System and method for providing location information in transaction processing

• US 20050242188A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Vesuna, Sarosh
• Granted Patent: US 7,404,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.460
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Abstract

Real time location system functionality is provided in conjunction with bar codes and other coded information devices to provide location information in transaction processing systems. A system and method of the present invention may be used to track the location of objects which are coupled to coded information devices.

Claims

1. In a system having a portable device for reading a machine-readable code on an item and for providing data corresponding to said machine-readable code to a computer over a wireless communications network, the improvement comprising an object location system for locating said portable device wherein information relating to the location of said portable scanning device is provided to said computer for association with said data corresponding to said machine-readable code.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable device includes a bar code scanner.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable device includes an RFID reader system.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable device includes an information button reader.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless communications network operates according to an IEEE 802 protocol.

6. A method for tracking the location of an object, comprising:

providing a machine-readable code on said object, said code having corresponding code data;

providing a portable reading device having a wireless radio for transmitting data over a wireless communications network;

using an object location system to locate said portable reading device and provide location data corresponding to said portable reading device;

reading said machine-readable code on said object using said portable reading device;

providing said code data corresponding to said read machine-readable code and said location data to a computer using said wireless communications link; and

associating in said computer said machine-readable code with said location data.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said reading step further comprises recording a time-stamp.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said portable code reading device includes a bar code scanner.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said portable code reading device includes an RFID reader system.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein said portable code reading device includes an information button reader.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein said wireless communications network and said wireless radio operate according to an IEEE 802 protocol.

12. A system for tracking location of an object using a wireless network, said system including a portable device comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

an RF radio for transmitting data over said wireless network; and

a scanning apparatus for scanning information stored in a machine-readable format,

wherein said wireless network is configured to determine the location of said portable device and said scanning apparatus is configured to scan at least one item containing information stored in a machine-readable format.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said scanning device is a bar code scanner.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said scanning device is an RFID reader system.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said scanning device is an information button reader.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said wireless network and said RF radio operate according to an IEEE 802 protocol.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein said portable device is further configured to record a time-stamp.