Probabilistic inventory RFID method and system
First Claim
1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for monitoring a space, the system comprising:
- a controller connected to a plurality of RFID readers, the readers to detect data signals from a plurality of RFID tags carried by objects, the objects corresponding to one or more object categories;
a database accessible by the controller, the database to record (1) times when data signals are received from tags in the plurality of RFID tags, and (2) the data contained in the data signals from the tags; and
at least one processor to communicate with the controller, the at least one processor to;
perform an inventory analysis of the objects based on a confidence probability curve;
calculate in-store probabilities for the tags based on the confidence probability curve and at least some of the times when the data signals were received;
sum the in-store probabilities; and
when sales information is received, attempt to match a first RFID tag to the sales information based on a first data signal detected by at least one of the RFID readers.
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Abstract
A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for monitoring a space is disclosed. The system may include a controller connected with a plurality of RFID readers, where each reader can detect data signals from a plurality of RFID tags attached with objects. The objects may be part of an object category. The system may also have a database connected with the controller that records a time when the data signal is received from each tag in the plurality, and the data contained in the data signal from each tag in the plurality. The system may include a processor that can perform an inventory analysis of the objects based on a confidence probability curve. This curve may be a decaying function that may be based on various probabilities. Methods for using the confidence probability curve are also disclosed.
15 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for monitoring a space, the system comprising:
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a controller connected to a plurality of RFID readers, the readers to detect data signals from a plurality of RFID tags carried by objects, the objects corresponding to one or more object categories; a database accessible by the controller, the database to record (1) times when data signals are received from tags in the plurality of RFID tags, and (2) the data contained in the data signals from the tags; and at least one processor to communicate with the controller, the at least one processor to; perform an inventory analysis of the objects based on a confidence probability curve; calculate in-store probabilities for the tags based on the confidence probability curve and at least some of the times when the data signals were received; sum the in-store probabilities; and when sales information is received, attempt to match a first RFID tag to the sales information based on a first data signal detected by at least one of the RFID readers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for monitoring a space, the system comprising:
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a controller connected to a plurality of RFID readers, the readers to detect data signals from a plurality of RFID tags carried by objects; at least one processor to communicate with the controller, the processor to; perform an inventory analysis of the objects based on a confidence probability curve, the confidence probability curve based on at least one of the following four parameters; PS—
the probability of an RFID tag from the plurality being read in a day;PD—
the probability of an RFID tag from the plurality that is unreadable becoming readable within a day;PE—
the probability of an RFID tag from the plurality exiting the space monitored by the RFID system without being detected by the RFID system;
orID—
the percentage of objects exiting the space monitored by the RFID system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A probabilistic inventory system for use with a radio frequency identifier (RFID) system for monitoring a space, the system including:
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a controller connected to a plurality of RFID readers, the readers to detect data signals from a plurality of RFID tags carried by objects; a database accessible by the controller, the database to record (a) times when data signals are received from tags in the plurality of RFID tags, and (b) the data contained in the data signals from the tags; and a point-of-sale (POS) system to record sales information in the database for respective sales of an objects, at least one of the plurality of RFID readers is an exit reader, the POS system to; calculate in-store probabilities for the tags based on (a) a confidence probability curve and (b) a time for respective RFID tags; monitor the RFID reader for detection of data; when sales information is received from the POS system, monitor the exit RFID reader for detection of a data signal from a RFID tag in the plurality; if an RFID tag is detected, match the sales information to the RFID tag and update the database; if an RFID tag is not detected, create a contra-EPC associated with the object and update the database; and report summed in-store probabilities. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A probabilistic inventory system method for use with a radio frequency identification (RFID) system for monitoring a space, the system including:
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a controller connected to a plurality of RFID readers, the readers to detect data signals from a plurality of RFID tags carried by objects; and a database accessible by the controller, the database to record (a) times when data signals are received from tags in the plurality of RFID tags, and (b) the data contained in the data signals from the tags, the controller to; calculate in-store probabilities for a plurality of RFID tags based on a confidence probability curve, the confidence probability curve based on at least one of the following four parameters; PS—
the probability of an RFID tag from the plurality being read in a day;PD—
the probability of an RFID tag from the plurality that is unreadable becoming readable within a day;PE—
the probability of an RFID tag from the plurality exiting the space monitored by the RFID system without being detected by the RFID system;
orID—
the percentage of objects exiting the space monitored by the RFID system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification