Patent ID: 7656858
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: G06K,H01Q,H04L,H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A network for transporting RF data and digital signal data, the network comprising: a plurality of network devices for receiving and communicating signals over the network, wherein each network device has a unique address, wherein the plurality of network devices includes: a plurality of RFID antennae assemblies, each RFID antennae assembly including a plurality of RFID antennas; two combination routers that each have the capability of processing command data signals and facilitating the transporting of both the RF data and the digital signal data, including command data signals, and wherein the at least two combination routers each further includes at least two bidirectional RF input ports, at least two bidirectional digital input ports, at least two bidirectional RF output ports and at least two bidirectional digital output ports, and further including logic, responsive to certain command data signals, for dynamically switching certain RF data between one of the bidirectional RF input ports and one of the bidirectional RF output ports, and certain digital signal data between one of the bidirectional digital input ports and one of the bidirectional digital output ports; an RFID reader connected to one of the bidirectional RF input ports of each of the two combination routers for receiving read RF data from various ones of the plurality of RFID antennas through different RF routes, each of the different RF routes including one of the two combination routers, and wherein the RFID reader can further translate the read RF data into read digital data signals; and a manager unit for controlling the network and for coordinating identification and notification of the plurality of network devices, including the plurality of RFID antennas, the at least two combination routers and the RFID reader, wherein the manager unit ensures that appropriate connections occur between each of the plurality of RFID antennas and the RFID reader at appropriate times to establish the RF routes.