Data encoding in radio frequency identification transponders

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for efficiently encoding source data in radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. The encoded source data may also provide additional functionality such as data error detection and correction. A source data encoding and decoding method for a RFID system having a RFID transponder comprises the steps of obtaining the source data, encoding to provide more efficient data encodation that may also include data error detection and error correction, writing the encoded source data to a RFID transponder, reading the encoded source data from the RFID transponder, and decoding the encoded source data to recover the original source data. The encoding may utilize bar code symbology algorithms or a non-Full ASCII enhanced functionality character set. A source data encoding device and a decoding device for a RFID system may comprise a memory, a processor for running a program stored in the memory, a bar code printer for printing a bar code, a RFID transponder programmer for writing the data to the RFID transponder, a RFID interrogator for interrogating the RFID transponder, and a bar code reader to read a bar code. The data may be provided encoded or the device may encode/decode the data using coding algorithms. The RFID transponder stores the encoded source data, that may utilize a non-Full ASCII enhanced functionality character set, and the encoded data may be retrieved to recover the original source data.

1 - 34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . A system for optically reading bar code symbology and interrogating an RFID transponder comprising: 
 a bar code reader for optically reading bar code symbology;    an RFID interrogator for reading encoded data from an RFID transponder;    at least one memory device for storing at least one program, said at least one program being adapted to: 
 functionally operate said bar code reader and said RFID interrogator to read, respectfully, said bar code symbology and said encoded data, wherein said functional operation of said RFID interrogator comprises generating at least one electromagnetic field;  
 decode said bar code symbology and said encoded data; and  
 perform data error detection and correction on said encoded data; and  
   a single processor for running said at least one program.    
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to decode said bar code symbology and said encoded data using a bar code symbology coding algorithm comprising a non-Full ASCII format.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to produce said bar code symbology and said encoded data by encoding source data.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to perform data error detection and correction on both said bar code symbology and said encoded data.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to (i) obtain source data, (ii) obtain a size of an available unused memory in said RFID transponder, (iii) select an optimal degree of error correction performance based on said size of said available unused memory and a size of said source data; and (iv) encode said source data for storage in said available unused memory using the selected degree of error correction.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to (i) obtain said encoded data from said available unused memory, (ii) determine whether said encoded data is corrupted, (iii) modify said optimal degree of error correction performance based on said determination, and (iv) encode said source data for storage in said available unused memory using the modified degree of error correction.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to (i) obtain source data, (ii) define a set of numeric values, said set containing a number of members equal to a prime number or a power of a prime number, (iii) map said source data to a string of numeric values from said set, (iv) perform a mathematical algorithm on the string of numeric values to produce at least three additional numeric values; (v) combine the string of numeric values with the at least three additional numeric values; and (vi) write the resulting string of numeric values to said RFID transponder.  
   
   
       42 . A system for printing bar code symbology and interrogating an RFID transponder comprising: 
 a bar code printer for printing bar code symbology;    an RFID interrogator for writing encoded data to an RFID transponder;    at least one memory device for storing at least one program, said at least one program being adapted to: 
 functionally operate said bar code printer and said RFID interrogator to read, respectfully, said bar code symbology and said encoded data, wherein said functional operation of said RFID interrogator comprises generating at least one electromagnetic field;  
 encode source data to generate said bar code symbology and said encoded data; and  
 perform data error detection and correction on said encoded data; and  
   a single processor for running said at least one program.    
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to decode said bar code symbology and said encoded data  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to decode said bar code symbology and said encoded data using a bar code symbology coding algorithm comprising a non-Full ASCII format.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to perform data error detection and correction on both said bar code symbology and said encoded data.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to (i) obtain said source data, (ii) obtain a size of an available unused memory in said RFID transponder, (iii) select an optimal degree of error correction performance based on said size of said available unused memory and a size of said source data; and (iv) encode said source data for storage in said available unused memory using the selected degree of error correction.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to (i) obtain said encoded data from said available unused memory, (ii) determine whether said encoded data is corrupted, (iii) modify said optimal degree of error correction performance based on said determination, and (iv) encode said source data for storage in said available unused memory using the modified degree of error correction.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to (i) obtain source data, (ii) define a set of numeric values, said set containing a number of members equal to a prime number or a power of a prime number, (iii) map said source data to a string of numeric values from said set, (iv) perform a mathematical algorithm on the string of numeric values to produce at least three additional numeric values; (v) combine the string of numeric values with the at least three additional numeric values; and (vi) write the resulting string of numeric values to said RFID transponder.  
   
   
       49 . A system for optically reading bar code symbology, printing bar code symbology and interrogating an RFID transponder comprising: 
 a bar code reader for optically reading bar code symbology;    a bar code printer for printing bar code symbology;    an RFID interrogator for writing encoded data to an RFID transponder and reading encoded data from an RFID transponder;    at least one memory device for storing at least one program, said at least one program being adapted to: 
 functionally operate said bar code reader, said bar code printer and said RFID interrogator to read said bar code symbology and said encoded data and to print said bar code symbology, wherein said functional operation of said RFID interrogator comprises generating at least one electromagnetic field;  
 decode said bar code symbology and said encoded data; and  
 perform data error detection and correction on said encoded data; and  
   a single processor for running said at least one program.    
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to decode said bar code symbology and said encoded data using a bar code symbology coding algorithm comprising a non-Full ASCII format.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to produce said bar code symbology and said encoded data by encoding source data.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to perform data error detection and correction on both said bar code symbology and said encoded data.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to (i) obtain source data, (ii) obtain a size of an available unused memory in said RFID transponder, (iii) select an optimal degree of error correction performance based on said size of said available unused memory and a size of said source data; and (iv) encode said source data for storage in said available unused memory using the selected degree of error correction.  
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein said at least one program is further adapted to (i) obtain said encoded data from said available unused memory, (ii) determine whether said encoded data is corrupted, (iii) modify said optimal degree of error correction performance based on said determination, and (iv) encode said source data for storage in said available unused memory using the modified degree of error correction.