Wireless rfid networking systems and methods

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include a wireless access point that acquires and processes radio frequency identification (RFID) information. The wireless access point may be coupled to a network of RFID readers over a wireless network. The RFID readers may read a plurality of RFID tags and transmit information to one or more readers. The readers may, in turn, transmit the RFID information to a wireless access point. The wireless access point may include a middleware layer for performing a variety of RFID data processing functions. In one embodiment, the wireless RFID reader network may be used to improve positioning of readers and tags, and may include a GPS system or position assisted GPS system at the reader and/or tag level.

1 . A wireless access point apparatus for acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
 a first physical layer interface to a wireless link, wherein said first physical layer interface communicates first RFID data to said wireless access point from a plurality of RFID readers, wherein said plurality of RFID readers read a plurality of RFID tags, and wherein said first RFID data results from reading said plurality of RFID tags;   a second physical layer interface to a wired or wireless link, wherein said second physical layer interface communicates second RFID data from said wireless access point to a server;   wherein said wireless access point executes processing including:
 receiving, from a first RFID reader of said plurality of RFID readers, first tag information related to a first RFID tag of said plurality of RFID tags; and 
 storing said first tag information as said first RFID data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point executes processing further including:
 processing said first RFID data; and   transmitting said second RFID data to said server, wherein said second RFID data corresponds to said first RFID data having been processed.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said step of processing said first RFID data includes:
 filtering said first RFID data to remove redundant data.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point executes processing further including:
 determining a distance between each of said plurality of RFID readers; and   configuring a read request of said plurality of RFID readers, selectively, according to said step of determining said distance.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point executes processing further including:
 updating said first RFID data when said first RFID tag moves from a first coverage area to a second coverage area, wherein said first coverage area is associated with said first RFID reader and said second coverage area is associated with a second RFID reader of said plurality of RFID readers.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point and said plurality of RFID readers are configured in a star network configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point and said plurality of RFID readers are configured in a mesh network configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point and said plurality of RFID readers are configured in a hybrid network configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first tag information includes a position of said first RFID tag. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless access point executes further processing comprising:
 receiving, from said first RFID reader, registration information indicating that said first RFID reader is in a first coverage area, wherein said first coverage area corresponds to said wireless access point;   storing said registration information;   transmitting said registration information to said server;   receiving, from said server when said first RFID reader has moved into a second coverage area corresponding to another wireless access point, revised registration information; and   updating said registration information with said revised registration information.   
     
     
         11 . A method of acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
 reading, by a first RFID reader of a plurality of RFID readers, a first RFID tag of a plurality of RFID tags;   transmitting, on a wireless network link, first tag information related to said first RFID tag from said first RFID reader to a wireless access point;   storing, on said wireless access point, said first tag information as first RFID data;   processing, by said wireless access point, said first RFID data; and   transmitting, on a wired or wireless network link, second RFID data from said wireless access point to a server, wherein said second RFID data corresponds to said first RFID data having been processed.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said step of processing said first RFID data includes:
 filtering said first RFID data to remove redundant data.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining a distance between each of said plurality of RFID readers; and   configuring, by said wireless access point, a read request of said plurality of RFID readers, selectively, according to said step of determining said distance.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 updating, by said wireless access point, said first RFID data when said first RFID tag moves from a first coverage area to a second coverage area, wherein said first coverage area is associated with said first RFID reader and said second coverage area is associated with a second RFID reader of said plurality of RFID readers.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first tag information includes a position of said first RFID tag. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 transmitting, on said wireless network link from said first RFID reader to said wireless access point, registration information indicating that said first RFID reader is in a first coverage area, wherein said first coverage area corresponds to said wireless access point;   storing, on said wireless access point, said registration information;   transmitting, on said wired or wireless network link, said registration information from said wireless access point to said server;   transmitting, on said wired or wireless network link, revised registration information from said server to said wireless access point, when said first RFID reader has moved into a second coverage area corresponding to another wireless access point; and   updating, on said wireless access point, said registration information with said revised registration information.   
     
     
         17 . A wireless access point apparatus for acquiring and processing radio frequency identification (RFID) information, comprising:
 a first physical layer interface to a wireless link, wherein said first physical layer interface communicates first RFID data to said wireless access point from a plurality of RFID readers, wherein said plurality of readers read a plurality of RFID tags, and wherein said first RFID data results from reading said plurality of RFID tags;   a second physical layer interface to a wired or wireless link, wherein said second physical layer interface communicates second RFID data from said wireless access point to a server;   wherein said wireless access point executes processing including:
 receiving, from more than one RFID reader of said plurality of RFID readers, a plurality of first tag information related to a first RFID tag of said plurality of RFID tags; 
 estimating a position of said first RFID tag based on said plurality of first tag information and on a position of each of said more than one RFID reader; and 
 transmitting said second RFID data to said server, wherein said second RFID data includes said position of said first RFID tag. 
   
     
     
         18 . The wireless access point of  claim 17 , wherein said step of estimating said position is based on a region of overlapping coverage of said more than one RF ID reader. 
     
     
         19 . The wireless access point of  claim 17 , wherein said step of estimating said position is based on a received power, angle of reception, time of arrival, a carrier phase. 
     
     
         20 . The wireless access point of  claim 19 , wherein said step of estimating said position is based on a differential measurement between two tags or two readers. 
     
     
         21 - 32 . (canceled)