Processes for distribution and use of a mobile RFID container
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a mobile container configured to carry a plurality of items with a corresponding plurality of RFID tags inside the mobile container, wherein the mobile container includes;
an RFID detector configured to conduct at least one RFID scan and responsively generate scan data concerning the plurality of RFID tags;
location determining circuitry configured to determine location data corresponding to a current location of the mobile container;
a communications interface configured to wirelessly transmit the scan data and the location data; and
a door providing access to an interior region of the mobile container where the plurality of items with the corresponding plurality of RFID tags reside; and
an enterprise resource planning (“
ERP”
) system remote from the mobile container, wherein the ERP system is configured to;
communicate with the mobile container to receive the scan data and the location data;
determine whether the mobile container is within a geofence boundary of an end user based on the location data, at a distribution center, or in transit between the geofence boundary of the end user and the distribution center;
determine an identity of items removed from the mobile container while in the geofence boundary of the end user based on the scan data and the location data; and
determine restocking information for the mobile container based on the scan data before the mobile container arrives at the distribution center.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile RFID container, such as a case, cargo container, vehicle, etc., includes an RFID detector configured to conduct an RFID scan to generate scan data concerning the items carried in the mobile RFID container, and location determining circuitry for generating location data concerning the location of the mobile RFID container. A method for distributing RFID-tagged items using the mobile RFID container includes placing a plurality of RFID-tagged items in the mobile RFID container, conducting one or more RFID scans to generate scan data concerning the contents of the RFID container, and processing the scan data and location data to determine the location of the mobile RFID container at times when the contents of the RFID container have changed. The RFID scans may be performed, for example, in response to (a) sensing that the contents of the container have been accessed, (b) a request from a remote device, and/or (c) the location of the RFID container relative to geofence boundary corresponding to a particular geographical location.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a mobile container configured to carry a plurality of items with a corresponding plurality of RFID tags inside the mobile container, wherein the mobile container includes; an RFID detector configured to conduct at least one RFID scan and responsively generate scan data concerning the plurality of RFID tags; location determining circuitry configured to determine location data corresponding to a current location of the mobile container; a communications interface configured to wirelessly transmit the scan data and the location data; and a door providing access to an interior region of the mobile container where the plurality of items with the corresponding plurality of RFID tags reside; and an enterprise resource planning (“
ERP”
) system remote from the mobile container, wherein the ERP system is configured to;communicate with the mobile container to receive the scan data and the location data; determine whether the mobile container is within a geofence boundary of an end user based on the location data, at a distribution center, or in transit between the geofence boundary of the end user and the distribution center; determine an identity of items removed from the mobile container while in the geofence boundary of the end user based on the scan data and the location data; and determine restocking information for the mobile container based on the scan data before the mobile container arrives at the distribution center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification