Abstract: A host server may optimize configurations of a set of readers under its control. The server assigns a multicast address to each reader in the set. Once connected, the server sends a multicast message to each reader assigned to the multicast address or to each reader within a given address range. Information in the multicast message is used for configuring or managing polling operations of each reader assigned to the multicast address or each reader within the given address range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining data of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag in a virtual read zone of a non-RFID enabled device. The method comprises determining a location of the non-RFID enabled device, determining a virtual read zone of the non-RFID enabled device using at least the location of the non-RFID enabled device, identifying at least one fixed reader device having an RFID read zone that at least partially includes the virtual read zone, reading data of the RFID tag using the at least one fixed reader device, and transmitting the data of the RFID tag from the at least one fixed reader device to the non-RFID enabled device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating an item within an RFID monitored area. When attempting to locate an item using an RFID reader, an interrogation signal is transmitted for at least one RFID tag. A responsive signal from the interrogated RFID tag is processed using data from one or more orientation sensors configured within the RFID reader to determine a direction from the RFID reader toward the RFID tag. The direction toward the RFID tag is displayed and the process repeats while movement of the RFID reader is detected to assist the user in locating the RFID tag, and thus, the item.

Abstract: A host server may optimize configurations of a set of readers under its control. The server assigns a multicast address to each reader in the set. Once connected, the server sends a multicast message to each reader assigned to the multicast address or to each reader within a given address range. Information in the multicast message is used for configuring or managing polling operations of each reader assigned to the multicast address or each reader within the given address range.

Abstract: Embodiments include a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader system and methods of its operation. The system includes a drive system and an RFID tag reader. The RFID tag reader includes a directional antenna configured to receive RF signals within a radiowave beam (e.g. RFID tag response signals from RFID tags when the RFID tags are within an area encompassed by the radiowave beam). An embodiment of the system also includes a camera configured to capture images within a field of view. The drive system is coupled to the directional antenna and the camera, and is configured to change physical orientations of the directional antenna and the camera with respect to a fixed coordinate system, resulting in adjustments to angular orientations of the radiowave beam and the field of view with respect to the fixed coordinate system.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification system comprises a tag, a back-end system, and a plurality of readers, each reader having at least one antenna coupled thereto. In a cross-read resolution method performed by a first reader, the first reader receives a first tag read of the tag having a tag identifier. The first reader determines a first metric for the first tag read, and transmits the first metric and the tag identifier to a second reader. The first reader receives a second metric and the tag identifier from the second reader, wherein the second metric is determined by the second reader based on a second tag read of the tag by the second reader. The first reader executes an algorithm, based at least in part, on the first metric and the second metric, to determine whether the first reader will report the tag identifier to the back-end system.