  
     
     
         280 . The system of  claim 278 , wherein the polling scheme is event driven.  
     
     
         281 . The system of  claim 278 , wherein the polling scheme is determined by the system.  
     
     
         282 . The system of  claim 278 , wherein the polling scheme is altered in response to the environmental sensor measurements.  
     
     
         283 . A system for detecting RFID tags comprising: 
 a reader unit that transmits or receives an RF signal; and    a first intelligent station comprising: 
 a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch; and  
 at least a second RF antenna connected to the reader unit by the first transmission cable through at least a second switch,  
 wherein the first switch and the at least a second switch receive control signals via a common control channel.  
 The system of  claim 283 , wherein the system is composed of an additional intelligent station comprising:  
 a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch; and  
 at least a second RF antenna connected to the reader unit by the first transmission cable through at least a second switch,  
 wherein the first switch and the at least a second switch receive control signals via the common control channel.  
   
     
     
         284 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the common control channel is wireless.  
     
     
         285 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the RFID tags comprise one or more of the group consisting of: active tags, semi-active tags, passive tags, low frequency tags, high frequency tags, and ultra high frequency tags.  
     
     
         286 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the RFID reader and RFID tags communicate using one or more of the group consisting of: load modulation, back scatter modulation, amplitude shift keying, frequency shift keying, and phase shift keying.  
     
     
         287 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the control signals comprise one or more of the following: switch control commands, switch control query commands, sensor control commands, sensor data signals, peripheral device control commands, peripheral device data signals, controller communications, secondary controller communications.  
     
     
         288 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the common control channel comprises one of: an Ethernet connection, an RS-485 connection, or an RS-232 connection.  
     
     
         289 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the common control channel is wireless.  
     
     
         290 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the intelligent station detects the presence of a stocking RFID tag or a pushbutton or keyed input sequence, to alert the system that the shelf is stocked completely and the database is made aware that the current stock level is the full or target level.  
     
     
         291 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the intelligent station detects the presence of a customer RFID tag, the customer RFID tag being placed on a shelf where a desired item is in an out-of-stock condition, 
 wherein the detection of the customer RFID tag results in one or more actions selected from the group consisting of: alerting a customer of the condition, generating a rain check, discounting a price of the item when it is in a subsequent in-stock condition, and providing information about the item.    
     
     
         292 . The system of  claim 291 , wherein the information is selected from the group consisting of: being in a stock room, at another store, and on order.  
     
     
         293 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the intelligent station receives DC power through the common control channel.  
     
     
         294 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the intelligent station receives DC power through the first transmission cable.  
     
     
         295 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein a polling scheme is utilized to determine the order in which the RF antenna are interrogated.  
     
     
         296 . The system of  claim 295 , wherein the polling scheme is sequential.  
     
     
         297 . The system of  claim 295 , wherein the polling scheme is altered based on external events from sensors.  
     
     
         298 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein each of the first switch, and the at least a second switch is uniquely addressable.  
     
     
         299 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein each of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna is uniquely addressable.  
     
     
         300 . The system of  claim 283 , further comprising a tuning adjustment system that automatically performs electronic adjustments of variable tuning components based on feedback information from the first RF antenna or the at least a second RF antenna.  
     
     
         301 . The system of  claim 300 , wherein the variable tuning components comprise one or more voltage controlled capacitors.  
     
     
         302 . The system of  claim 300 , wherein the variable tuning components comprises a switched capacitor bank.  
     
     
         303 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the intelligent station internally contains signal processing circuits to perform at least a part of the signal processing otherwise performed by the reader unit.  
     
     
         304 . The system of  claim 283 , comprising at least one RF amplifier device to amplify the RFID signals.  
     
     
         305 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the first transmission cable comprises an RF cable, and wherein a bypass switch is provided between the RF cable and an intelligent station to either allow an RF signal to enter the intelligent station, or to prevent an RF signal from entering the intelligent station.  
     
     
         306 . The system of  claim 283 , further comprising: 
 an inline switch,    wherein the first transmission cable comprises an RF cable, and    wherein the inline switch is configured to either allow the RF signal to continue along the RF cable past an intelligent station or to prevent the RF signal from continuing along the RF cable.    
     
