System and method for electronic inventory
First Claim
1. A method for conducting an inventory of passenger bags, wherein a bag tag is attached to each bag and each bag tag is permanently assigned a tag identification number (Tag ID) and a manufacturer number, the method comprising the steps of:
- at a tag reader, transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one first clock signal;
at each bag tag, incrementing a first tag count in response to said at least one first clock signal, and transmitting the Tag ID assigned to said each bag tag when said Tag ID of said each bag tag corresponds to said first tag count;
at said tag reader, incrementing a first reader count in response to said at least one first clock signal, storing a given first reader count when more than one bag tag responds to one of said at least one clock first signal that corresponds to said given first reader count, and transmitting said given first reader count followed by at least one second clock signal; and
at each bag tag that responded to said one of said at least one first clock signal that corresponds to said given first reader count, incrementing a second tag count in response to said at least one second clock signal, and transmitting the manufacturer number assigned to said each bag tag that responded to said one of said at least one first clock signal that corresponds to said given first reader count when said manufacturer number of said each bag tag corresponds to said second count.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a Tag ID and a manufacturer number. Each tag can be attached to an item to take inventory of those items. A tag reader transmits a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal. Each tag increments a first tag count in response to the clock signals, and transmits the Tag ID assigned to the tag when the first tag count corresponds to the Tag ID assigned to the tag. The tag reader records the transmitted Tag IDs. When more than one tag transmits simultaneously, the tag stores the Tag ID in order to resolve the contention when the first read cycle is complete. In the second read cycle, the tag reader transmits the contended Tag ID followed by at least one clock signal. Each tag that contended for the transmitted Tag ID increments a second tag count in response to the clock signals, and transmits the manufacturer number assigned to the tag when the second tag count corresponds to the manufacturer number assigned to the tag. The tag reader records the transmitted Tag IDs, completing the inventory of the tags.
-
Citations
91 Claims
-
1. A method for conducting an inventory of passenger bags, wherein a bag tag is attached to each bag and each bag tag is permanently assigned a tag identification number (Tag ID) and a manufacturer number, the method comprising the steps of:
-
at a tag reader, transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one first clock signal;
at each bag tag, incrementing a first tag count in response to said at least one first clock signal, and transmitting the Tag ID assigned to said each bag tag when said Tag ID of said each bag tag corresponds to said first tag count;
at said tag reader, incrementing a first reader count in response to said at least one first clock signal, storing a given first reader count when more than one bag tag responds to one of said at least one clock first signal that corresponds to said given first reader count, and transmitting said given first reader count followed by at least one second clock signal; and
at each bag tag that responded to said one of said at least one first clock signal that corresponds to said given first reader count, incrementing a second tag count in response to said at least one second clock signal, and transmitting the manufacturer number assigned to said each bag tag that responded to said one of said at least one first clock signal that corresponds to said given first reader count when said manufacturer number of said each bag tag corresponds to said second count. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A tag for use in conducting an inventory of passenger bags, wherein each bag is attached to a tag and each tag is permanently assigned a tag identification number (Tag ID) and a manufacturer number, the tag comprising:
-
means for receiving a wake-up signal followed by at least one first clock signal;
means for incrementing a first tag count in response to said at least one first clock signal;
means for transmitting the Tag ID assigned to the tag when said Tag ID corresponds to said first tag count;
means for receiving at least one second clock signal;
means for incrementing a second tag count in response to said at least one second clock signal; and
means for transmitting the manufacturer number assigned to the tag when said manufacturer number of said each tag corresponds to said second count. - View Dependent Claims (6)
-
-
7. A reader for conducting an inventory of passenger bags, wherein each bag is attached to a tag and each tag is permanently assigned a tag identification number (Tag ID) and a manufacturer number, the reader comprising:
-
means for transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal;
means for incrementing a first reader count in response to said at least one first clock signal, means for receiving a Tag ID transmitted by a tag in response to one of said at least one first clock signal;
means for storing a given first reader count when more than one tag responds to one of said at least one first clock signal that corresponds to said given first reader count;
means for transmitting said given first reader count followed by at least one second clock signal; and
means for receiving a manufacturer number transmitted by a tag in response to one of said at least one second clock signal.
-
-
8. A system for locating a tag, wherein each tag is assigned a permanent identification number, the system comprising:
-
a tag reader that transmits a wake-up signal followed by a time slot number; and
at least one tag that transmits a permanent identification number assigned to said at least one tag when said permanent identification number assigned to said at least one tag corresponds to said time slot number.
-
-
9. A method for locating a tag, wherein each tag is assigned a permanent identification number, the method comprising the steps of:
-
at a tag reader, transmitting a wake-up signal followed by a time slot number; and
at each tag, transmitting a permanent identification number assigned to said each tag when said permanent identification number assigned to said each tag corresponds to said time slot number.
-
-
10. A system for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a permanent identification number, the system comprising:
-
at a tag reader, means for transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal; and
at each tag, means for incrementing a tag count in response to said at least one clock signal, and means for transmitting the permanent identification number assigned to said each tag when said permanent identification number of said each tag corresponds to said tag count. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A method for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a permanent identification number, the method comprising the steps of:
-
at a tag reader, transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal; and
at each tag, incrementing a tag count in response to said at least one clock signal, and transmitting the permanent identification number assigned to said each tag when said permanent identification number of said each tag corresponds to said tag count. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
-
-
52. A system for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a permanent identification number, the system comprising:
-
at a tag reader, means for transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal, and means for incrementing a reader count in response to said at least one clock signal;
at each tag, means for incrementing a tag count in response to said at least one clock signal, and means for transmitting a response signal when said permanent identification number of said each tag corresponds to said tag count;
at said tag reader, means for recording said reader count when one of said response signals is received, thereby recording the presence of the tag that transmitted said one of said response signals. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
-
-
64. A method for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a permanent identification number, the method comprising the steps of:
-
at a tag reader, transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal, and incrementing a reader count in response to said at least one clock signal;
at each tag, incrementing a tag count in response to said at least one clock signal, and transmitting a response signal when said permanent identification number of said each tag corresponds to said tag count; and
at said tag reader, recording said reader count when one of said response signals is received, thereby recording the presence of the tag that transmitted said one of said response signals. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
-
-
76. A method for producing a tag for use in electronic inventory, comprising the steps of:
-
manufacturing an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) including inventory response circuitry;
programming said ASIC with a permanent identification number;
preprinting an antenna pattern and bonding pads on a flexible substrate using a conductive material; and
flip-chip bonding said ASIC to said bonding pads using a conductive adhesive. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
-
Specification