Configuration management system and method for use in an rfid system including a multiplicity of rfid readers

Abstract

A system and method that facilitates the configuration and control of components of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, taking into account how the RFID system components are associated with one or more physical locations within an environment in which the RFID system is deployed. The RFID system can be controlled by obtaining a representation of the physical space. Next, at least one region of interest is specified in the representation of the physical space. An interrogation zone is then specified in the representation of the physical space, in which the interrogation zone corresponds to the data reader. Next, at least one overlap region of the interrogation zone and the region of interest is specified. Information is then stored, including the representation, and the interest region, the interrogation zone, and/or the overlap region. Operation of the data reader is controlled as a function of the stored information.

1 . A computer-implemented method of controlling an RFID data acquisition system, the data acquisition system including at least one data reader located in a physical space, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a representation of the physical space;   specifying at least one region of interest in the representation of the physical space;   specifying an interrogation zone in the representation of the physical space, the interrogation zone corresponding to the at least one data reader;   specifying at least one overlap region of the interrogation zone and the at least one region of interest;   storing information including: the representation, and one or more of the at least one interest region, the at least one interrogation zone, and the at least one overlap region; and   controlling operation of the at least one data reader as a function of at least the stored information.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 specifying a location in the representation of the at least one data reader.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of specifying an interrogation zone in the representation comprises:
 processing a model of the at least one data reader.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of specifying an interrogation zone comprises the step of determining the interrogation zone as a function of the model corresponding to the at least one data reader and a location of the at least one data reader within the representation. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of specifying an interrogation zone comprises the step of determining the interrogation zone as a function of an orientation of the at least one data reader within the representation. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of specifying an interrogation zone comprises the step of determining the interrogation zone as a function of one or more of: a location and an orientation of the at least one data reader in the representation. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of specifying the interrogation zone comprises the step of determining the interrogation zone as a function of one or more of:
 an antenna pattern associated with the at least one data reader;   transmit power of the at least one data reader;   operating characteristics of at least one RFID tag;   a signal propagation path in the physical space; and   signal interference in the physical space.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of specifying the interrogation zone comprises the step of determining the interrogation zone as a function of a type of RFID tag to be used. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of specifying the interrogation zone in the representation comprises the step of determining the interrogation zone as a function of:
 a first coverage zone in the physical space produced by an RF transmitter; and   a second coverage zone in the physical space associated with an RF receiver.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of controlling operation of the at least one data reader further comprises the step of setting the at least one data reader to provide an interrogation zone that creates a first overlap region with only one selected region of interest. 
   
   
       11 . A computer system for generating information for use in configuration and control of an RFID data acquisition system, said RFID data acquisition system including at least one data reader located in a physical space, said computer system comprising:
 at least one memory; and   at least one processor operative to execute at least one computer program out of said at least one memory, said computer program being operative:
 to obtain a representation of the physical space; 
 to specify at least one region of interest in the representation of the physical space; 
 to specify an interrogation zone in the representation of the physical space corresponding to the at least one data reader; 
 to specify at least one overlap region of the interrogation zone and the at least one region of interest; 
 to store information including: the representation, and one or more of the at least one region of interest, the interrogation zone, and the at least one overlap region; and 
 to control operation of the at least one data reader as a function of at least the stored information. 
   
   
   
       12 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein said computer program is further operative to:
 specify a location in the representation of the at least one data reader.   
   
   
       13 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein said computer program is operative to specify an interrogation zone in the representation by processing a model of the at least one data reader. 
   
   
       14 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein said computer program is operative to specify an interrogation zone by determining the interrogation zone as a function of the model of the at least one data reader and a location of the at least one data reader within the representation. 
   
   
       15 . The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein said computer program is further operative to determine the interrogation zone as a function of an orientation of the at least one data reader within the representation. 
   
   
       16 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein said computer program is operative to specify an interrogation zone by determining the interrogation zone as a function of one or more of: a location and an orientation of the at least one data reader in the representation. 
   
   
       17 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein said computer program is operative to specify the interrogation zone by determining the interrogation zone as a function of one or more of:
 an antenna pattern associated with the at least one data reader;   transmit power of the at least one data reader;   operating characteristics of at least one RFID tag;   a signal propagation path in the physical space; and   signal interference in the physical space.   
   
   
       18 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein said computer program is operative to specify the interrogation zone by determining the interrogation zone as a function of a type of RFID tag to be used. 
   
   
       19 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein said computer program is operative to specify the interrogation zone in the representation by determining the interrogation zone as a function of:
 a first coverage zone in the physical space produced by an RF transmitter; and   a second coverage zone in the physical space associated with an RF receiver.   
   
   
       20 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein said computer program is operative to control operation of the at least one data reader by setting the at least one data reader to provide an interrogation zone that creates a first overlap region with only one selected region of interest.