Systems and methods for RFID-enabled information collection

摘要

Methods, apparatuses and systems for radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled information collection are disclosed, including an enclosure, a collector coupled to the enclosure, an interrogator, a processor, and one or more RFID field sensors, each having an individual identification, disposed within the enclosure. In operation, the interrogator transmits an incident signal to the collector, causing the collector to generate an electromagnetic field within the enclosure. The electromagnetic field is affected by one or more influences. RFID sensors respond to the electromagnetic field by transmitting reflected signals containing the individual identifications of the responding RFID sensors to the interrogator. The interrogator receives the reflected signals, measures one or more returned signal strength indications (“RSSI”) of the reflected signals and sends the RSSI measurements and identification of the responding RFID sensors to the processor to determine one or more facts about the influences. Other embodiments are also described.

主权项

1. A system for radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled information collection comprising:
an enclosure; a collector coupled to the enclosure; an interrogator configured to transmit an incident signal to the collector, causing the collector to generate an electromagnetic field within the enclosure, the electromagnetic field being affected by one or more influences; a processor configured to communicate with the interrogator; and at least one RFID field sensor disposed within the enclosure, each RFID field sensor having an individual identification and being capable of responding to the electromagnetic field by transmitting, via the collector, a reflected signal to the interrogator, the reflected signal containing the individual identification of the responding RFID field sensor; wherein the interrogator is configured to receive the one or more reflected signals, measure one or more returned signal strength indications (“RSSI”) of the one or more reflected signals, and send each RSSI measurement and the corresponding individual identification of each responding RFID field sensor to the processor, the processor being configured to analyze the one or more RSSI measurements and the corresponding individual identification of each responding RFID field sensor to determine information about the one or more influences.