RFID Tag Inventory Identifier Matching for Concurrent Reader Sessions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing RFID tag inventory methods are inefficient as they support only a single inventory process, leading to interference and reduced efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method where a first device determines if an inventory identifier matches an ongoing inventory process before sending identity information, preventing mismatched signaling from interfering with the normal inventory process, allowing multiple inventory processes to be supported simultaneously.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the reader supports only a single inventory process, then the system complexity is low, but the tag inventory efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetag inventory efficiencyVSAvoidinventory process management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the inventory process by introducing inventory identifiers to distinguish multiple concurrent inventory processes. Each inventory process is assigned a unique identifier, allowing the reader to manage multiple inventory operations simultaneously without confusion. This segmentation enables parallel processing of inventory requests from different readers or different tag groups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the reader send an inventory identifier in advance along with the inventory request. The tag stores this identifier and uses it to verify whether subsequent signaling belongs to the current inventory process. This preliminary assignment of identifiers prepares the system for efficient multi-process management without adding complex runtime decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If multiple inventory processes are supported simultaneously, then the tag inventory efficiency is improved, but the risk of signaling interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetag inventory efficiencyVSAvoidinventory process stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where tags verify the inventory identifier in received signaling against their stored identifier before responding. This feedback loop ensures that tags only participate in the correct inventory process, preventing mismatched signaling from causing interference. The identifier verification acts as a feedback check that maintains reliability while enabling multiple concurrent processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

By preliminarily assigning and storing inventory identifiers in both readers and tags, the system establishes a pre-configured matching mechanism. This preliminary action ensures that when multiple inventory processes run simultaneously, each tag can correctly identify which process its signaling should belong to, thereby preventing interference without requiring complex runtime arbitration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If the reader sends inventory signaling without verifying process matching, then the signaling speed is high, but the inventory process stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling speedVSAvoidinventory process stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the process verification function from the main signaling flow by using a separate identifier field. Instead of verifying process matching through complex signaling sequences, the system extracts the verification task into a simple identifier comparison operation. This allows rapid verification without significantly impacting signaling speed, while ensuring process stability through the extracted verification mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4276678B1Method for tag inventory and related device
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4276678B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4276678B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4276678B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

This application discloses a method for inventorying a tag and a related device. In this application, a first device receives first signaling sent by a second device, where the first signaling includes a first inventory identifier. After determining, based on the first signaling, that the first inventory identifier is the same as a second inventory identifier, the first device sends identity information to the second device. Then, the first device may determine, based on an inventory identifier included in signaling sent by a reader, whether the signaling matches a current ongoing inventory process of the first device, to prevent mismatched signaling from interfering with a normal inventory process. The reader supports a plurality of inventory processes, which improves efficiency of tag inventory.