Configuration RFID Circuit

Abstract

A radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader circuit includes a transceiver configured to communicate with a plurality of different types of RFID transponders using radio frequency signals. The RFID reader circuit includes a processor circuit that is configured to detect and communicate with the plurality of different types of RFID transponders via the transceiver, respectively using a command set for the type of RFID transponder that the processor circuit is communicating with. The processor circuit is further configured to, in response to detecting an RFID transponder having configuration data for a new command set, access and use the configuration data for the new command set to update a configuration of the RFID reader circuit to enable communication with a new type of RFID transponder.

1 . A radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader circuit comprising:
 a transceiver configured to communicate with a plurality of different types of RFID transponders using radio frequency signals; and   a processor circuit configured to
 detect and communicate with the plurality of different types of RFID transponders via the transceiver, respectively using a command set for the type of RFID transponder that the processor circuit is communicating with, 
 in response to detecting an RFID transponder having configuration data for a new command set, access and use the configuration data for the new command set to update a configuration of the RFID reader circuit to enable communication with a new type of RFID transponder, and 
 in response to detecting an RFID transponder of the new type, communicate with the RFID transponder of the new type using the new command set. 
   
     
     
         2 . The RFID reader circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the new command set is an updated version of an existing command set, and the processor circuit accesses and uses the configuration data to update at least one aspect of the existing command set. 
     
     
         3 . The RFID reader circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the new command set is a new command set that is independent from command sets for which the RFID reader has been previously configured, and the processor circuit accesses and uses the configuration data to update the reader with an entirely new command set. 
     
     
         4 . The RFID reader circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is
 factory-configured with a single command set for reading a configuration RFID transponder, and   prior to communicating with RFID transponders that do not include configuration data, configured to access at least one configuration RFID transponder to field-configure the RFID reader circuit with a command set for each of the plurality of different types of RFID transponders.   
     
     
         5 . The RFID reader circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to
 in response to detecting an RFID transponder having configuration data for a new command set, authenticate at least one of the configuration data and the RFID transponder, and   in response to the authentication, access and use the configuration data for the new command set to update the configuration of the RFID reader circuit.   
     
     
         6 . The RFID reader circuit of  claim 5 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to authenticate at least one of the configuration data and the detected RFID transponder responsive to password data provided to the RFID reader circuit by the detected RFID transponder. 
     
     
         7 . The RFID reader circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory circuit configured to store a plurality of command sets, each of the commend sets for communicating with one of the different types of RFID transponders, wherein the RFID reader is configured to update a configuration of the RFID reader circuit by storing the accessed configuration data in the memory circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The RFID reader circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory circuit configured to store a plurality of command sets in a lookup table having an entry for each type of RFID transponder with which the RFID reader circuit is configured to communicate, each of the command sets for communicating with one of the different types of RFID transponders, wherein the RFID reader is configured to update a configuration of the RFID reader circuit by storing the accessed configuration data in the lookup table. 
     
     
         9 . The RFID reader circuit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the command sets identifies commands and features supported by one of the different types of RFID transponders. 
     
     
         10 . The RFID reader circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to enter a firmware update mechanism responsive to data received from the detected RFID transponder in which firmware of the RFID reader circuit is updated using the configuration data. 
     
     
         11 . A radio-frequency identification (RFID) system comprising:
 an RFID transponder configured to operate in accordance with a particular command set and to store configuration data for configuring an RFID reader circuit for communicating with a new type of RFID transponder; and   an RFID reader circuit configured to
 communicate with RFID transponders that operate according to a plurality of different command sets, 
 in response to detecting the RFID transponder that stores the configuration data, access and use the configuration data to establish a new command set in the RFID reader circuit for communicating with the new type of RFID transponder, and 
 in response to detecting an RFID transponder of the new type, communicate with the RFID transponder of the new type using the new command set. 
   
     
     
         12 . The RFID system of  claim 11 , wherein the RFID reader circuit is further configured to
 in response to detecting an RFID transponder having configuration data for a new command set, authenticate at least one of the configuration data and the RFID transponder, and   in response to the authentication, access and use the configuration data for the new command set to update the configuration of the RFID reader circuit.   
     
     
         13 . The RFID system of  claim 11 , wherein the RFID reader circuit is further configured to authenticate at least one of the configuration data and the detected RFID transponder responsive to password data provided to the RFID reader circuit by the detected RFID transponder. 
     
     
         14 . The RFID system of  claim 11 , wherein the RFID reader circuit is further configured to store a plurality of command sets, each of the commend sets for communicating with one of the different types of RFID transponders, and to store the new command set in association with an identification for a new type of RFID transponder, for access and use in communicating with the new type of RFID transponder. 
     
     
         15 . The RFID system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the command sets identifies the commands and features supported by one of the different types of RFID transponders. 
     
     
         16 . A radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder for updating an RFID reader circuit, the RFID transponder comprising:
 a transceiver configured to communicate with the RFID reader circuit using radio frequency signals according to a command set;   a memory circuit configured to store configuration data for a new command set; and   a control circuit configured to
 communicate with the RFID reader circuit via the transceiver using the command set for the RFID transponder, and 
 provide the configuration data to the RFID reader circuit to update a configuration of the RFID reader circuit to enable the RFID reader circuit to communicate with a new type of RFID transponder that uses the new command set. 
   
     
     
         17 . The RFID transponder of  claim 16 , wherein the RFID transponder circuit is configured to authenticate the RFID reader using authentication data stored in the memory and authentication data provided by the RFID reader, and to provide the configuration data to the RFID reader circuit in response to the authentication. 
     
     
         18 . The RFID transponder of  claim 16 , wherein the memory circuit is further configured to store password data for accessing a firmware update mechanism of the RFID reader circuit, and to provide the password data to control the RFID reader circuit to execute the firmware update mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The RFID transponder of  claim 16 , wherein the configuration data stored in the memory circuit is encrypted. 
     
     
         20 . The RFID transponder of  claim 16 , wherein the RFID transponder is configured to provide data to the RFID reader circuit to authenticate at least one of the RFID transponder and the configuration data.