Method for tracking and disposition of articles

• US 20040143505A1
• Filed: 10/16/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aram Kovach
• Original Assignee: Aram Kovach
• Inventors: Kovach, Aram
• Application Number:
  US10/687,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20040143505A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader

Abstract

A method is disclosed for selling and tracking merchandise using Radio-Frequency Identification (“RFID”) tags. The RFID tag typically contains an electronic microchip, which may be permanently attached to a substrate containing a small planar antenna. Each RFID tag is tuned by the manufacturer to operate at a specific frequency and with a unique identifier number. A “scanner” device, which provides a temporary source of power to the RFID tag by means of a Radio Frequency (“RF”) field, also provides a means for transmitting data to the RFID tag for storage within a static memory portion of the microchip. The microchip is also capable of communicating the RFID tag'"'"'s identifier number and any data stored on the microchip to a receiver portion of the scanner when interrogated. The RFID tag may be installed into devices and merchandise as a theft-deterrent and an inventory tracking tool.

Claims

1. A method for tracking and disposition of articles, comprising the steps of:

a) coding at least one RFID tag with a unique identifier, the identifier being electronically stored in a memory portion of the RFID tag;

b) affixing at least one RFID tag to at least one article of merchandise;

c) electrically scanning a select RFID tag to obtain the select identifier;

d) communicating the select identifier to an inventory record of a point of distribution and incrementing an inventory quantity of the point of distribution;

e) electrically scanning the article of merchandise when it is scheduled to be removed from the point of distribution to obtain the select identifier from the RFID tag; and

f) removing the select identifier from the inventory record and updating the inventory record at the point of distribution to reflect the removal of the article of merchandise.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the point of distribution is a retail store.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least one customer with an account;

b) providing the customer with a card to enable the customer to charge purchases against the account, the card further comprising an RFID tag having customer-specific information;

c) electrically scanning the customer'"'"'s merchandise selections at a check-out point of the store to obtain merchandise-specific information;

d) electrically scanning the customer'"'"'s card to obtain the customer'"'"'s account information;

e) obtaining personal identification information from the customer for verifying the customer'"'"'s identity;

f) upon verification of the customer'"'"'s identity, providing the customer with the option of at least one of charging the selections to the customer'"'"'s account, writing a check, and paying cash; and

g) maintaining a record of customer-specific purchases.

4. A method for selling articles in a retail store, comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least one customer with an account;

b) providing the customer with a card to enable the customer to charge purchases against the account, the card further comprising an RFID tag having customer-specific information;

c) electrically scanning the customer when the customer is in proximity to a display to obtain the customer'"'"'s identity and account information from the RFID tag; and

d) providing a customer-specific message to the customer via the display.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the customer-specific message is a personalized greeting.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the customer-specific message is an advertisement corresponding to the customer'"'"'s past purchasing preferences.

7. A method for tracking and disposition of articles, comprising the steps of:

a) coding at least one RFID tag with a unique identifier, the identifier being electronically stored in a memory portion of the RFID tag;

b) affixing at least one RFID tag to at least one article of merchandise;

c) writing to a select RFID tag to set a status code indicating that the merchandise is unsold;

d) electrically scanning the select RFID tag to obtain the select identifier;

e) communicating the select identifier to an inventory record of a store and incrementing an inventory quantity of the store;

f) electrically scanning the article of merchandise when it is sold to obtain the select identifier from the RFID tag;

g) writing to the select RFID tag to change the status code to indicate that the merchandise has been sold; and

h) removing the select identifier from the inventory record and decrementing the inventory quantity.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

a) scanning a select RFID tag placed in proximity to an entry and/or exit point of the store to obtain the identifier information for the select RFID tag;

b) comparing the identifier information of the select RFID tag to the inventory record; and

c) generating a perceivable alert signal if the select RFID tag is listed in the inventory record.

9. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

a) scanning a select RFID tag placed in proximity to an entry and/or exit point of the store to obtain the status code information for the select RFID tag; and

b) generating a perceivable alert signal if the status code indicates that the merchandise affixed to the select RFID tag is unsold.

10. A method for tracking and disposition of articles, comprising the steps of:

a) maintaining a record of the identifiers of RFID tags corresponding to unsold merchandise no longer in a store'"'"'s inventory record;

b) electrically scanning the entrances and/or exits to the store for the identifiers of all RFID tags in proximity to the entrances and/or exits;

c) when a select RFID tag is detected, electrically scanning the RFID tag to obtain the identifier of the tag;

d) comparing the identifier of the each of the RFID tags to the store'"'"'s record of unsold merchandise; and

e) generating an perceivable alert signal if the comparison of any of the identifiers of RFID tags match those of unsold merchandise.