Mobile RFID Reader Positioning via Movement Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RFID systems cannot display positional information of wireless devices that are outside the communication range of the RFID reader, limiting their ability to manage and track items or animals over a wide area.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that includes an acquisition unit to gather identification, detection clock time, and movement information, a determination unit to calculate relative positions, and a display control unit to show positional information, allowing the RFID reader to be moved by a person or machine to detect RFID tags beyond its initial range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the RFID reader is stationary and limited to its communication range, then it can detect RFID tags within range, but it cannot display positional information about RFID tags outside its communication range
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID reader is transformed from a stationary device to a mobile device that can be moved by a person or machine. This dynamic capability allows the reader to expand its detection area by physically relocating to different positions, thereby acquiring positional information about RFID tags that were previously outside its communication range.
Solution Approach 2:
A calculation unit acts as an intermediary to compute relative positions. It uses the movement amount of the RFID reader and detection clock time information to calculate the relative positions of RFID tags, converting raw detection data into meaningful positional information that can be displayed even for tags detected when the reader was at different locations.
2Loss of information
If the RFID reader moves to detect tags beyond initial range, then positional information for distant tags can be obtained, but the system complexity increases due to tracking movement and calculating relative positions
Solution Approach 1:
A calculation unit is introduced as an intermediary component that handles the complex computations. This unit receives movement amount information and detection clock time information, then calculates relative positions of RFID tags. By centralizing the computational logic in a dedicated unit, the system manages complexity while enabling comprehensive positional tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously updating the display with calculated relative position information. The display unit receives processed positional data and provides real-time feedback to the user, showing the current relative positions of RFID tags based on the reader's movement and detection history.
3Reliability
If real-time positional updates are provided for moving RFID reader, then traceability is enhanced, but the processing speed and frequency of updates must increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs detection and calculation operations at periodic intervals rather than continuously. The RFID reader detects tags at specific moments, and the calculation unit computes relative positions based on movement amounts accumulated between detection events. This periodic approach maintains reliable traceability while reducing processing speed requirements compared to continuous real-time tracking.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the display of positional information for RFID tags located far away from the detection apparatus, enhancing the traceability and management of items or animals by providing real-time updates and improving the ability to search for and track objects over a wide area.
Implementation Method 1
The RFID tag receives radio waves (electromagnetic waves) radiated from the antenna of an RFID reader and operates with electric power generated from the received radio waves
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus acquires identification information about a wireless device detected by a detection apparatus which detects wireless devices, detection clock time information about a clock time at which the detection apparatus has detected the wireless device, and movement amount information about a movement amount by which the detection apparatus has moved between an optional first clock time and an optional second clock time, determines, with use of the movement amount information and detection clock time information and identification information about each of a plurality of wireless devices, relative positions of the plurality of wireless devices, and causes a display unit to display information about the determined relative positions of the plurality of wireless devices.