Systems and methods for communicating within a supply chain
First Claim
1. A replenishment system comprising:
- an order fulfillment system configured to associated an RFID tag with a product wherein said product interferes with communication via radio signals; and
a reorder system comprising;
an RFID interrogation device configured to read said RFID tag after it has been removed from said product; and
a reorder computer configured to place an order for replenishment of said product based in part on said interrogated RFID tag.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Generally described, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for facilitating communication within a supply chain. In one embodiment of the present invention, a supplier places RFID tags on containers holding product or items for shipment to a customer. When a customer depletes the product or items in the container, the RFID tag associated with the container is read by an RFID interrogator. Software associated with the RFID interrogator places an order with the supplier for replenishment of the product or items held in the container. In a further embodiment, an RFID tag is provided for communicating a need for technical assistance from a supplier. In this embodiment, an RFID tag associated with an outside company having technical expertise is made available to technicians at the customer'"'"'s facility. If a need arises for technical assistance, the technician positions the tag so that it can be read by an RFID interrogator. Software associated with the RFID interrogator sends a request or alert to the outside company who responds accordingly.
39 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A replenishment system comprising:
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an order fulfillment system configured to associated an RFID tag with a product wherein said product interferes with communication via radio signals; and
a reorder system comprising;
an RFID interrogation device configured to read said RFID tag after it has been removed from said product; and
a reorder computer configured to place an order for replenishment of said product based in part on said interrogated RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of replenishing a product comprising the steps of:
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receiving a product with an associated RFID tag wherein said product impedes communication between with said RFID tag;
placing said product in inventory;
retrieving said product from inventory as needed;
removing said RFID tag such that said RFID tag can be read by an RFID interrogator;
interrogating said RFID tag; and
placing an order for replacement quantities of said product based at least in part on said interrogating step. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for interrogating RFID tags comprising:
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an enclosure having a removeable lid and an aperture sized to accept an RFID tag;
an RFID interrogator positioned inside said enclosure; and
a receptacle positioned inside said box and configured to receive RFID tags after they are interrogated by said RFID interrogator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for providing technical assistance comprising:
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an RFID tag associated with an entity capable of providing technical assistance;
a shielding device configured to selectively prevent said RFID tag from being read;
an RFID interrogator configured to detect when said RFID tag has been removed from said shielding device; and
a contact computer associated with said RFID interrogator and configured to send a message to said entity based at least in part on communication between said RFID interrogator and said RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for providing technical assistance comprising:
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a plurality of RFID tags associated with a plurality of entities capable of providing technical assistance;
a plurality of shielding devices configured to selectively prevent said plurality of RFID tags from being read;
an RFID interrogator configured to poll said RFID tags and to identify a select RFID tag when said select RFID tag has been unshielded; and
a contact computer associated with said RFID interrogator and configured to send a message to an entity associated with said select RFID tag based at least in part on communication between said RFID interrogator and said RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of requesting technical assistance comprising the steps of:
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associating an RFID tag with an entity capable of providing technical assistance;
shielding said RFID tag to selectively prevent interrogation of said RFID tag;
unshielding said RFID tag to allow said RFID tag to be interrogated; and
sending a message to said entity based at least in part on said interrogation. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification