Container with a detection system
First Claim
1. A portable container for one or more articles each tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, the container having at least one opening into the container and a detector device for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in or outside the container, wherein the container comprises:
- a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device, wherein the detector device is structured to be selectively detachable and is configured to activate an internal or external antenna for detecting RFID-tagged articles;
an activation means, wherein the activation means is at least one of an electrical circuit, initialization button, or scanner activation button in communication with the detector device, and wherein the activation means is operable to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container;
a verification means, wherein the verification means is at least one of a data processing device, movement detector, or accelerator in communication with the detector device, and wherein at least one of the verification means is housed within a cavity in the container and is operable by movement of the container to cause the detector device to activate the internal antenna to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal deviation from the reference list;
a signal means, wherein the signal means is at least one of an optical signal, an audible signal, or tactile signal in communication with the detector device for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user; and
wherein the user can selectively operate the detector device to activate the external antenna for detecting RFID tagged articles identified as absent in the reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable container for one or more articles each tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, the container comprising a detector device for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in the container; a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device; an activation means operable to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container; a verification means operable by movement of the container to cause the detector device to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal deviation from the reference list; and a signal means for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user. The detector device may transmit an article absent signal and/or an unknown article signal. The detector device may comprise an external antenna configured to detect RFID-tagged articles outside the container.
26 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A portable container for one or more articles each tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, the container having at least one opening into the container and a detector device for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in or outside the container, wherein the container comprises:
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a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device, wherein the detector device is structured to be selectively detachable and is configured to activate an internal or external antenna for detecting RFID-tagged articles; an activation means, wherein the activation means is at least one of an electrical circuit, initialization button, or scanner activation button in communication with the detector device, and wherein the activation means is operable to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container; a verification means, wherein the verification means is at least one of a data processing device, movement detector, or accelerator in communication with the detector device, and wherein at least one of the verification means is housed within a cavity in the container and is operable by movement of the container to cause the detector device to activate the internal antenna to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal deviation from the reference list; a signal means, wherein the signal means is at least one of an optical signal, an audible signal, or tactile signal in communication with the detector device for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user; and wherein the user can selectively operate the detector device to activate the external antenna for detecting RFID tagged articles identified as absent in the reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of detecting removal and/or placement of articles in a container, wherein each article is tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, wherein the container has at least one opening into the container, a detector device structured to be selectively detachable and configured for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in or outside the container, a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device, at least one of an electrical circuit, initialization button, or scanner activation button in communication with the detector device, at least one of a data processing device, movement detector, or accelerator in communication with the detector device, and at least one of an optical signal, an audible signal, or tactile signal in communication with the detector device for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user, and wherein the method comprises the steps of:
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(a) operating the at least one of an electrical circuit, initialization button, or scanner activation button to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container and optionally to detect a RFID-tagged key configured to permit detection of the reference list; (b) operating the at least one of a data processing device, movement detector, or accelerator by movement of the container to cause the detector device to activate an internal antenna to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal detection of deviation from the reference list; and (c) when deviation from the reference list is determined, selectively operating the detector device to activate an external antenna for detecting the RFID tagged articles identified as absent in the reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container.
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16. A portable container for one or more articles each tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, the container having at least one opening into the container and a detector device for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in or outside the container, wherein the container comprises:
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a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device, wherein the detector device is structured to be selectively detachable and configured to activate a pre-determined antenna for detecting RFID-tagged articles; an activation button in communication with the detector device, wherein the activation button is operable to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container; a data processing device in communication with the detector device, wherein the data processing device is operable by movement of the container to cause the detector device to activate an internal antenna to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal deviation from the reference list; and an optical signal in communication with the detector device for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user, wherein the user can selectively operate the detector device to activate an external antenna for detecting RFID tagged articles identified in the deviation signal. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification