RF point of sale and delivery method and system using communication with remote computer and having features to read a large number of RF tags

• US 20050127177A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Original Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Inventors: Dearing, Michael, Vidugiris, Gediminas
• Application Number:
  US10/953,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127177A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/35 for the management of goods or merchandise
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for providing point-of-sale and point-of-delivery and/or distribution of products in a restricted access unit near the customer. The method and system utilize products equipped with radio frequency tags and reduce the effects of energy sharing, shadowing, and nulls. In one embodiment, a plurality of RF tagged products are placed within a refrigerator, cabinet, or other micro-warehouse that has a door or opening that can detect access to the micro-warehouse. In one embodiment, one or more antennas are positioned within the door. Each antenna may have a transmission line of sight and be configured to emit a signal at predefined frequencies. Each antenna generates an electromagnetic field within the micro-warehouse. In one embodiment, the products are positioned in one or more bins, compartments, or similar devices located within the micro-warehouse such that at least two of the plurality of products are spaced a distance from each other to reduce energy sharing. The electromagnetic field is moved or altered within the micro-warehouse through the use of reflectors, devices that move the antennas, or other mechanisms.

Claims

1-73. -73. (canceled)

74. An apparatus comprising:

an antenna for performing RFID scanning, said antenna being movably mounted on a portion of said apparatus; and

an antenna moving unit that is configured to move said antenna.

75. An apparatus according to claim 74, wherein said antenna is mounted on a pivot, and said antenna moving unit causes said antenna to pivot.

76. An apparatus according to claim 74, wherein said apparatus is a freezer.

77. An apparatus according to claim 76, wherein said antenna is movably mounted within a door of said freezer.

78. An apparatus according to claim 76, wherein said antenna performs RFID scanning to detect an RFID tag positioned within said freezer.

79. An apparatus according to claim 78, wherein the RFID tag is positioned on a shelf within said freezer.

80. An apparatus according to claim 78, wherein the RFID tag is positioned in a drawer within said freezer.

81. An apparatus according to claim 77, wherein there is more than one said antenna.

82. An apparatus comprising:

an RFID scanning unit mounted on a portion of said apparatus, said RFID scanning unit being configured to perform RFID scanning of an area within said apparatus,

wherein said RFID scanning unit comprises (a) a movable part configured to change an arrangement of an electromagnetic field in the area, and (b) means for controlling the motion of said movable part.

83. An apparatus according to claim 82, wherein said movable part is an antenna.

84. An apparatus according to claim 83, wherein said antenna is mounted on a pivot.

85. An apparatus according to claim 82, wherein the area comprises a drawer of said apparatus.

86. An apparatus according to claim 82, wherein the area comprises a shelf of said apparatus.

87. An apparatus according to claim 82, wherein said apparatus is a freezer.

88. A method comprising:

providing an apparatus having an RFID scanning unit mounted on a portion thereof, the RFID scanning unit being configured to perform RFID scanning of an area within the apparatus, wherein the RFID scanning unit comprises (a) a movable part configured to change an arrangement of an electromagnetic field in the area, and (b) means for controlling the motion of the movable part; and

moving the movable part to change an arrangement of the electromagnetic field in the area.

89. An apparatus comprising:

a first antenna;

a second antenna, said first antenna and said second antenna being used to perform RFID scanning; and

means for activating said first antenna and said second antenna at different times to perform the RFID scanning.

90. A method comprising:

providing plural antennae for performing RFID scanning; and

activating a first antenna of the plural antennae and a second antenna of the plural antennae at different times to perform the RFID scanning.

91. A method comprising:

performing a RFID scan of an area, the RFID scan generating a result;

comparing the result to a predetermined integrity level; and

performing a subsequent RFID scan in accordance with the comparison.

92. A method according to claim 91, wherein said step of performing a subsequent scan in accordance with the comparison is a step of performing a subsequent scan in accordance with a determination that the result is less than the predetermined integrity level.

93. A method according to claim 91, further comprising repeating said step of performing a subsequent scan in accordance with comparison of a result of the subsequent scan to the predetermined integrity level.

94. An apparatus comprising:

means for performing an RFID scan and obtaining a result;

means for comparing the result to a predetermined integrity level; and

means for performing a subsequent RFID scan in accordance with the comparison.

95. A method of distributing a plurality of products from an area, the method comprising:

providing each product with a radio frequency identification tag;

positioning at least one antenna within the area, the at least one antenna configured to emit a signal at at least one predefined frequency and generate at least one electromagnetic field within the area;

positioning the plurality of products within the area;

performing a first scan of the area using the at least one antenna, the scan generating a first result;

comparing the first result to a predetermined integrity level; and

performing one or more subsequent scans if the first result does not equal or exceed the predetermined integrity level.

96. A method as claimed in claim 95, wherein each subsequent scan generates a subsequent result;

the performing of one or more subsequent scans continuing until at least one of the subsequent results equals or exceeds the integrity level, the method further comprising;

determining a number of the plurality of products; and

determining a change in the number of plurality of products by subtracting a value based on the first result or one of the subsequent results from the number of the plurality of products.

97. A method as claimed in claim 95, the method further comprising cloaking one or more of the plurality of tags during the first scan or one of the subsequent scans.

98. An apparatus comprising:

an RFID scanning unit that is configured to perform an RFID scan of a space within said apparatus,

wherein said apparatus has a non-flat reflective surface disposed on an interior wall of said apparatus.

99. An apparatus according to claim 98, wherein the non-flat reflective surface is on a member attached to the interior wall of said apparatus.

100. An apparatus according to claim 99, wherein the member has a saw-tooth cross-section.

101. An apparatus according to claim 98, further comprising a reflector attached to the interior wall of said apparatus, said reflector having the non-flat reflective surface.

102. An apparatus according to claim 101, wherein the non-flat reflective surface comprises a sawtooth pattern.