Configuring the Reader

Resetting to Factory Defaults

The Config class contains all the method related to reader configuration. The resetFactoryDefaults method informs the reader to set all configurable values to factory defaults.

// Reset to Factory defaults

reader.Config.resetFactoryDefaults();

GPIO (General Purpose Input and Output)

The set of functions are available for controlling the GPIO ports of the Reader. The number of GPIs and GPOs supported by the reader can be queried from the reader capabilities. In general sensors will be connected to input ports and indicator or lights will be connected to output ports.

a. GPI (General Purpose Input) Port

The function getPortState gets the current GPI port state of the reader. The specified port can be accessed by passing the index.

The function isPortEnabled can be used to get the current configuration and state of the specified port number. The specified port can be accessed by passing the index.

The function enablePort enables the specified port number. It is possible to register for GPI Port state change notification. Before registering, the interested port must be enabled

// Get numer of GPI ports supported by Reader              

int numGPIPorts = reader.ReaderCapabilities.getNumGPIPorts();

// Enable GPI port 1              

reader.Config.GPI.enablePort(1, true);

// To Query the GPI Port 1

boolean portEnabled = reader.Config.GPI.isPortEnabled(1);

// To get the GPI Port State

GPI_PORT_STATE gpiPortState = reader.Config.GPI.getPortState(1);

 

b. GPO (General Purpose Output) Port

The function getPortState gets the current ouput port state of the reader. The specified port can be accessed by passing the index.

// Get numer of GPO ports supported by Reader              

int numGPOPorts = reader.ReaderCapabilities.getNumGPOPorts();

// Set GPO port 1              

reader.Config.GPO.setPortState(1, GPO_PORT_STATE.TRUE);

// To get the port state

GPO_PORT_STATE gpoPortState = reader.Config.GPO.getPortState(1);

 

Radio Power State Configuration

The function reader.Config.getRadioPowerState gets the current power state of the RFID Radio Module whether it is turned ON or OFF.

// gets Radio Power state

RADIO_POWER_STATE radioPowerState = reader.Config.getRadioPowerState();

Antenna specific configuration

The config class contains the Antennas object. The individual antenna can be accessed and configured using the index.

Configuration

The AntennaProperties is used to set the antenna configuration to individual antenna or all the antennas.

The antenna configuration (SetAntennaConfig function) comprises of Antenna ID, Receive Sensitivity Index, Transmit Power index, Transmit Frequency Index. These indexes are refers to the Receive Sensitivity table, Transmit Power table, Frequency Hop table or Fixed Frequency table respectively. These tables are available in Reader capabilities. getAntennaConfig function gets the antenna configuration for the given antenna ID.

RF Configuration

The function setAntennaRfConfig is added to configure antenna RF configuration to individual antenna. This function is similar like setAntennaConfig but includes additional parameters specific pertaining to antenna.

The configuration includes Receive Sensitivity Index, Transmit Power index, Transmit Frequency Index, RF Mode Table index. These indexes are refers to the Receive Sensitivity table, Transmit Power table, Frequency Hop table or Fixed Frequency table, RF Mode table respectively. These tables are available in Reader capabilities. Also, includes tari, transmit port, receive port and Antenna Stop trigger condition. The stop condition can be ‘n’ number of attempts, duration based. The function getAntennaRfConfig gets the antenna RF configuration for the given antenna ID.

Singulation Control

The function getSingulationControl retrieves the current settings of the singulation control from the reader for the given Antenna ID.

To set the singulation control settings, the setSingulationControl method will be used. The following settings can be configured:

  • Session: Session number to use for inventory operation
  • Tag Population: An estimate of the tag population in view of the RF field of the antenna
  • Tag Transit Time: An estimate of the time a tag will typically remain in the RF field
  • State Aware singulation Action: The action includes the Inventory state and SL flag. The action can be used if only reader supports this capability. The ReaderCapabilities class helps to determine whether state-aware singulation is supported or not.

    // Get Singulation Control for the antenna 2

    Antennas.SingulationControl singulationControl;

    singulationControl = reader.Config.Antennas.getSingulationControl(2);

    RF Mode

  • The reader has one or more set of C1G2 RF mode that the reader is capable of operating. The supported RF mode can be retrieved from RF Mode table using ReaderCapabilities class.
  • The function getRFMode gets the current index to RF Mode table and the Tari from the reader. setRFMode method shall be used to change the RF Mode settings in the reader.

    Properties

    The physical antenna properties of the individual antenna can be known by using getPhysicalProperties. This function gets the gain and the connectivity status of the specified antenna.