RFID Tag Search Using Representative Tags and Frequency Switching
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RFID systems face inefficiencies in searching for individual RFID tags within large groups, as they typically focus on individual tag communication rather than utilizing a representative tag for initial grouping and subsequent targeted searches.
Innovation Solution
A radio communicating device that first communicates with representative RFID tags to determine proximity and then switches to a different communication mode to efficiently search and obtain information from individual tags within the group, using distinct frequency bands for representative and individual tags.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If individual RFID tags are searched from the beginning using fine search methods, then accurate tag identification is achieved, but search time increases significantly when a large number of tags are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the search process into two distinct phases: a rough search phase that identifies candidate tag groups using low-precision methods, and a fine search phase that accurately identifies individual tags within the selected group. This segmentation allows the system to avoid exhaustive searching of all tags while maintaining identification accuracy for the target tag.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary rough search to identify candidate tag groups before conducting the fine search for individual tags. By pre-filtering the search space to only relevant tag groups, the system reduces the overall search time while ensuring that the subsequent fine search operates on a manageable subset of tags.
2Productivity
If representative RFID tags are used to represent tag groups for efficient searching, then search efficiency improves, but communication complexity increases due to switching between different communication modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces representative RFID tags as intermediaries that link tag groups to individual tags. These representative tags serve as mediators that enable efficient group-level identification without requiring direct communication with every individual tag, thus improving search efficiency while managing communication complexity through a hierarchical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a hierarchical dimension to the RFID search structure by introducing representative tags at the group level above individual tags. This dimensional change creates a two-level hierarchy (group level and individual tag level) that allows the system to efficiently narrow down search targets before performing detailed individual tag identification.
3Measurement precision
If high-frequency bands are used for close-range communication with individual tags, then communication accuracy improves, but communication range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different communication frequency characteristics to different search stages: using broader coverage frequencies for rough search and higher accuracy frequencies for fine search. This local quality approach optimizes the communication parameters according to the specific requirements of each search phase, achieving both range and accuracy where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for communicating with an RFID tag is provided which has a radio communicating device configured to conduct radio communication with a plurality of individual RFID tags constituting a single tag group and a single representative RFID tag associated so as to represent the tag group. A first information obtainment portion is configured to conduct first communication for search of the representative RFID tag corresponding to the individual RFID tag to be searched and to obtain information from the representative RFID tag; a switching determination portion configured to determine if the first communication in information obtainment satisfies a predetermined switching condition. A second information obtainment portion configured to conduct second communication for search of the individual RFID tag to be searched in a communication mode different from that of the first communication if the determination is satisfied and to obtain information from the individual RFID tag.