Inventors:
Joshua D. Anderson - Greenville TX, US
Scott M. Burkart - Royse City TX, US
Jonathan E. Brown - Farmersville TX, US
Michael R. Custer - Heath TX, US
International Classification:
H04Q 5/22
Abstract:
Communication between a multi-band RFID tag device that communicates on first and second bands with other devices may be enabled, using a bidirectional communication bridging device that converts first band signals of the RFID tag device to third band signals of another device, and vice-versa. Examples of third band-capable devices that may be bridged for communication with the first band of a RFID tag device include WiFi devices such as smart phone, notebook computer, WLAN router or any other type of WiFi enabled device. In one example, a tag interface control device may be provided in the form of a WiFi-enabled handheld unit that communicates with a multi-band RFID tag through a bridging device using NBFM radio frequency (RF) communications to retrieve or change stored data and/or change the tag operation. Such a WiFi-enabled handheld unit may be configured to be relatively small, portable, and/or battery or wireless-powered.