Electronic check out system
First Claim
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1. An electronic checkout system comprising:
- (a) a tool box located in a tool storage room;
(b a plurality of tools stored in said tool box, each of said plurality of tools having a tool identification means imbedded therein, said tool identification means for each of said tools providing a radio frequency signal containing a digital tool identification code which operates as an identifier for each of said tools;
(c) first reader means mounted on said tool box, said first reader means being adapted to receive and read the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool box by an authorized user, said first reader means reading the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools and recording the digital tool identification code for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from said tool box;
(d) second reader means mounted on a wall adjacent an exit to said tool storage room, said second reader means being adapted to receive and read the radio frequency signal for each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool storage room by said authorized user, said second reader means reading the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools and recording the digital tool identification code for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from said tool storage room;
(e) an employee identification badge having an employee identification means imbedded therein, said employee identification badge being worn by said authorized user to identify said user as an individual authorized to remove each of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room, the employee identification means for said employee identification badge providing a radio frequency signal containing a digital employee identification code for said authorized user; and
(f) said first reader means and said second reader means reading the digital employee identification code for said employee identification badge to determine when the individual removing any one of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room is said authorized user.
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Abstract
An electronic check out system which utilizes radio frequency check out devices to check out tools from a centrally located tool storage facility and to identify the individual checking out the tool. The electronic check out system includes readers located a tool boxes and the central storage facility exit to identify the tool and the user of the tool as well as the time and date the tool was removed from the storage facility.
53 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic checkout system comprising:
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(a) a tool box located in a tool storage room;
(b a plurality of tools stored in said tool box, each of said plurality of tools having a tool identification means imbedded therein, said tool identification means for each of said tools providing a radio frequency signal containing a digital tool identification code which operates as an identifier for each of said tools;
(c) first reader means mounted on said tool box, said first reader means being adapted to receive and read the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool box by an authorized user, said first reader means reading the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools and recording the digital tool identification code for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from said tool box;
(d) second reader means mounted on a wall adjacent an exit to said tool storage room, said second reader means being adapted to receive and read the radio frequency signal for each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool storage room by said authorized user, said second reader means reading the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools and recording the digital tool identification code for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from said tool storage room;
(e) an employee identification badge having an employee identification means imbedded therein, said employee identification badge being worn by said authorized user to identify said user as an individual authorized to remove each of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room, the employee identification means for said employee identification badge providing a radio frequency signal containing a digital employee identification code for said authorized user; and
(f) said first reader means and said second reader means reading the digital employee identification code for said employee identification badge to determine when the individual removing any one of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room is said authorized user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electronic checkout system comprising:
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(a) a tool box located in a tool storage room;
(b a plurality of tools stored in said tool box, each of said plurality of tools having a radio frequency identification (RFID) device imbedded therein, said radio frequency identification device for each of said tools operating as an identifier for each of said tools;
(c) a first RFID reader mounted on said tool box, said first RFID reader being adapted to read the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool box by an authorized user, said first RFID reader reading and recording the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from said tool box;
(d) a second RFID reader mounted on a wall adjacent an exit to said tool storage room, said second RFID reader being adapted to read the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool storage room by said authorized user, said second RFID reader reading and recording the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools which has been removed from said tool storage room by said authorized user;
(e) an employee identification badge having a radio frequency identification device imbedded therein, said employee identification badge being worn by said authorized user to identify said user as an individual authorized to remove each of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room; and
(f) said first RFID reader and said second RFID reader reading the radio frequency identification device for said employee identification badge to determine when the individual removing any one of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room is said authorized user. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electronic checkout system comprising:
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(a) a tool box located in a tool storage room;
(b a plurality of tools stored in said tool box, each of said plurality of tools having a tool identification device imbedded therein, said tool identification device for each of said tools providing a radio frequency signal containing a digital tool identification code which operates as an identifier for each of said tools;
(c) a first RFID reader mounted on said tool box, said first RFID reader being adapted to receive and read the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools to'"'"'determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool box by an authorized user, said first RFID reader reading the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools and recording the digital tool identification code for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from said tool box;
(d) second RFID reader mounted on a wall adjacent an exit to said tool storage room, said second RFID reader being adapted to receive and read the radio frequency signal for each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool storage room by said authorized user, said second RFID reader reading the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools and recording the digital tool identification code for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from said tool storage room;
(e) an employee identification badge having an employee identification device imbedded therein, said employee identification badge being worn by said authorized user to identify said user as an individual authorized to remove each of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room, the employee identification device for said employee identification badge providing a radio frequency signal containing a digital employee identification code for said authorized user;
(f) said first RFID reader and said second RFID reader reading the digital employee identification code for said employee identification badge to determine when the individual removing any one of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room is said authorized user; and
(g) said tool identifcation device for each of said tools and said employee identifcation device for said employee identification badge each comprising a radio frequency identification device selected from the group of radio frequency identification devices consisitng of (a) a first RFID device operating at a frequency of 13.56 MHz and providing for read distances of approximately five feet, and (b) a second RFID device operating at a frequency of 2.46 GHz and providing for read distances of approximately ten feet. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification