Patent ID: 7486172

Claim:
A method of identifying a radio frequency (RF) transponder, comprising: receiving a first set of identifying information from at least one RF transponder in an identification_transmitting state; generating a first Fail command if said first set of identifying information is from more than one RF transponder, said first Fail command including a first_integer for identifying a number of times a routine is to be performed in response to receiving said first Fail command; transmitting said first Fail command to said at least one RF transponder, said first Fail command prompting said at least one RF transponder to perform said routine said first_integer number of times, said routine comprising: generating a random number, said random number being one of two integers; and incrementing a counter by one if said random number is a particular one of said two integers; receiving a second set of identifying information from each one of said at least one RF transponder that includes a counter that is equal to a second_integer after said routine is performed said first_integer number of times; generating and transmitting a second Fail command if said second set of identifying information is from more than one RF transponder; and transmitting an Isolation command if said second set of identifying information is from one RF transponder, said isolation command being adapted to move said one RF transponder from an identification_transmitting state to a data_exchange state, said one RF transponder in said data_exchange state being adapted to not respond to subsequently transmitted Fail commands.