Radio frequency identification method and system of distributing products
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for vending products from a defined area, such as a micro-warehouse with a door. The method includes fitting each product with a radio frequency identification tag, positioning the plurality of products in a micro-warehouse, sensing opening and closing of the micro-warehouse door, scanning the plurality of products in the micro-warehouse upon sensing closing of the door to determine the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, generating a message based on the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, transmitting the message to a remote processor or server, and maintaining an inventory in the remote processor based on the message. The system is designed to be accessed by authorized individuals possessing some type of code or identifying mechanism. The micro-warehouses may be cabinets, refrigerators, secured rooms, or similar storage units or areas.
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Citations
77 Claims
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1-33. -33. (Cancelled)
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34. An apparatus comprising:
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a detecting device that is configured to detect, using RFID, removal from storage of an object having a RFID tag;
a temperature detection unit that is configured to determine the temperature within the storage; and
a control unit that is configured to prevent a user from accessing the storage in accordance with the temperature determined by said temperature detection unit. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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47. A system comprising:
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a detecting device that is configured to detect, using RFID, whether an object having a RFID tag is present in an area;
a determination unit that is configured to determine how much time the object has spent in the area in accordance with the detection by said detecting device; and
a comparing unit that is configured to compare the time determined by said determination unit to a predetermined amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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50. A system comprising:
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detecting means that is configured to detect, using RFID, whether an object having a RFID tag is present in an area;
means for determining how much time the object has spent in the area in accordance with the detection by said detecting means; and
means for comparing the time determined by said determining means with a predetermined amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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52. A method comprising:
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detecting, using RFID, whether an object having a RFID tag is present in an area; and
determining how much time the object has spent in the area in accordance with the detection by said RFID detecting step; and
comparing the time determined in said determining step with a predetermined amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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59. A system comprising:
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detecting means for detecting, using RFID, a change in presence in storage of an object having an RFID tag; and
determining means for determining whether the object detected by said detecting means has been recalled. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61)
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62. An apparatus comprising:
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a detecting device that is configured to detect, using RFID, removal from storage of a RFID tag;
a temperature detection unit that is configured to determine the temperature within the storage; and
a control unit that is configured to prevent a user from accessing the storage in accordance with the temperature determined by said temperature detection unit.
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63. A system comprising:
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a detecting device that is configured to detect, using RFID, whether a RFID tag is present in an area;
a determination unit that is configured to determine how much time an object corresponding to the RFID tag has spent in an area in accordance with the detection by said detecting device; and
a comparing unit that is configured to compare the time determined by said determination unit to a predetermined amount of time.
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64. A system comprising:
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detecting means for detecting, using RFID, a change in presence in storage of a RFID tag; and
determining means for determining whether an object corresponding to the RFID tag detected by said detecting means has been recalled. - View Dependent Claims (65)
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66. An apparatus comprising:
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an RFID scanning unit, wherein software for controlling said apparatus is downloaded from a server to said apparatus via a network connection. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. An apparatus comprising:
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an antenna used for RFID scanning; and
a software downloading unit that is configured to download, via a network connection, software for controlling said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76)
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77. A method for use with an apparatus comprising an antenna used for RFID scanning, said method comprising:
downloading software for controlling the apparatus to the apparatus from a server via a network connection.
Specification