Cellular Network Controlled RFID Tag Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for techniques that allow devices with a wireless interface for communication with a cellular network to interact with RFID tags deployed in high-density areas, enabling cellular network control for finding and tracking these tags, especially in scenarios where GPS-based positioning is not available.

Innovation Solution

A method where a cellular network sanctions and schedules the use of its resources for a device to transmit signals, such as ping signals, to RFID tags, using the same wireless interface for communication with the cellular network, allowing the device to receive tag responses and determine positions or track RFID tags, with active and passive RFID tags differentiated by frequency or time delay.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a device uses its wireless interface to transmit signals to find RFID tags, then the device can determine positions and track RFID tags, but the cellular network resources may be interfered with or misused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition determination accuracyVSAvoidnetwork resource control

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base station acts as an intermediary that coordinates and controls the device's transmission of ping signals to RFID tags. The base station schedules uplink time slots for these transmissions, ensuring that position determination functionality is enabled while network resources are protected from interference through centralized control and resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If GPS-based positioning is used, then position determination is straightforward, but it is unavailable in indoor environments or where satellite signals are blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning availabilityVSAvoidposition determination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements an alternative positioning mechanism that copies the functionality of GPS by using RFID tag responses instead of satellite signals. The device transmits ping signals to RFID tags in the environment, and by processing the responses and calculating time differences, the system determines position in indoor environments where GPS is unavailable, thus providing adaptability across different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If the device transmits ping signals to find RFID tags, then RFID tags can be located and tracked, but additional signal transmissions consume more energy and time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetag location accuracyVSAvoidtime for signal transmission and processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic ping signal transmissions at scheduled intervals rather than continuous transmission. The base station allocates specific uplink time slots for the device to transmit ping signals to RFID tags, enabling periodic position updates while minimizing energy consumption and time loss by avoiding unnecessary continuous transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3391672B1Methods and devices for finding RFID tags

Publication Date: 2023.02.22 SONY GROUP CORP

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AI summary

A cellular network (40, 51) allocates resources to a device (10) for transmission of a signal for finding at least one RFID tag (21 -26). The device (10) uses the resources allocated by the cellular network (40, 51 ) to transmit a signal to the at least one RFID tag (21 -26) in a frequency band licensed to the cellular network (40, 51).