Inventory & location system

• US 20030214387A1
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas Nello Giaccherini
• Original Assignee: Thomas Nello Giaccherini
• Inventors: Giaccherini, Thomas Nello
• Application Number:
  US10/151,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214387A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

The present invention comprises methods and apparatus for locating items using passive transponders called radio frequency identification devices or “RFIDs.” In a first embodiment of the invention, a small business like a law firm or doctor'"'"'s office can use self-adhesive RFID labels to keep track of files and important papers. In a second embodiment, items purchased from a retailer which are already attached to an RFID label are automatically detected and tracked by a wireless sniffer when the purchases are brought home. In a third embodiment, a retailer uses the RFID labels to conduct an automatic wireless inventory. In a fourth embodiment, the retailer uses the same system to reduce losses due to theft of merchandise. In a fifth embodiment, the retailer uses the RFID labels to provide automatic wireless check-out. In a sixth embodiment, the retailer analyzes the inventory of goods within a customer'"'"'s home to enhance sales and marketing strategies. In a seventh embodiment, the retailer uses the home inventory data to furnish automatic order fulfillment. In an eighth embodiment, the customer uses the portable sniffer to retrieve information about a product stored in an RFID.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

using a wireless sniffer to produce an interrogation signal in a detection zone;

said wireless sniffer also for communicating with a personal computer running database software on a personal computer to track objects in said detection zone;

introducing a passive wireless transponder means for responding to an interrogation signal into said detection zone;

said passive wireless transponder means being connected to an object;

using said wireless sniffer to receive a return signal generated by said passive wireless transponder means in-response to said interrogation signal; and

recording the presence of said passive wireless transponder means in said detection zone.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said passive wireless transponder means is a radio frequency identification device.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, in which said radio frequency identification device stores unique identifying information.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said interrogation signal is a wireless sniffer which communicates with said database software running on said personal computer which communicates with a remote computer, which enables home automated inventory.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which a plurality of said return signals is compiled to produce an automatic wireless inventory.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

using said wireless sniffer to detect the departure of an object from said detection zone; and

communicating said departure of said object to said database software running on said personal computer, which communicates with a remote computer, to enable automatic order fulfillment.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, in which a retailer detects said departure of said object to generate an alert to reduce losses due to theft of merchandise.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, in which a retailer detects said departure of said object to generate a sales total to enable automatic check-out.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9, in which a retailer detects said departure of said object to generate a sales total to enable automatic check-out.

13. A method as claimed in claim 9, in which a retailer detects an arrival of an object to enable automatic receiving tallies of shipped goods.

14. A method as claimed in claim 9, in which said portable sniffer is used to retrieve information about a product stored in said passive wireless transponder means.

4. A method comprising the steps of:

manually applying said passive wireless transponder means to an object; and

finding said object using a audible signal generated by a portable wireless sniffer which has received location instructions from said personal computer running database software that tracks said objects.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, in which said object is a file in an office.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, in which said object is a household item.