Methods and devices for providing scalable RFID networks

Abstract

According to some implementations of the present invention, RFID devices and middleware servers are automatically provisioned with a network address and with instructions for sending a request for a middleware server to a middleware server assigner. In some implementations, the middleware server assigner is a load balancer. In some implementations, a middleware server is associated with a plurality of RFID devices by associating a middleware server network address or names with the network addresses of the RFID devices. Preferred methods also provide for redundancy of middleware servers and dynamic reassignment of RFID devices from an unavailable middleware server to an available middleware server.

1 . A method, comprising:
 provisioning a plurality of devices in a network, each of the devices configured to capture information regarding one or more of temperature or other environmental changes, stresses, accelerations or vibrations;   associating each device with one of a plurality of locations;   transmitting a middleware server request from provisioned devices;   assigning one of a plurality of middleware servers to each of the requesting devices; and   associating each of the requesting devices with an assigned middleware server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the middleware server request to a load balancer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the provisioning comprises assigning an device network address and a load balancer network address, further comprising:
 receiving a request from an application program regarding devices associated with a location; and   providing device network addresses for devices associated with the location.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein associating each device with one of a plurality of locations comprises forming domain name server (“DNS”) entries that include location information for the devices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the provisioning comprises:
 receiving a provisioning request;   automatically identifying an device according to at least one of a media access control (“MAC”) address or an electronic product code (“EPC”) included in the provisioning request;   automatically locating the device according to location information included in the provisioning request; and   automatically providing the device with a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the provisioning comprises:
 forming a DHCPDISCOVER request that includes an electronic product code (“EPC”) of an device and location information indicating a location of the device;   sending the DHCPDISCOVER request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“DHCP”) server; and   receiving provisioning information from the DHCP server that is specifically intended for the device, the provisioning information enabling a desired functionality according to an identity and a location of the device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the provisioning comprises assigning an device network address and a load balancer network address and wherein associating each of the requesting devices with an assigned middleware server comprises forming domain name server (“DNS”) TXT entries that indicate middleware server information, each of the TXT entries being associated with a DNS entry for an device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising virtualizing a plurality of devices at or near a given location. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 aggregating data from a plurality of devices at or near a given location; and   providing aggregated data from the plurality of devices to an application program.   
     
     
         10 . A network, comprising:
 a plurality of devices in various locations of a site;   a plurality of middleware servers associated with the site; and   an assigner, wherein the devices are provisioned with a device network address, an assigner network address and instructions to send a request to the assigner for a middleware server, and wherein the assigner is configured to assign a device to a middleware server in response to the request.   
     
     
         11 . The network of  claim 10 , wherein the assigner comprises a load balancer. 
     
     
         12 . The network of  claim 10 , further comprising a DNS (“domain name server”) configured to maintain device network addresses and corresponding location and site information. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 provisioning each of a plurality of devices in the network, each of the devices configured to capture information regarding one or more of temperature or other environmental changes, stresses, accelerations or vibrations, wherein the provisioning comprises providing a device with a device network address and a designated load balancer;   associating each device network address with one of a plurality of locations;   causing devices to send a first middleware server request to a designated load balancer;   assigning a first middleware server of a plurality of available middleware servers to a first plurality of the requesting devices; and   making a correspondence between each of the first plurality of devices and the first middleware server.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication that the first middleware server is no longer an available middleware server;   causing each of the first plurality of devices to send a second middleware server request to the load balancer;   assigning a second middleware server of a plurality of available middleware servers to N devices of the first plurality of devices; and   associating each of the N devices with the second middleware server.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising virtualizing a plurality of devices at or near a given location. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the associating steps comprise forming domain name server (“DNS”) TXT entries that indicate middleware server information, each of the TXT entries being associated with a DNS entry for an device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the indication comprises at least one of a loss of communication with the first middleware server or information from a network administrator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the virtualizing comprises associating location data corresponding to the given location with each virtualized device. 
     
     
         19 . A network, comprising:
 means for provisioning a plurality of devices in a network, each of the devices configured to capture information regarding one or more of temperature or other environmental changes, stresses, accelerations or vibrations;   means for associating each device with one of a plurality of locations;   means for transmitting a middleware server request from provisioned devices;   means for assigning one of a plurality of middleware servers to each of the requesting devices; and   means for associating each of the requesting devices with an assigned middleware server.   
     
     
         20 . The network of  claim 20 , wherein the associating means comprises means for associating a plurality of devices with a single location.