RFID Reader Power Level Variation for Tag Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional RFID tracking systems require excessive hardware and utilize brute-force techniques for continuous reading, limiting the type and extent of data obtained on RFID tag position, orientation, and movement, which is inefficient and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
The system varies the output power level of RFID readers to infer the location and orientation of RFID tags by recording which tags enter or leave the antenna's field of view at different power levels, reducing power consumption and hardware requirements while correlating data to determine spatial orientation and location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional RFID readers utilize brute-force technique of continuous reading at constant power, then position and orientation data can be gathered, but power consumption increases and data type/extent are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic power level variations instead of continuous constant power operation. The RFID reader alternates between multiple power levels (e.g., high, medium, low) in a periodic manner, reading tags at each power level and using the temporal pattern of tag appearances to infer position and orientation. This periodic action reduces average power consumption while maintaining measurement precision through the structured variation of power states.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the power level parameter dynamically during the tracking process. By systematically varying the power level parameter across multiple reading cycles and observing how tag visibility changes with power levels, the system infers spatial information. This parameter change approach allows the system to achieve accurate position and orientation data without maintaining constant high power consumption.
2Productivity
If conventional RFID readers use brute-force continuous reading, then tracking is achieved, but additional hardware must be installed at various workplace locations
Solution Approach 1:
The system makes the RFID reader multi-functional by enabling it to perform both basic tag reading and sophisticated position/orientation tracking using the same hardware. Through software-based processing of power level variation patterns, the reader achieves tracking capabilities previously requiring additional specialized hardware. This universality eliminates the need for extra hardware installations at various workplace locations while maintaining full tracking productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes mechanical/hardware-based tracking systems with a software-based approach that processes power level variation patterns. Instead of using additional physical sensors or hardware components to determine position and orientation, the system uses computational algorithms that analyze the temporal pattern of tag readings at different power levels. This substitution reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for additional hardware while preserving tracking functionality.
3Area of stationary object
If RFID readers operate at high power continuously, then complete field of view is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic power level cycling, alternating between high power (for comprehensive field of view) and lower power states. By performing readings at multiple power levels in a periodic sequence and using the pattern recognition algorithm, the system achieves complete area coverage when needed while reducing average power consumption through the periodic inclusion of lower power operation periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary readings at lower power levels to identify tags that appear consistently across power variations. By preliminarily filtering and analyzing tag appearance patterns before final position determination, the system can reduce the duration and intensity of high power operation required, thereby achieving comprehensive coverage with reduced overall power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for tracking and monitoring tagged objects in an RFID environment is described. By varying RFID reader antenna output power levels and detecting RFID devices in the vicinity, data about position and orientation of the RFID devices can be gathered. This gathered data is used to correlate with pre-stored data about RFID devices' position and orientation. Such a correlation then can be used to infer data about neighboring RFID devices based upon data stored in the database. Such an inferential technique also results in a faster analysis of position and orientation data of RFID devices, and also leads to faster tracking of RFID enabled devices. Unnecessary reads and high power operations of the RFID reader are also avoided.