RFID DELIVERY AND PICKUP DETERMINATION SYSTEM

• US 20050068181A1
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Hughes, Raymond E. Roberts, Robert O. Guillot
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Hughes, Raymond E. Roberts, Robert O. Guillot
• Inventors: Wang, Shih-Ho
• Granted Patent: US 7,183,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2029/146 the receptacle comprising identification means, e.g. a bar code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A deliver and pickup determination system (DDS)(10) for determining whether an object (18) has been delivered at or picked up from a collection-unit (14) such as a mailbox, postbox drop-box, cubby-hole, etc. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag (24) is placed in fixed conjunction with each collection-unit of interest, wherein there typically can be tens or hundreds comprising one or more collection-stations (12). A detection and recording device (DRD)(26) then senses and collects information about each RFID tag when brought into proximity with it as the object is delivered or picked up at the collection-unit.

Claims

1. A system for determining whether an object has been delivered at or picked up from a collection-unit, comprising:

a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag placed in fixed conjunction with the collection-unit; and

a detection and recording device (DRD) to sense and collect information about said RFID tag when brought into proximity with it as the object is delivered or picked up at the collection-unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said RFID tag includes a passive type RFID device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said RFID tag is placed in fixed conjunction with the collection-unit by semi-permanent affixation.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said RFID tag is embodied in a sticker.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said RFID tag is placed in fixed conjunction with the collection-unit by temporarily locating stationary for said DRD to sense.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said DRD is worn by a clerk handling the object.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said DRD collects said information about said RFID tag automatically as said DRD is brought close enough to sense said RFID tag.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said DRD is triggered to collect said information about said RFID tag by a stimulus other than just being close enough to sense said RFID tag.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said DRD is triggered by at least one member of the set consisting of a physical action by a clerk, a change in a magnetic field, a change in ambient light, and a position calculation based on a radio signal.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said DRD includes a clock to time-stamp said information.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said DRD immediately communicates said information to an external system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said DRD stores said information about said RFID tag for later communication to an external system.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the collection-unit is one of a plurality of collection-units in a collection-station and at least one said RFID tag is placed in conjunction each collection-unit such that it can be sensed and associated therewith.

14. A method for determining whether an object has been delivered at or picked up from a collection-unit, comprising:

having a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag in fixed conjunction with the collection-unit; and

sensing said RFID tag as the object is brought into or taken from proximity with it; and

collecting identification information about said RFID tag while in proximity with it.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said RFID tag includes a passive type RFID device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of sensing occurs as a clerk is handling the object.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of collecting occurs automatically based on occurrence of said step of sensing.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of collecting is triggered by a stimulus additional to occurrence of said step of sensing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein collecting is triggered by a stimulus including at least one member of the set consisting of detecting a physical action by a clerk, detecting a change in a magnetic field, detecting a change in ambient light, and calculating a position based on a radio signal.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising time-stamping said identification information.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicating said identification information to an external system.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising storing said identification information before communicating said identification information to said external system.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the collection-unit is one of a plurality of collection-units in a collection-station and each collection-unit has at least one said RFID tag in conjunction therewith, and the method further comprising:

discriminating among all said RFID tags concurrently sensed to select a single RFID tag; and

performing said step of collecting for said single RFID tag.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said step of performing is performed only for said single RFID tag.

25. A system for determining whether an object has been delivered at or picked up from a collection-unit, comprising:

radio-frequency identification (RFID) means embodied in a tag form factor wherein said RFID means is in fixed conjunction with the collection-unit; and

means for sensing said RFID means as the object is brought into or taken from proximity with it; and

means for collecting identification information about said RFID means while in proximity with it.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for triggering said means for collecting additional to activation of said means for sensing.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for time-stamping said identification information.

28. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for communicating said identification information to an external system.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the collection-unit is one of a plurality of collection-units in a collection-station and each collection-unit has at least one said RFID means in conjunction therewith, and the system further comprising:

means for selecting a single RFID means from among all said RFID means concurrently sensed; and

means for controlling said means for collecting to collect said identification information about said single RFID means.