     
         307 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein a common tuning circuit is used for the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna.  
     
     
         308 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are each associated with a selector switch and are connected in a series arrangement.  
     
     
         309 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are each associated with a selector switch and are connected in a parallel-series arrangement.  
     
     
         310 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the intelligent station is connected to or contained within an object from the group consisting of: a shelf, a closed receptacle, a storage volume, a room, a closet, a cabinet, a cupboard, a refrigerator, a freezer, a pegboard, a clothing rack, a trailer, a warehouse, a pallet, a counter, an enclosure, a rack, a door, a doorway, a portal, a floor, a floor mat, a ceiling, and a wall.  
     
     
         311 . The system of  claim 283 , further comprising a controller.  
     
     
         312 . The system of  claim 311 , wherein the controller controls the reader unit.  
     
     
         313 . The system of  claim 312 , wherein the controller determines the number of antennae contained within the system.  
     
     
         314 . The system of  claim 312 , wherein the controller unit is operatively connected to the first switch and the at least a second switch, the controller unit generating a control signal that selectively operates the first switch and the at least a second switch.  
     
     
         315 . The system of  claim 312 , wherein signals from the controller unit are routed to distributed secondary control units that in turn operate the first switch and the at least a second switch.  
     
     
         316 . The system of  claim 315 , wherein signals from the control unit to distributed secondary control units include address information to determine which switches are selected.  
     
     
         317 . The system of  claim 283 , further comprising one or more passive antennae associated with one or more of the first RF antenna and at least a second RF antenna such that the passive antennae are powered through inductive coupling by the associated RF antennae when the associated RF antennae are powered.  
     
     
         318 . The system of  claim 283 , further comprising: 
 a data store; and    an inventory control processing unit connected to the data store, the inventory control processing unit receiving item information from the intelligent station to update inventory information regarding the items to be inventoried.    
     
     
         319 . The system of  claim 318 , wherein the intelligent station is provided with locking devices for access control, the locking devices controlled by the inventory control processing unit.  
     
     
         320 . The system of  claim 318 , wherein the intelligent station further comprises: a plug-in bar code scanner to scan bar codes and provide bar coded item information that is correlated and stored with item information from the RFID tags.  
     
     
         321 . The system of  claim 283 , further comprising a shelf, wherein the antennae are incorporated into decorative laminate materials associated with the shelf.  
     
     
         322 . The system of  claim 321 , wherein the laminate materials containing antennae are applied to one face of a corrugated paperboard core to form the shelf or a panel for the shelf.  
     
     
         323 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein at least two of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are energized at the same time.  
     
     
         324 . The system of  claim 323 , wherein at least two of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are operated in phase with each other.  
     
     
         325 . The system of  claim 323 , wherein at least two of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are operated with a phase shift between them.  
     
     
         326 . The system of  claim 325 , further comprising: 
 respective RF cables for each of the at least two antennae,    wherein each respective RF cable has a different length, and    wherein the different RF cable lengths cause the phase shift.    
     
     
         327 . The system of  claim 325 , further comprising: 
 a two-way 90 degree power splitter,    wherein the phase shift is created through the use of the two-way 90 degree power splitter.    
     
     
         328 . The system of  claim 283 , further comprising a peripheral device other than an antenna.  
     
     
         329 . The system of  claim 328 , wherein the peripheral device is selected from the group consisting of: a computer terminal, a display device, a modem, an audio output device, a bar code reader, a temperature sensor, a shelf-edge price label, a keypad, and a locking device for enclosed or tethered merchandise.  
     
     
         330 . The system of  claim 328 , wherein the system interrogates each RF antenna according to a polling scheme.  
     
     
         331 . The system of  claim 328 , wherein the peripheral device comprises a proximity sensor.  
     
     
         332 . The system of  claim 331 , wherein the proximity sensor is used for controlling antenna selection.  
     
     
         333 . The system of  claim 331 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises an infrared sensor or a capacitive sensor.  
     
     
         334 . The system of  claim 331 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises one of: visible light sensors or infrared light sensors.  
     
     
         335 . The system of  claim 331 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises a camera.  
     
     
         336 . The system of  claim 331 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises proximity type sensor that can detect the movement of tags or the presence of a shopper.  
     
     
         337 . The system of  claim 336 , wherein the proximity type sensor is a Hall effect sensor.  
     
     
         338 . The system of  claim 331 , wherein a reading frequency of the shelf unit increases based on feedback from the proximity sensor.  
     
     
         339 . The system of  claim 236 , wherein the polling scheme is altered in response to proximity sensor measurements.  
     
     
         340 . The system of  claim 331 , wherein the intelligent station performs an action in response to the proximity sensor detecting the presence or movement of a person or object.  
     
     
         341 . The system of  claim 340 , wherein the action is selected from the group consisting of determining item information and activating auxiliary displays.  
     
     
         342 . The system of  claim 328 , wherein the peripheral device allows a user to enter a pushbutton or keyed input sequence.  
     
     
         343 . The system of  claim 328 , wherein the peripheral device comprises visual or audible indicators on the shelf that are activated to direct a customer toward the desired items.  
     
     
         344 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein at least one antenna not being interrogated alter their tuning, the altering causing the at least one antenna not being interrogated to be substantially non-resonant at a frequency of the RF signal.  
     
     
         345 . The system of  claim 344 , wherein the at least one antenna not being interrogated is altered to be substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal by shunting a tuning capacitor.  
     
     
         346 . The system of  claim 345 , wherein the shunting is performed by a component selected from one or more of the group consisting of: a FET, a MESFET, and a PIN diode.  
     
     
         347 . The system of  claim 344 , wherein the at least one RF antenna not being interrogated is altered to be substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal by a switching element in the tuning circuit.  
     
     
         348 . The system of  claim 347 , wherein the switching element is selected from one or more of the group consisting of: a FET, a MESFET, and a PIN diode.  
     
     
         349 . The system of  claim 347 , wherein the switching element can couple and decouple a capacitor within a capacitor bank.  
     
     
         350 . The system of  claim 344 , wherein he at least one antenna not being interrogated is altered to be substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal by one or more varactors.  
     
     
         351 . The system of  claim 344 , wherein: 
 the at least one antenna not being interrogated is substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal; and    each antenna being interrogated is put into a substantially tuned state.    
     
     
         352 . The system of  claim 351 , wherein each antenna being interrogated is substantially tuned using one or more of the group consisting of: a FET, a MESFET, a PIN diode, or a varactor.  
     
     
         353 . The system of  claim 351 , wherein each antenna being interrogated is substantially tuned through a coupling or decoupling of a capacitor within a capacitor bank.  
     
     
         354 . The system of  claim 344 , wherein the tuning of the at least one RFID antennae adjacent to an RFID antenna under interrogation is altered.  
     
     
         355 . The system of  claim 354 , wherein: 
 a self-test RFID tag is placed within range of the at least two RFID antennae,    the system detects the self-test RFID tags within adjacent RF antenna,    and the system determines which RF antennae are adjacent.    
     
     
         356 . The system of  claim 354 , wherein the system determines which RF antennae are adjacent to each other by detecting RFID tags that are read by more than one RF antenna.  
     
     
         357 . The system of  claim 356 , wherein RF power delivered to the antennae is increased above a normal operating level to increase a chance of reading the RFID tags on adjacent antennae.  
     
     
         358 . The system of  claim 354 , wherein which of the antennae are adjacent is predetermined.  
     
     
         359 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein: 
 a self-test RFID tag is placed within range of each of the at least two RF antennae;    the system detects the self-test RFID tags; and    the system determines which other RF antenna are adjacent based on the detecting.    
     
     
         360 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the system determines which RF antennae are adjacent to each other by detecting RFID tags that are read by more than one RF antenna.  
     
     
         361 . The system of  claim 360 , wherein RF power delivered to the antennae is increased above a normal operating level to increase a chance of reading the RFID tags on adjacent antennae.  
     
     
         362 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein GPS information related to the location of each antenna is used to determine which RF antennae are adjacent.  
     
