Event-based communication in a distributed item tracking system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method to be performed by a system that tracks items, the method comprising:
- subscribing to receive from one or more event routers events relating to one or more tagged items, each event including a tag identifier for a tag bound to an item, a reader identifier; and
a timestamp;
receiving from the event router events related to the one or more tagged items; and
using the received events to update disposition information for the one or more tagged items.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for communicating item disposition information between publishers and subscribers such as RFID tag readers and item tracking systems. Event routers can be used to distribute the information and an extended object naming service can be used to locate event routers. The items being tracked can have a hierarchical relationship with each other. Subscribers can choose to subscribe only to events relating to items at a particular level of the hierarchy.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method to be performed by a system that tracks items, the method comprising:
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subscribing to receive from one or more event routers events relating to one or more tagged items, each event including a tag identifier for a tag bound to an item, a reader identifier; and
a timestamp;
receiving from the event router events related to the one or more tagged items; and
using the received events to update disposition information for the one or more tagged items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method to be performed by a tag reader, the method comprising:
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detecting an item;
generating an event, the event including a tag identifier associated with a tag bound to the item, a reader identifier, and a timestamp;
using a mapping service and either the tag identifier or the reader identifier to identify one or more event routers; and
publishing the event to the identified event routers. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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a monitoring system including one or more tag readers;
one or more subscribers, including a system that tracks tagged items; and
one or more event routers, wherein;
the monitoring system is operable to;
detect one or more of the tagged items;
generate an event, the event including a tag identifier, a reader identifier, and a timestamp; and
publish the event to one or more of the event routers;
the system for tracking tagged items is operable to;
subscribe to receive from one or more of the event routers events relating to one or more of the tagged items; and
upon receiving events, use the received events to update disposition information for one or more of the tagged items; and
each event router is operable to;
maintain a list of subscribers;
receive events from the monitoring system; and
send events to the subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification