System for identifying contents of closed containers using RFID tags

• US 20080041947A1
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2006
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: RF Accelerated LLC
• Original Assignee: RF Accelerated LLC
• Inventors: Hollister, Allen, Barta, Gary, Armstrong, John T.
• Application Number:
  US11/502,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20080041947A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system and method is provided which allows for instant recognition of contents of a closed container by providing descriptive information in the form of a picture, and/or an audio description, and/or text of the contents of the closed container taken at the time of packing the container. The system keeps track of the contents of an individual container by storing information describing the contents of the container that is then related to a unique identification number stored in a radio frequency identification tag affixed to the container. This information is then stored in a digital database for later reference.

Claims

1. A system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags, comprising:

providing descriptive information of contents stored within a container taken during container packing wherein a computer system stores said descriptive information in a database and associates it with an identification tag having a unique identification number which is affixed to the container for later reference and retrieval of the contents.

2. The system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 1, wherein said descriptive information is a picture.

3. The system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 1, wherein said descriptive information is an audio description.

4. A system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 1, wherein said descriptive information is in text.

5. The system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 1, wherein said identification tag having a unique identification number is a radio frequency identification tag.

6. The system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 1, wherein said identification tag having a unique identification number is a barcode label.

7. A system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 1, wherein said computer system stores said descriptive information in a database and associates it with an identification tag using a radio frequency identification reader/interrogator.

8. A system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 1, wherein said computer system stores said descriptive information in a database and associates it with an identification tag using a bar code reader.

9. The system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 1, wherein said descriptive information is provided by a digital camera taking one or more pictures of the contents being packed and associated said one or more pictures with said identification tag.

10. The system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 1, wherein said descriptive information is provided by a microphone/audio analog-to-digital converter wherein a digital voice recording describing the contents is associated with said identification tag.

11. A system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 1, wherein said descriptive information is provided by a microphone/audio analog-to-digital converter fed to a speech recognition text converter wherein a digital voice recording is converted to text describing the contents is associated with said identification tag.

12. A system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 1, wherein said descriptive information is provided by a keyboard used to enter text information describing the contents is associated with said identification tag.

13. The system for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 1, wherein said descriptive information is printed out and placed on the container associated with said descriptive information.

14. A method for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags, comprising:

providing descriptive information of contents stored within a container at the time of packing;

storing said descriptive information in a database;

providing an identification tag having a unique identification number;

storing said unique identification number associated with said descriptive information in said database; and

affixing said identification tag to the container.

15. The method for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 14, further comprising:

querying said identification tag having said unique identification number affixed to a closed container;

retrieving said descriptive information associated with said unique identification number from said database;

determining if said descriptive information is the contents desired wherein if the descriptive information is different then the contents desired then query another identification tag affixed to another closed container.

16. The method for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 15, further comprising:

displaying said descriptive information to a user for determining if the contents of the closed container are desired.

17. The method for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 14, further comprising:

converting said unique identification number from a barcode label to a radio frequency identification tag.

18. The method for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 14, wherein querying said identification tag further comprises:

scanning said unique identification number affixed to a closed container using a radio frequency identification reader/interrogator.

19. The method for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using identification tags according to claim 14, wherein querying said identification tag further comprises:

scanning said unique identification number affixed to a closed container using a barcode label reader.

20. A method for instant recognition of contents of a closed container using radio frequency identification tags;

comprising;

providing audio, video or text information of one or more contents stored within a container at the time of packing;

storing said audio, video or text information in a database;

providing a radio frequency identification tag having a unique identification number;

storing said unique identification number associated with said audio, video or text information is said database;

affixing said radio frequency identification tag to the container;

retrieving said audio, video or text information associated with said unique identification number from said database by querying said identification tag having said unique identification number affixed to a closed container; and

determining from said audio, video or text information by displaying said audio, video or text information to a user if the contents are desired wherein if the audio, video or text information is different then the audio, video or text information for the contents desired by the user then query another radio frequency identification tag affixed to another closed container.