     
         363 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein a test determines how much RF power must be delivered to each connected RF antenna to deliver the desired power level.  
     
     
         364 . The system of  claim 363 , wherein a power detect sensor measures the RF power level delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         365 . The system of  claim 363 , wherein at least one self test RFID tag is used to determine the desired RF power that needs to be delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         366 . The system of  claim 283 , wherein the desired power level for each RF antenna is determined based on an antenna type.  
     
     
         367 . The system of  claim 366 , wherein a power detect sensor measures the RF power level delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         368 . The system of  claim 366 , wherein at least one self test RFID tag is used to determine the desired RF power that needs to be delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         369 . The system of  claim 283 , further comprising an environmental sensor.  
     
     
         370 . The system of  claim 369 , wherein the environmental sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, and a weight sensor.  
     
     
         371 . The system of  claim 369 , wherein an environmental condition is recorded with the RFID tags located on an intelligent station during an interrogation.  
     
     
         372 . The system of  claim 369 , wherein the system provides a warning if an environmental condition is out of a specified limit for specific products located on an intelligent station.  
     
     
         373 . The system of  claim 369 , wherein a polling scheme is utilized to determine an order in which the RF antennae are interrogated.  
     
     
         374 . The system of  claim 373 , wherein the polling scheme is sequential.  
     
     
         375 . The system of  claim 373 , wherein the polling scheme is event driven.  
     
     
         376 . The system of  claim 373 , wherein the polling scheme is determined by the system.  
     
     
         377 . The system of  claim 373 , wherein the polling scheme is altered in response to the environmental sensor measurements.  
     
     
         378 . A system for detecting RFID tags comprising: 
 a reader unit that transmits or receives an RF signal;    a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch; and    at least a second RF antenna connected to the reader unit by the first transmission cable through at least a second respective switch,    wherein at least two of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are energized at the same time.    
     
     
         379 . The system of  claim 328 , wherein at least two of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are operated in phase with each other.  
     
     
         380 . The system of  claim 328 , wherein at least two of the first RF antenna and the at least a second RF antenna are operated with a phase shift between them.  
     
     
         381 . The system of  claim 380 , further comprising: 
 respective RF cables for each of the at least two antennae,    wherein each respective RF cable has a different length, and    wherein the different RF cable lengths cause the phase shift.    
     
     
         382 . The system of  claim 380 , further comprising: 
 a two-way 90 degree power splitter,    wherein the phase shift is created through the use of the two-way 90 degree power splitter.    
     
     
         383 . A system for detecting RFID tags comprising: 
 a reader unit that transmits or receives an RF signal; and    a first intelligent station comprising: 
 a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch; and  
 at least a second RF antenna connected to the reader unit by the first transmission cable through at least a second switch; and  
 a control unit connected to a communications channel and that generates a control signal for selectively operating the first switch and the at least a second switch,  
 wherein the control unit can control at least a peripheral device other than an antenna.  
   
     
     
         384 . The system of  claim 383 , wherein the peripheral device is selected from the group consisting of: a computer terminal, a display device, a modem, an audio output device, a bar code reader, a temperature sensor, a shelf-edge price label, a keypad, and a locking device for enclosed or tethered merchandise.  
     
     
         385 . The system of  claim 383 , wherein the system interrogates each RF antenna according to a polling scheme.  
     
     
         386 . The system of  claim 383 , wherein the peripheral device comprises a proximity sensor.  
     
     
         387 . The system of  claim 386 , wherein the proximity sensor is used for controlling antenna selection.  
     
     
         388 . The system of  claim 386 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises an infrared sensor or a capacitive sensor.  
     
     
         389 . The system of  claim 386 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises one of: 
 visible light sensors or infrared light sensors.    
     
     
         390 . The system of  claim 386 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises a camera.  
     
     
         391 . The system of  claim 386 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises a proximity type sensor that can detect the movement of tags or the presence of a shopper.  
     
     
         392 . The system of  claim 391 , wherein the proximity type sensor is a Hall effect sensor.  
     
     
         393 . The system of  claim 386 , wherein a reading frequency of the shelf unit increases based on feedback from the proximity sensor  
     
     
         394 . The system of  claim 386 , wherein the polling scheme is altered in response to proximity sensor measurements.  
     
     
         395 . The system of  claim 386 , wherein the intelligent station determines item information or activate auxiliary displays or perform other actions in response to the proximity sensor detecting the presence or movement of a person or object.  
     
     
         396 . The system of  claim 383 , wherein the peripheral device allows a user to enter a pushbutton or keyed input sequence.  
     
     
         397 . The system of  claim 383 , wherein the peripheral device comprises visual or audible indicators on the shelf that are activated to direct a customer toward the desired items.  
     
     
         398 . A system for detecting RFID tags comprising: 
 at least one reader unit that transmits or receives an RF signal; and    at least two RF antennae, wherein the at least two RF antennae are coupled to one or more of the at least one reader units,    wherein the tuning of at least one antenna not being interrogated is altered, the altering causing the antennae not being interrogated to be substantially non-resonant at a frequency of the RF signal.    
     
     
         399 . The system of  claim 398 , wherein at least one of the at least two RF antennae is directly coupled to the at least one reader unit.  
     
     
         400 . The system of  claim 398 , wherein at least one of the at least two RF antennae is coupled to the at least one reader unit through one or more switches.  
     
     
         401 . The system of  claim 398 , wherein the at least one antenna not being interrogated is altered to be substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal by shunting a tuning capacitor.  
     
     
         402 . The system of  claim 401 , wherein the shunting is performed by a component selected from one or more of the group consisting of: a FET, a MESFET, and a PIN diode.  
     
     
         403 . The system of  claim 398 , wherein the at least one RF antenna not being interrogated is altered to be substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal by a switching element in the tuning circuit.  
     
     
         404 . The system of  claim 403 , wherein the switching element is selected from one or more of the group consisting of: FET, a MESFET, and a PIN diode.  
     
     
         405 . The system of  claim 403 , wherein the switching element can couple and decouple a capacitor within a capacitor bank.  
     
     
         406 . The system of  claim 398 , wherein the at least one antenna not being interrogated is altered to be substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal by one or more varactors.  
     
     
         407 . The system of  claim 398 , wherein: 
 the at least one antenna not being interrogated is substantially non-resonant at the frequency of the RF signal; and    an antenna being interrogated is put into a substantially tuned state.    
     
     
         408 . The system of  claim 407 , wherein each antenna being interrogated is substantially tuned using one or more of the group consisting of: a FET, a MESFET, a PIN diode, or a varactor.  
     
     
         409 . The system of  claim 407 , wherein each antenna being interrogated is substantially tuned through a coupling or decoupling of a capacitor within a capacitor bank.  
     
     
         410 . The system of  claim 398 , wherein the tuning of the at least one RFID antennae adjacent to an RFID antenna under interrogation is altered.  
     
     
         411 . The system of  claim 410 , wherein: 
 a self-test RFID tag is placed within range of the at least two RFID antennae,    the system detects the self-test RFID tags within adjacent RF antenna,    and the system determines which RF antennae are adjacent.    
     
     
         412 . The system of  claim 410 , wherein the system determines which RF antennae are adjacent to each other by detecting RFID tags that are read by more than one RF antenna.  
     
     
         413 . The system of  claim 412 , wherein RF power delivered to the antennae is increased above a normal operating level to increase a chance of reading the RFID tags on adjacent antennae.  
     
     
         414 . The system of  claim 410 , wherein which of the antennae are adjacent is predetermined.  
     
     
         415 . A system for detecting RFID tags comprising: 
 at least one reader unit that transmits or receives an RF signal; and    at least two RF antennae, wherein the at least two RF antennae are coupled to one or more of the at least one reader units,    wherein the system automatically determines whether the RF antennae are adjacent to each other.    
     
     
         416 . The system of  claim 415 , wherein at least one of the at least two RF antennae is directly coupled to the at least one reader unit.  
     
     
         417 . The system of  claim 415 , wherein at least one of the at least two RF antennae is coupled to the at least one reader unit through one or more switches.  
     
     
         418 . The system of  claim 415 , wherein the system automatically determines which of the at least two RF antennae are adjacent to each other.  
     
     
         419 . The system of  claim 415 , wherein: 
 a self-test RFID tag is placed within range of each of the at least two RF antennae,    the system detects the self-test RFID tags, and    the system determines which other RF antenna are adjacent based on the detecting.    
     
     
         420 . The system of  claim 415 , wherein the system determines which RF antennae are adjacent to each other by detecting RFID tags that are read by more than one RF antenna.  
     
     
         421 . The system of  claim 420 , wherein RF power delivered to the antennae is increased above a normal operating level to increase a chance of reading the RFID tags on adjacent antennae.  
     
     
         422 . The system of  claim 415 , wherein GPS information related to the location of each antenna is used to determine which RF antennae are adjacent.  
     
     
         423 . A system for detecting RFID tags comprising: 
 a reader unit that transmits or receives an RF signal;    a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch;    at least a second RF antenna connected to the reader unit by the first transmission cable through at least a second respective switch;    a determining unit for determining the desired RF power to be provided to read each RF antenna connected to the reader,    wherein the system uses the desired RF power when selectively energizing the RF antennae.    
     
     
         424 . The system of  claim 423 , wherein a test determines how much RF power must be delivered to each connected RF antenna to deliver the desired power level.  
     
     
         425 . The system of  claim 424 , wherein a power detect sensor measures the RF power level delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         426 . The system of  claim 424 , wherein at least one self test RFID tag is used to determine the desired RF power that needs to be delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         427 . The system of  claim 423 , wherein the desired power level for each RF antenna is determined based on an antenna type.  
     
     
         428 . The system of  claim 427 , wherein a power detect sensor measures the RF power level delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         429 . The system of  claim 427 , wherein at least one self test RFID tag is used to determine the desired RF power that needs to be delivered to the RF antenna.  
     
     
         430 . A system for detecting RFID tags comprising: 
 one or more reader units that transmit or receive an RF signal;    one or more intelligent stations comprising: 
 a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch;  
 at least a second RF antenna connected to the reader unit by the first transmission cable through at least a second switch, respectively; and  
 an environmental sensor,  
 a memory;  
 wherein the system records in memory sensor data from the environmental sensor, and  
 wherein the system records RFID tags on the intelligent station in the memory.  
   
     
     
         431 . The system of  claim 430 , wherein the environmental sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, and a weight sensor.  
     
     
         432 . The system of  claim 430 , wherein an environmental condition is recorded with the RFID tags located on an intelligent station during an interrogation.  
     
     
         433 . The system of  claim 430 , wherein the system provides a warning if an environmental condition is out of a specified limit for specific products located on an intelligent station.  
     
     
         434 . The system of  claim 430 , wherein a polling scheme is utilized to determine an order in which the RF antennae are interrogated.  
     
     
         435 . The system of  claim 434 , wherein the polling scheme is sequential.  
     
     
         436 . The system of  claim 434 , wherein the polling scheme is event driven.  
     
     
         437 . The system of  claim 434 , wherein the polling scheme is determined by the system.  
     
     
         438 . The system of  claim 434 , wherein the polling scheme is altered in response to the environmental sensor measurements.  
     
     
         439 . A system for detecting RFID tags comprising: 
 a reader unit that transmits or receives an RF signal; and    a first intelligent station comprising: 
 a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit through a first switch; and  
 at least a second RF antenna connected to the reader unit through at least a second switch,  
 wherein the first switch and the at least a second switch receive control signals.  
   
     
     
         440 . A system for detecting RFID tags comprising: 
 a reader unit that transmits or receives RF signals; and    a first intelligent station comprising: 
 a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit through a first switch; and  
 at least a second RF antenna connected to the reader unit through at least a second switch,  
 wherein the first switch and the at least a second switch receive control signals, and  
 wherein the intelligent station detects the presence of a stocking RFID tag or a pushbutton or keyed input sequence, alerts the intelligent station that the shelf is completely stocked, and sends a message to a database which indicates that a current stock level is full or at a target level.