Automated RFID tag profiling at application

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10892836-B2
Application number	US-202016738732-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2020
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

A system that performs self-diagnosing of unreliable radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in a first location within an environment includes an RFID printer that prints RFID tags in the first location and RFID antennas located at different distances to the first location. The system obtains, for each RFID tag, a first set of RFID parameters of the RFID tag for each RFID antenna when the RFID tag is in the first location. The system generates, for each RFID tag, a model of RFID tag behavior over different distances to an RFID antenna, based at least in part on the first set of RFID parameters obtained for the RFID tag.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a radio frequency identification (RFID) printer configured to output an RFID tag in a first location within an environment;
an RFID reader;
at least one processor; and
a memory storing one or more applications, which, when executed by the at least one processor, performs an operation comprising:
obtaining, via the RFID reader, for the RFID tag, a first set of RFID parameters for each of a plurality of RFID antenna positions; and
generating, for the RFID tag, a first model of RFID tag behavior over different distances to an RFID antenna, based at least in part on the first set of RFID parameters obtained for the RFID tag.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an RFID antenna coupled to the RFID reader, wherein the plurality of RFID antenna positions are generated via the RFID antenna coupled to the RFID reader.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one RFID tag application station disposed in a second location within the environment, wherein the operation further comprises obtaining, via the RFID reader, for the RFID tag, a second set of RFID parameters for each of the plurality of RFID antenna positions when the RFID tag is in the second location.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag is further generated based at least in part on the second set of RFID parameters obtained for the RFID tag.

5. The system of claim 1 , the operation further comprising determining, for the RFID tag, a second model of RFID tag behavior over different distances to an RFID antenna.

6. The system of claim 5 , the operation further comprising upon determining, for the RFID tag, that a difference between the first model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag and the second model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag satisfies a predetermined condition, transmitting the first model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag to a computing system.

7. The system of claim 5 , the operation further comprising upon determining, for the RFID tag, that a difference between the first model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag and the second model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag satisfies a predetermined condition, marking the RFID tag for replacement.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising,
outputting, via a radio frequency identification (RFID) printer, an RFID tag in a first location within an environment;
obtaining, for the RFID tag, a first set of RFID parameters for each of a plurality of RFID antenna positions; and
generating, for the RFID tag, a first model of RFID tag behavior over different distances to an RFID antenna, based at least in part on the first set of RFID parameters obtained for the RFID tag.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of RFID antenna positions are generated via a single RFID antenna.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising obtaining, for the RFID tag, a second set of RFID parameters for each of the plurality of RFID antenna positions when the RFID tag is in a second location within the environment.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the first model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag is further generated based at least in part on the second set of RFID parameters obtained for the RFID tag.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising determining, for the RFID tag, a second model of RFID tag behavior over different distances to an RFID antenna.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , further comprising upon determining, for the RFID tag, that a difference between the first model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag and the second model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag satisfies a predetermined condition, transmitting the first model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag to a computing system.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , further comprising upon determining, for the RFID tag, that a difference between the first model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag and the second model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag satisfies a predetermined condition, marking the RFID tag for replacement.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, which, when executed on a computing system, perform an operation comprising:
outputting, via a radio frequency identification (RFID) printer, an RFID tag in a first location within an environment;
obtaining, for the RFID tag, a first set of RFID parameters for each of a plurality of RFID antenna positions; and
generating, for the RFID tag, a first model of RFID tag behavior over different distances to an RFID antenna, based at least in part on the first set of RFID parameters obtained for the RFID tag.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of RFID antenna positions are generated via a single RFID antenna.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , the operation further comprising obtaining, for the RFID tag, a second set of RFID parameters for each of the plurality of RFID antenna positions when the RFID tag is in a second location within the environment, wherein the first model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag is further generated based at least in part on the second set of RFID parameters obtained for the RFID tag.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , the operation further comprising determining, for the RFID tag, a second model of RFID tag behavior over different distances to an RFID antenna.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , the operation further comprising upon determining, for the RFID tag, that a difference between the first model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag and the second model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag satisfies a predetermined condition, transmitting the first model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag to a computing system.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , the operation further comprising upon determining, for the RFID tag, that a difference between the first model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag and the second model of RFID tag behavior for the RFID tag satisfies a predetermined condition, marking the RFID tag for replacement.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Parshin Sergey
• Ducrou Jon R
• Hapgood Ryan David
• Rogers Jeanette
• Silchanka Uladzimir
• Muthu Pandian Shanmugarajan
• Lake Matthew
• Gray Bradley Nathaniel
• Yu Yeyang

Classifications

• G06K7/10099

  the directional field being used for pinpointing the location of the record carrier, e.g. for finding or locating an RFID tag amongst a plurality of RFID tags, each RFID tag being associated with an object, e.g. for physically locating the RFID tagged object in a warehouse · CPC title

• G06K7/10356

  using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas · CPC title

• G06K7/0095 Primary

  Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly (testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28) · CPC title

• H04B17/391 Primary

  Modelling the propagation channel · CPC title

• G06K7/10019

  resolving collision on the communication channels between simultaneously or concurrently interrogated record carriers. (collision between the communication channels used by wireless communication devices, where the solution is not particularly adapted for RFIDs or the like, H04W74/08) · CPC title