SYSTEM AND METHOD TO TRACK INVENTORY USING RFID TAGS

• US 20080211673A1
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jeffries, Clark D., Himberger, Kevin D., Peyravian, Mohammad
• Granted Patent: US 7,719,423 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 of tracking products, comprising the steps of:

providing products having first active RFID tags preprogrammed with an identity of said products which bear said RFID tags and having recorded temperature data therein;

providing shipping containers for holding said products, said containers bearing second active RFID tags;

receiving said containers at a destination wherein said destination has an external RFID reader; and

receiving said identity and said recorded temperature data by said external RFID reader and hashing said identity, as said products are loaded into said shipping containers, and sending the hashed results and said recorded temperature data to said second RFID tags.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said shipping containers are boxes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second active RFID tags are attached to said boxes by adhesives or embedded within walls of said shipping containers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said shipping container is adapted for shipping as a body of a tractor trailer truck.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a forklift is equipped with said external RFID reader.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing an expected value to said hashed results.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said expected value is received by said external RFID reader securely via a network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a plurality of said hashed results at a second external RFID reader, re-hashing said hashed results, and sending the re-hashed results to a third active RFID tag.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said third active RFID tag is associated with a second container for said shipping containers.

10. A system for tracking products, comprising:

products having first active RFID tags preprogrammed with an identity of said products which bear said RFID tags and having recorded temperature data therein;

shipping containers for holding said products, said containers bearing second active RFID tags; and

an external RFID reader located at a destination for said shipping containers wherein said external RFID reader is adapted for receiving said identity and said recorded temperature data by said external RFID reader and hashing said identity, as said products are loaded into said shipping containers, and sending the hashed results and said recorded temperature data to said second RFID tags.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said shipping containers are boxes.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said second active RFID tags are attached to said boxes by adhesives or embedded within walls of said shipping containers.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said shipping container is adapted for shipping as a body of a tractor trailer truck.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein a forklift is equipped with said external RFID reader.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said second RFID tags are adapted to compare an expected value to said hashed results.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said expected value is received by said external RFID reader securely via a network.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising a second external RFID reader adapted for receiving a plurality of said hashed results, re-hashing said hashed results, and sending the re-hashed results to a third active RFID tag.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said third active RFID tag is associated with a second container for said shipping containers.