SYSTEM AND METHOD TO TRACK INVENTORY USING RFID TAGS

• US 20080061982A1
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jeffries, Clark, Peyravian, Mohammad, Himberger, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,474,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

System and method for tracking inventory of a multiplicity of products. First RFID tags are associated with respective products or groups of products. Second Active RFID tags are associated with respective first containers for the multiplicity products. A third Active RFID tag is associated with a second container for the first containers. First RFID tags broadcast their respective identifications. Second Active RFID tags hash the identities of the first RFID tags within their respective first containers and broad their hashed values. Third Active RFID tag hash the hashed values broadcast by the second Active RFID tags. An expected value is compared to a result of the third Active RFID tag hashing the hashed values broadcast by the second Active RFID tags.

Claims

1. A method for tracking inventory, a first set of RFID tags associated with respective products or groups of products, a second set of Active RFID tags associated with respective first containers for a respective plurality of said products or groups of products, and a third Active RFID tag associated with a second container for said first containers, said method comprising the steps of:

said first RFID tags broadcasting their respective identities;

each of said second Active RFID tags hashing the identities broadcast by the first RFID tags for said plurality of said products or groups of products within the first container for said each of said Active RFID tags, and broadcasting a result of said hashing; and

said third Active RFID tag hashing the hashing results broadcast by said second Active RFID tags.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first containers are respective packages and said second Active RFID tags are attached to said packages.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first containers are respective boxes.

4. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second container is a shipping container adapted for shipping as a body of a tractor trailer truck.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

comparing an expected value to a result of the step of said third Active RFID tag hashing results broadcast by said second Active RFID tags.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first RFID tags are respective Passive RFID tags.

7. A system for tracking inventory, said system comprising:

a first set of RFID tags associated with respective products or groups of products, each of said first RFID tags including means for broadcasting its respective identity;

a second set of Active RFID tags associated with respective first containers for a respective plurality of said products or groups of products, each of said second Active RFID tags including means for hashing the identities broadcast by the first RFID tags for said plurality of said products or groups of products within the first container for said each of said Active RFID tags, and broadcasting a result of said hashing; and

a third Active RFID tag associated with a second container for said first containers, said third Active RFID tag including means for hashing the hashing results broadcast by said second Active RFID tags.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first containers are respective packages and said second Active RFID tags are attached to said packages.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first containers are respective boxes.

10. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second container is a shipping container adapted for shipping as a body of a tractor trailer truck.

11. A system as set forth in claim 7 further comprising:

means for comparing an expected value to a result of the means, within said third Active RFID tag, for hashing results broadcast by said second Active RFID tags.

12. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first RFID tags are respective Passive RFID tags.