Patent ID: 8242890
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: G06K,G07B,G08B

Abstract:
1. An RFID interrogator system comprising first and second RFID interrogators, each interrogator comprising elements a through e as follows: (a) a computer comprising a storage memory area and a processor, the computer being arranged for storing and selectively retrieving configuration parameters associated with plural RFID protocols; (b) a set of configuration parameter data for plural RFID protocols stored within the computer; (c) a protocol schedule comprising information representing a sequence in which different protocols shall be implemented; (d) a transceiver component connected to the computer via a data interface, said transceiver component being arranged to alter said transceiver component's operation in response to configuration parameter data received from the computer via the data interface; (e) wherein the computer automatically switches said transceiver component's operation among two or more protocols by retrieving said configuration parameter data and sending said configuration parameter data via the data interface to the transceiver component in accordance with the protocol schedule; a synchronization signal generator comprising a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, said synchronization signal generator producing a system synchronization signal derived at least in part from a received GPS signal; and wherein the second RFID interrogator receives said system synchronization signal via a synchronization circuit.