RANDOM INTERVAL INVENTORY SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting information signals at random times from individual ones of a plurality of tags to at least one master transceiver, the individual ones of the plurality of tags being affixed to respective individual ones of a plurality of items, the information signals transmitted from the individual tags corresponding at least to the respective items to which the tags are affixed;
in response to the at least one master transceiver receiving an information signal, supplying the information signal to an associated confirmation device; and
within the confirmation device, in response to receiving an information signal from the master transceiver, confirming that the item corresponding to the information signal is accounted for.
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Abstract
A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items based upon random times that occur as a function of a first specified time interval, and a random interval inventory system that operates in accordance with the method. The method includes a first step of transmitting information signals based upon random times from individual ones of a plurality of tags (5a1-5xx) to at least one of at least one master transceiver and at least one transceiver (4a-4n). The individual tags (5a1-5xx) are affixed to respective individual ones of a plurality of items. The information signals transmitted from each tag (5a1-5xx) correspond at least to the respective item to which the tag (5a1-5xx) is affixed. The random times occur as a function of a first specified time interval. For a case wherein the information signals are transmitted to the at least one remote transceiver, each at least one remote transceiver (4a-4n) receives information signals from at least one of the tags (4a-4n), and in response to receiving each information signal, relays the signal to the master transceiver (3). In response to the master transceiver (3) receiving an information signal, a next step includes supplying the signal to an associated confirmation device (2). Within the confirmation device (2), in response to receiving an information signal from the master transceiver (3), a next step includes confirming that the item corresponding to the information signal is accounted for.
51 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting information signals at random times from individual ones of a plurality of tags to at least one master transceiver, the individual ones of the plurality of tags being affixed to respective individual ones of a plurality of items, the information signals transmitted from the individual tags corresponding at least to the respective items to which the tags are affixed;
in response to the at least one master transceiver receiving an information signal, supplying the information signal to an associated confirmation device; and
within the confirmation device, in response to receiving an information signal from the master transceiver, confirming that the item corresponding to the information signal is accounted for. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 39, 40)
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23. A method for inventorying a plurality of items, individual ones of the plurality of items having respective individual ones of a plurality of tags affixed thereto, the individual tags transmitting information signals at random times to at least one remote transceiver, the information signals transmitted from the individual tags corresponding to the respective ones of the plurality of items to which the tags are affixed, comprising the steps of:
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at the at least one remote transceiver, setting a timer to run in response to receiving a first information signal received from an individual one of the tags;
storing information which indicates an alarm status and which identifies the item corresponding to the first received information signal in response to one of;
(1) the timer reaching a first predetermined time value before a second information signal is received and (2) the timer not reaching a second predetermined time value before the second information signal is received; and
communicating the stored information to a master transceiver in response to the remote transceiver receiving an interrogation command from the master receiver.
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24. A method for inventorying a plurality of items, individual ones of the plurality of items having respective individual ones of a plurality of tags associated therewith, the individual tags transmitting information signals at random times in a predefined manner to at least one remote transceiver, the information signals transmitted from the individual tags corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of items with which the tags are associated, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring for at least one change in status effecting individual ones of the tags indicated by the at least one remote transceiver receiving information signals transmitted from the individual tags in a manner other than the predefined manner; and
notifying a master transceiver of the at least one change in status effecting the individual tags in response to the remote transceiver receiving an interrogation command from the master transceiver.
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25. A random interval inventory system, for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items, comprising:
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at least one master transceiver having an output, said master transceiver for receiving information signals and for providing said information signals to said output;
a security station, having an input coupled to said master transceiver output, said security station for confirming that an item corresponding to an information signal received at said input is accounted for; and
a plurality of transmit-only tags, individual ones of said plurality of transmit-only tags being affixed to respective individual ones of a plurality of items, said individual ones of said plurality of transmit-only tags for transmitting information signals, based upon first random times to said at least one master transceiver, said information signals transmitted from said individual ones of said plurality of transmit-only tags correspond at least to said respective individual ones of said plurality of items to which said transmit-only tags are affixed.
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35. A transmit-only tag, said transmit-only tag being associated with an object of interest, said transmit-only tag for transmitting information signals to a receiving station at random times that occur as a function of at least one of a first average time interval and a second average time interval.
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37. A receive/transmit (RX/TX) tag, comprising:
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a controller;
a receiver portion; and
a transmitter portion, wherein said controller controls said transmitter portion to transmit signals at random times occurring as a function of a specified time interval, said controller turns off said transmitter portion after a first one of said signals is transmitted, said controller thereafter turns on said receiver portion for a predetermined time period, and thereafter turns on said transmitter portion again for transmitting a second one of said signals.
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38. A random interval inventory system, comprising:
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a receive/transmit (RX/TX) tag comprising means for transmitting signals at random times occurring as a function of a specified time interval, said RX/TX tag further comprising a receiver and a controller, said controller turns off said means for transmitting signals after a first one of said signals is transmitted, said controller thereafter turns on said receiver for a predetermined time period, and thereafter turns on said means for transmitting signals for transmitting a second one of said signals; and
at least one transceiver, said at least one transceiver for receiving said first one of said signals from said RX/TX tag, and for transmitting, in response thereto, a response signal to said RX/TX tag such that the response signal is received by said RX/TX tag within the predetermined time period.
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41. A random interval inventory system, for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items, comprising:
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a plurality of tags, individual ones of said plurality of tags for transmitting information signals in a predefined manner based upon random times, said information signals transmitted from said individual ones of said plurality of tags corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of items;
at least one remote transceiver, said at least one remote transceiver for monitoring at least one change in status effecting individual ones of the items indicated by the at least one transceiver receiving information signals transmitted from individual ones of the tags in a manner other than the predefined manner;
at least one master transceiver for providing an interrogation command to said at least one remote transceiver, wherein said at least one remote transceiver responds to an interrogation command received from said master receiver by notifying said master transceiver of a monitored at least one change in status effecting individual ones of the items.
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Specification