Method and apparatus for routing data in automatic identification system

Abstract

A system for routing data in an automatic identification system includes an event management system (EMS), a real-time in-memory data structure (RIED) coupled to the EMS, the RIED for storing event information gathered by the EMS and a task management system (TMS) for ensuring that the RIED is updated by one transaction at a time. With this particular arrangement, a system for managing a large number of real-time events is provided. In one embodiment, the control system can be provided in a distributed hierarchical arrangement. The EMS of each control system can include filters which limit the amount of information provided to the next level in the hierarchy. In this manner the hierarchical control system network acts as a high volume data collector and processor. In some embodiments a level of the hierarchy can be removed spatially and/or temporally from an adjacent level in the hierarchy. This approach results in an intelligent network and also lends itself to scalability. By including optional filters and queues in the EMS, the EMS can be configured as desired.

1 . A distributed control system comprising a hierarchy of control systems; said hierarchy comprising: 
 a. a first level of control systems comprising a plurality of edge control systems that receive information through an event management system (EMS), said EMS being configured to provide a system structured to receive information events from data readers wherein said readers are capable of receiving information from at least one data source; and    b. a second level comprising at least one second-level control system; said second-level control system being configured to receive information from at least two edge control systems, but not directly from a data reader.    
   
   
       2 . The distributed control system of  claim 1  wherein said second-level control system and said edge control system comprise a task management system (TMS) that provides data management capabilities to the distributed control system and provides data monitoring using customizable tasks.  
   
   
       3 . The distributed control system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one third-level control system; said third level control system being configured to receive data from said second level, and said second level being configured to receive data from said first level.  
   
   
       4 . The distributed control system of  claim 3 , wherein the first-level, second-level, and third-level control systems comprise a database that stores data in real time.  
   
   
       5 . The distributed control system of  claim 1 , wherein the data readers are RFID readers and said data source is an RFID tag.  
   
   
       6 . The distributed control system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second level control systems contain a real time database.  
   
   
       7 . The distributed control system of  claim 6 , wherein the control systems store an in-memory sequence manager; said sequence manager stores sequence numbers associated with snapshots of the database.  
   
   
       8 . A method of processing and storing data in a distributed control system comprising the steps of: 
 a. Maintaining a first persistent datum;    b. Forwarding data received from a data reader to an edge control system;    c. Processing the data at the edge control system;    d. Forwarding the data from the edge control system to at least one second-level control system;    e. Forwarding data from a second edge control system to at least one second-level control system; and    f. Processing data at the at least one second-level control system that was received from at least two edge control systems.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step wherein event data readers communicate with the edge control system through an adapter.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said adapter sends information to the edge control system through a filter.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising storing information in an event logger.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a step of providing a queuing system that records events read by at least one reader adapter, and posting the recorded events to all of the event loggers registered with the system.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of saving a snapshot of a database.