In some scenarios, the time slot allocations can be dynamically changed during system operations. For example, a relatively large number of tag read collisions are occurring in the system (e.g., system 100 of FIG. 1). Accordingly, the time slot allocations are changed so as to minimize such tag read collisions. The manner in which time slots are re-allocated can be determined by a single device (e.g., server 124 of FIG. 1) or by a plurality of devices (e.g., RFID tags 1121, . . . , 112N, 1181, . . . , 118X, tag readers 120 and/or server 124 of FIG. 1).
Referring now to FIG. 8, there is a flow diagram of an illustrative method 800 for determining an inventory using a time slotted communications scheme such as that shown in FIGS. 7A-7B. Method 800 begins with 802 and continues with 804-806 where an RFID tag (e.g., RFID tags 1121, . . . , 112N, 1181, . . . , or 118X of FIG. 1) is activated and placed in a time slot determining mode.
