Tracking methods and systems using RFID tags

• US 20070024449A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The United States Playing Card Company (Cartamundi NV)
• Original Assignee: The United States Playing Card Company (Cartamundi NV)
• Inventors: Bilyeu, Suzanne, Madding, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,492,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• 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

Systems and methods of using RFID tags for verifying and tracking articles are provided. A method of tracking articles for shipment comprises the steps of providing at least one article comprising a plurality of subarticles; applying an article radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to the article, wherein the article RFID tag stores information regarding the article, the subarticles in each article, or combinations thereof; packing the article into at least one package; applying a package RFID tag to the package, wherein the package RFID tag stores information regarding the package, the articles in the package, the subarticles in each article, or combinations thereof; and verifying the package and/or article by scanning the respective RFID tags with at least one RFID verification device configured to read RFID tags.

Claims

1. A method of tracking articles for shipment, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one article, wherein the article comprises a plurality of subarticles;

applying a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to the article, wherein the article RFID tag stores information regarding the article, the subarticles in the article, or combinations thereof;

packing the article into a package;

applying at least one RFID tag to the package, wherein the package RFID tag stores information regarding the package, the article in the package, the subarticles in the article, or combinations thereof; and

verifying the package and/or articles by scanning the respective RFID tags with at least one RFID verification device configured to read RFID tags.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least two articles are provided and packed into the package, and each article comprises a plurality of subarticles and has an article RFID tag applied thereto.

3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising monitoring the location of the package and the articles in the package during packing through at least one RFID verification device configured to scan RFID tags.

4. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

placing the at least one package containing at least one package RFID tag onto a package skid; and

providing the package skid with an RFID tag, wherein the package skid RFID tag stores information regarding the skid, the package located on the skid, the articles in the packages, the subarticles in the articles, or combinations thereof.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein at least two packages are placed on the package skid, each package contains at least two articles, which each have an article RFID tag applied thereto, and each package has a package RFID tag applied thereto.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising loading at least one package skid containing an RFID tag into a shipping container.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein at least two package skids, each containing an RFID tag, are loaded into the shipping container.

8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising scanning all package skid RFID tags loaded in the shipping container, and generating a packing list of all items loaded into the shipping container from the scanned RFID tags.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the packing list is attached to the shipping container.

10. A method according to claim 4, further comprising providing RFID tags to the subarticles.

11. A method according to claim 4, wherein the RFID tags on the article, the package and/or the package skid store information regarding production of the article.

12. A method according to claim 4, wherein the article RFID tags are inserted into the article, and/or the package RFID tag is inserted into the package.

13. A method according to claim 4, wherein the respective RFID tags are adhesively affixed to the article, package, package skid, or combinations thereof.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the respective RFID tags seal the article, package, or combinations thereof.

15. A method according to claim 4, wherein the respective RFID tags are printed onto the article, package, or package skid.

16. A method according to claim 4, wherein the respective RFID tags are injection molded into the article, package, or package skid.

17. A method according to claim 4, wherein the subarticles comprise playing cards.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein each article comprises one deck, or multiple decks of shuffled or unshuffled playing cards disposed therein.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the multiple decks of unshuffled playing cards in the article are packed in individually wrapped decks.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein the RFID tags on the articles and/or the package store information relating to shuffle of the playing cards, content of the playing cards, and/or count of the playing cards.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein the RFID tags on the articles, the packages, or the package skid store information on the weight of the cards.

22. A method according to claim 4, wherein each RFID tag comprises an antenna and a chip, wherein the antenna is configured to receive a signal from the RFID verification device, and the chip is configured to store information and to provide the stored information to the RFID verification device when the antenna receives the signal.

23. A method according to claim 4, wherein the RFID tags comprise conductive ink, nanowires, or electromagnetic receivers.

24. A method for tracking articles upon delivery to an end user, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a shipping container at least one package skid, wherein each package skid comprises at least one package, each package comprises a plurality of articles, and each article comprises a plurality of subarticles therein, wherein the package skid, the packages, and the articles each comprise at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag;

scanning the package skid RFID tag on each package skid removed from the shipping container with an RFID verification device configured to scan RFID tags;

scanning the package RFID tag on each package removed from the scanned package skid with an RFID verification device configured to scan RFID tags; and

scanning the article RFID on each article removed from the scanned package with an RFID verification device configured to scan RFID tags.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising scanning an employee identification card comprising an RFID tag of an employee removing a package skid, package, or article from the shipping container, package skid, or package, respectively.

26. A method according to claim 24, further comprising a step of comparing the information from the scanned articles, and/or scanned packages, or scanned package skids to corresponding items on a packing list generated upon the packing of the shipping container to confirm that all items on the packing list have been received.

27. A method according to claim 24, further comprising scanning each article RFID tag on each article with an RFID verification device configured to scan RFID tags as the article, or subarticles therein, are put into use.

28. A method according to claim 24, further comprising scanning the article RFID tag on each article with an RFID verification device configured to scan RFID tags as the article or subarticles therein are discarded or destroyed.

29. A method for monitoring playing card movement in a casino, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one playing card box comprising at least one deck of playing cards therein, wherein the playing card comprises at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; and

scanning the RFID tag on the playing card box as the playing cards are delivered to a casino table with an RFID verification device configured to scan RFID tags.

30. A method according to claim 29, further comprising scanning the RFID tag on the playing card box prior to or as the playing card box and/or the playing cards are discarded with an RFID verification device configured to scan RFID tags.

31. A method according to claim 29, further comprising scanning the RFID tag on the playing card box prior to delivering the playing card box to the casino table.

32. A system for monitoring playing cards in a casino, comprising:

a casino unloading radio frequency identification (RFID) verification device operable to scan an RFID tag on a package skid containing packages of playing card boxes having playing cards therein, as a package skid is removed from a shipping container and received at a casino unloading location;

a casino warehouse RFID verification device operable to scan an RFID tag on a package skid, package and/or playing card boxes entering and/or exiting a casino warehouse;

a casino pit RFID verification device operable to scan an RFID tag on a playing card box entering or exiting a casino pit;

a casino table RFID verification device, wherein the RFID verification device is operable to scan an RFID tag on a playing card box as playing cards are removed from a playing card box and put into use; and

a destruction RFID verification device operable to scan an RFID tag on a playing card box prior to or as the playing card box is destroyed.

33. A system as defined in claim 32, wherein the RFID verification devices are further operable to scan employee RFID badges.

34. A system as defined in claim 32, wherein the RFID verification device comprises at least one portal.

35. A system as defined in claim 32, wherein the casino table RFID verification device comprises a portal in the vicinity of a casino table.

36. A system as defined in claim 32, wherein the casino pit RFID verification device is operable to scan an RFID tag on a discarded playing card box as the playing, cards and/or playing card box exit the casino pit.

37. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising:

a package skid comprising an RFID tag, wherein the package skid RFID tag is operable to be scanned by an RFID verification device configured to scan RFID tags;

at least one package located on the package skid and comprising a package RFID tag, wherein the package RFID tag is operable to be scanned by an RFID verification device configured to scan RFID tags; and

at least one article located in the package and comprising an article RFID tag, wherein the article RFID tag is operable to be scanned by an RFID verification device configured to scan RFID tags.

38. A system as defined in claim 37, wherein the package skid, the package, and/or the article further comprise bar codes, serial tracking numbers, human readable identifiers, or combinations thereof.