Methods and devices for assigning RFID device personality

US7658319B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Cisco Technology, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Arthur G. Howarth · Mississauga, CA
• Ralph Droms · Boxborough, US
• Roland Saville · Boca Raton, US
• Lawrence Rolfe Kreeger · Fremont, US
• Christopher Wiborg · Mountain View, US
• Vikas Butaney · Milpitas, US
• Rajiv Singhal · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 12, 2007
• Grant date: Feb 9, 2010
• Expiry date: Dec 12, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W4/029
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for identifying, locating and provisioning individual RFID devices in a network with “personalities” that are appropriate for the roles of the RFID devices. According to some implementations of the invention, a combination of EPC code information and existing networking standards form the basis of identifying and provisioning methods. For example, MAC address information and EPC information can be combined to identify a particular device and its location in a network. For implementations using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“DHCP”), DHCP Options may be used to pass provisioning information. Some implementations employ Domain Name Service (“DNS”) and dynamic DNS (“DDNS”) to allow easy identification of RFID devices.