Patent ID: 7760074

Claim:
A computer implemented method for testing a radio frequency identification reader, the computer implemented method comprising: identifying a minimum signal strength for transmitting a test signal to a diagnostic tag, wherein the test signal is transmitted at the minimum signal strength to the diagnostic tag during a diagnostic period; transmitting, by the radio frequency identification reader, the test signal to the diagnostic tag during the diagnostic period; responsive to receiving a return signal from the diagnostic tag, comparing the return signal with an expected return signal to form a comparison; responsive to an absence of the return signal being received within a specific period of time, transmitting another test signal at a signal strength greater than the minimum signal strength; further responsive to the absence of the return signal being received within the specific period of time, increasing gradually the signal strength with which subsequent test signals are transmitted until one of a threshold maximum signal strength is reached or the return signal is received by the radio frequency identification reader; responsive to reaching the threshold maximum signal strength, notifying a user or central location to investigate further the operational status of the radio frequency identification reader; and identifying an operational status for the radio frequency identification reader using the comparison.