A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader identifies in which room among several rooms the RFID reader is more likely to be located. The RFID reader includes a transmitter for transmitting an interrogating radio frequency (RF) signal. It includes a receiver for receiving RF signals generated in corresponding pairs of RFID tags. The RFID tag pairs are attached to corresponding regions of each of the rooms. Each of said RFID tag pair including a first RFID tag and a second RFID tag that are spaced from each other by a distance that is larger or equal to λ/4 and smaller than or equal to λ/2 with respect to a frequency of a responding RF signal originated in the pair of RFID tags. A processor selects a larger RSSI of the RSSPs of the signal pair. The processor determines a corresponding sum of the RSSI's selected from each signal pair associated with each room. The processor evaluates in accordance with determined sums, the location in which said RFID reader is more likely to be located.

A shielding grounded enclosure receives containers holding articles with UHF RFID tags with codes to be read out in a multi-read operation. The container can be a cart or bag trolley carrying garments, linens, cleaning items, floor mats other RFID coded items. The enclosure forms a tunnel leading into a reading zone where antennas are mounted in the back of niches, such as the back of a transverse channel extending up the sidewalls and over the top of the tunnel. The antenna arrangement is such that illumination/polling signals are applied strongly in the reading zone. The depth of the niches and the length of hallways or foyers leading into the reading zone are dimensioned to minimize or eliminate lines of sight from the antenna to the area outside of the enclosure. Additionally or alternatively, shielding enclosure such as a conductive door is movable across an opening leading into the reading zone.

Apparatus and methods are provided for automatically interrogating a tagged object using radio frequency identification (RFID) when the object is moved. In one embodiment, a worker is outfitted with a wearable RFID system including an RF antenna, an RFID reader, and a holder to hold the antenna and reader during operation. The system is worn by the worker while the worker moves objects from one place to another. When the worker moves an object with an attached RFID tag, the antenna automatically begins scanning for signals from the object's RFID tag. When a RF signal is received by the antenna, the RFID reader collects the signal and transmits it to a host system which processes the signal to obtain information related to the object to which the RFID tag is attached.

A reader comprising: a panel; two antennae each associated with a respective race to transmit and/or receive information to/from an electronic animal tag in that respective race; and an electromagnetic shield to impede an antenna from transmitting and/or receiving information to/from an electronic animal tag not located in the respective race of that antenna; a system for reading electronic animal tags comprising: a plurality of readers each located at or near a wall of a respective plurality of races, wherein each reader is at least partially shielded by an electromagnetic shield; each reader being longitudinally offset with respect to at least one other reader in the plurality of readers; and methods of constructing and using a reader.

A communication system includes a master device and a slave device. The master device can transmit a signal to a slave device. The slave device includes an antenna, a sensor unit, an RFID unit, a changeover switch that connects the antenna to one of the sensor unit and the RFID unit, and a switching circuit that switches the changeover switch based on a switching signal transmitted from the master device. When the antenna in the slave device receives the switching signal from the master device, the switching circuit switches the changeover switch in the slave device from a state in which the antenna and the sensor unit are connected to a state in which the antenna and the RFID unit are connected, in accordance with the switching signal.

Various embodiments herein relate to methods and systems for backscatter communication using pre-defined templates. In accordance with at least one embodiment, there is provided a backscattering communication system, comprising a transmitting unit, a backscattering tag, and a receiving unit. The transmitting unit is configured to transmit a signal comprising a transmitted frame including a pre-defined data payload. The backscattering tag is configured to: receive, from the transmitting unit, the signal comprising the transmitted frame; encode tag data over the pre-defined data payload to generate a modified data payload; and transmit a backscattered signal comprising a backscattered frame including the modified data payload. The receiving unit is configured to: receive, from the backscattering tag, the backscattered signal; and decode the modified data payload, in the backscattered frame, to recover the tag data, wherein the decoding is based on prior knowledge of the receiving unit of the pre-defined data payload.

An apparatus for managing an inventory of goods stored in multiple bins on a shelving system includes an RFID antenna disposed on an upper shelf of the shelving system. The RFID antenna communicates with RFID tags disposed above the upper shelf RF shielding is disposed between the RFID antenna and lower shelves. An RFID tag is attached to a bin configured to contain the goods. The RFID tag is encoded with information identifying the goods stored in the bin. An RFID reader performs scans to detect RFID tags disposed above the upper shelf. An inventory computer generates a bin detection confirmation message based on the RFID tag being detected by the RFID reader at least a first number of times during a predetermined detection period. The inventory computer also generates a product reorder message based on the RFID tag being detected by the RFID reader at least a second number of times during the predetermined detection period, wherein the second number of times is greater than the first number of times. The product reorder message includes the information identifying the goods stored in the bin.

A module (101) includes: a substrate (1) having a first main surface (1a); a first sealing resin (6a) disposed to cover the first main surface (1a); a shielding film (8) that covers an upper surface and a side surface of the first sealing resin (6a); and two or more RFID tags (41, 42) sealed in the first sealing resin (6a) with the two or more RFID tags (41, 42) being not electrically connected to the substrate (1). The two or more RFID tags (41, 42) are disposed such that communication surfaces of the two or more RFID tags (41, 42) are oriented in different directions. The shielding film (8) is provided with an opening or notch at a portion facing each of the communication surfaces of the two or more RFID tags (41, 42).

A reader that reduces the impacts of radio waves while keeping the convenience during reading, and such an information providing system. The reader reads information from a RF tag attached to a product. The reader has an opening, and includes a shield that accommodates the product placed through the opening, and an antenna that radiates radio waves for communicating with the RF tag attached to the accommodated product. The reader reads information from the RF tag while keeping the shield open.

A system includes one or more assets disposed within a physical location, where each asset is coupled to a wireless tag. Each wireless tag is configured to wirelessly transmit beacon signals at predetermined intervals. The system further includes a gateway configured to cover the range of the physical location. The gateway is configured to scan the physical location to identify beacon signals transmitted by each of the wireless tags and receive the beacon signals from each wireless tag at the predetermined intervals. The gateway is also configured to dynamically optimize a function of the gateway by adjusting a scan frequency based at least in part on a variability of the wireless tags disposed within the physical location.