Container Manifest Integrity Maintenance System and Method
First Claim
1. A container manifest tracking system comprising:
- a radio frequency identification (RFID) contents reader affixed to a container in which a plurality of RFID tagged items are disposed, said contents reader having an effective range sufficient to reach all said tagged items, and being configured to periodically collect identification information from all of said tagged items;
a manifest database affixed to said container, accessible by said contents reader, and storing said periodically collected information;
a timer affixed to said container, and accessible by said contents reader to said periodic collection; and
an active RFID tag emulator affixed to said container configured respond to an external reader activation code by receiving said periodically collected information stored in said manifest database and transmitting said identification information to said external reader.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and medium for tracking the contents of a container in which the items stored in the container are provided with radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tags, and a tracker affixed to the container periodically polls the items in the container to collect identification information. An electronic manifest, also attached to the container, is updated periodically to reflect items which have been added to the container or removed from the container since the last polling. The tracker emulates an RFID tag when polled by an external reader, responding by uploading the entire electronic manifest to the external reader. The external reader and the affixed reader preferably utilize distinct RFID protocols so as to produce a hierarchical manifest data structure with high integrity.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A container manifest tracking system comprising:
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a radio frequency identification (RFID) contents reader affixed to a container in which a plurality of RFID tagged items are disposed, said contents reader having an effective range sufficient to reach all said tagged items, and being configured to periodically collect identification information from all of said tagged items; a manifest database affixed to said container, accessible by said contents reader, and storing said periodically collected information; a timer affixed to said container, and accessible by said contents reader to said periodic collection; and an active RFID tag emulator affixed to said container configured respond to an external reader activation code by receiving said periodically collected information stored in said manifest database and transmitting said identification information to said external reader. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An automated method comprising:
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affixing a radio frequency identification (RFID) contents reader to a container in which a plurality of RFID tagged items are disposed, said contents reader having an effective range sufficient to reach all said tagged items; periodically collecting identification information by said content reader from all of said tagged items; storing said periodically collected information by said contents reader in a manifest database also affixed to said container; emulating an active RFID tag emulator affixed to said container responsive to an external reader activation code by receiving said periodically collected information stored in said manifest database and transmitting said identification information to said external reader. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An article of manufacture comprising:
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a computer readable medium suitable for encoding software; and software encoded in said medium for performing the steps of; (a) periodically collecting identification information by a content reader from a plurality of radio frequency identification (“
RFID”
) tagged items disposed in a container, said content reader being affixed to said container and having an effective range sufficient to reach all said tagged items;(b) storing said periodically collected information by said contents reader in a manifest database also affixed to said container; (c) emulating an active RFID tag emulator affixed to said container responsive to an external reader activation code by receiving said periodically collected information stored in said manifest database and transmitting said identification information to said external reader. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification