Parallel Wireless Scanning for RFID Location Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless scanning methods for locating objects in environments, such as RFID scanning, are inefficient and time-consuming, particularly in contexts like delivery vehicle operations where quick identification of objects is crucial, often resulting in delays and potential errors.

Innovation Solution

A parallel scanning process utilizing multiple transceivers and antenna chains, each connected to a multi-core processor, allowing simultaneous activation and data reception from multiple antenna chains to rapidly identify location identifiers for target data identifiers, thereby reducing overall scanning time and enabling quicker object location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If sequential wireless scanning is used to locate objects, then the scanning process is simpler to implement, but the time required to identify location identifiers increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning timeVSAvoidscanning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the scanning system into multiple independent antenna chains (first antenna chain, second antenna chain, etc.), each capable of parallel scanning operations. This segmentation enables simultaneous scanning across multiple frequencies and locations, dramatically reducing total scanning time while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces frequency diversity as an additional dimension by configuring different antenna chains to scan different frequency ranges simultaneously. This transforms the scanning process from a single-dimensional sequential search to a multi-dimensional parallel search across both spatial and frequency domains

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If multiple antenna chains are activated in parallel, then the scanning speed increases, but the difficulty of processing and coordinating data from multiple sources increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning throughputVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the processor receives scan data from multiple antenna chains, processes the results, and can dynamically adjust scanning parameters. The system uses feedback to determine whether target data identifiers have been located and to coordinate the operation of multiple antenna chains efficiently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The processor acts as an intermediary that receives, coordinates, and processes data from multiple antenna chains. It manages the complexity of parallel data streams by centralizing the interpretation and synthesis of scan results, transforming multiple complex inputs into a unified location identification output

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If manual searching is required to locate objects, then the system requires less complex scanning infrastructure, but the time and potential for human error increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation identification accuracyVSAvoidscanning infrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to automatically perform location identification without manual searching. The processor autonomously processes scan data from multiple antenna chains, identifies target data identifiers, and determines locations, eliminating human intervention and associated errors while maintaining high reliability through automated decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4195126A1Apparatuses, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products for parallel wireless scanning
Publication Date: 2023.06.14 INTERMEC CORPORATION
  • EP4195126A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4195126A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4195126A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments are generally directed to wireless parallel scanning apparatus(es) and process(es) with reduced time to identify a location associated with a data identifier from a plurality of possible locations. Embodiments perform and process the results of various wireless (e.g., RFID) scans via antenna chains, the wireless scans performed in parallel and scan data representing the results of the wireless scans received in parallel. Some embodiments include a single multi-core processor, the multi-core processor including multiple cores that each independently (1) activate a wireless scanning chain including a transceiver communicable with a switch, the switch associated with controlling a signal transmitted to one of a plurality of antenna chains, and (2) receive scan data received via the wireless scanning chain. Some embodiments include the single multi-core processor including a core that aggregates the scan data from other cores and identifies a location identifier for a target data identifier.