Patent ID: 7714697

Claim:
A method in a first reader for time multiplexing access to a communication medium in a first radio frequency identification (RFID) communications system that includes a plurality of RFID readers, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) entering into a token passing mode; (b) waiting for a predetermined time interval before accessing the communication medium; (c) possessing a token, possession of which permits the reader to access the communication medium for tag interrogation; (d) determining whether to access the communication medium for tag interrogation; (e) retaining the token for a period of time; and (f) passing the token to a second reader, wherein step (e) further comprises determining a time limit, wherein the first reader is enabled to possess the token for a time interval less than or equal to the determined time limit, after which the first reader transfers the token to a second reader in the network, wherein step (e) further comprises: analyzing an environment to determine whether a second RFID communications system needs to access the communications medium for tag interrogation; calculating a time interval greater than the time required by the second communications system to perform at least one tag interrogation, if it is determined that the second communications system needs to access the communications medium; and prior to performing step (f), adjusting a token retention time to be equal to the time interval calculated greater than the time required by the second communications system to perform the at least one tag interrogation.