Ultra-high-frequency, UHF, radio frequency identification, RFID, reader, RFID network and method for communication in an RFID network

摘要

In one embodiment a UHF RFID reader is adapted to operate in either a reader mode or in a tag emulation mode, wherein in the reader mode the UHF RFID reader communicates with at least one RFID tag to access the at least one tag's memory contents and in the tag emulation mode the UHF RFID reader communicates with at least one other UHF RFID reader to share memory content with the at least one other UHF RFID reader. Furthermore, an RFID network and a method for communication in an RFID network are described.

主权项

1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) network comprising:
a main ultra-high-frequency (UHF) RFID reader and a plurality of subordinate UHF RFID readers, wherein for each of the main UHF RFID reader and the plurality of subordinate UHF RFID readers:
the UHF RFID reader is adapted to selectively operate in either a reader mode or in a tag emulation mode,in the reader mode, the UHF RFID reader communicates with at least one RFID tag to access the at least one tag's memory contents, andin the tag emulation mode, the UHF RFID reader communicates with at least one other UHF RFID reader to share memory content with the at least one other RFID reader, the main RFID reader being adapted to be coupled to a database via a network connection, and the subordinate RFID readers being coupled to the main reader; and a plurality of RFID tags, each tag associated with one subordinate reader or with the main reader in function of the main or subordinate reader's operating range, wherein the main reader is adapted to communicate with the subordinate readers in accordance with a topology of the RFID network and to exchange data from the plurality of tags with the database, wherein each subordinate reader is adapted to communicate with the main reader or another subordinate reader in accordance with the defined network topology using the tag emulation mode and to send an RFID request or an RFID command to associated RFID tags using the reader mode, and wherein each RFID tag is adapted to generate an RFID response to the RFID command or the RFID request sent by the main reader or the main reader's associated subordinate reader.