Method and System Using RFID Tags for Initiation of Selected Business Processes

• US 20080266095A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hanebeck, Hanns-Christian Leemon
• Granted Patent: US 8,169,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03

Abstract

A system and related methods for dynamically re-configuring a radio frequency identification tag reader, engaging software business processes, or combinations of both, using a radio-frequency-readable configuration tag which physically associated with one or more RFID-tagged articles in a physical handling flow. The configuration tag reader is positioned prior to a radio frequency identification tag reader in said material handling flow, which allows the configuration reader to read the contents of the configuration tags before the articles reach the identification tag reader. Based on the contents of the read configuration tags, one or more selected business processes are initiated to customize the handling process of the tagged items.

Claims

1. A system for initiation of selected businesses processes in a real-time flow of material handling, said system comprising:

a radio-frequency-readable configuration tag physically associated with one or more articles in a physical handling flow, said configuration tag storing and selectively transmitting one or more configuration control parameters, said articles having at least one radio-frequency-readable identification tag;

a configuration tag reader positioned prior to a radio frequency identification tag reader in said flow of articles to read said configuration control parameters from said configuration tag responsive to said article passing in said flow; and

a commander configured to receive said configuration control parameters from said configuration tag via said configuration tag reader, and to engage at least one computer-based business process based upon said received configuration control parameters.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said configuration tag is associated with a container for a plurality of said articles, and where each of said articles in said container is provided with an identification tag.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a user-proximity detector, and wherein said commander is further configured to engage one or more business processes responsive to user presence.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said engaged business processes comprise a quality control business process.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said engaged business processes comprise a quality traceability process.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said engaged business processes comprise a theft prevention process.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said engaged business processes comprise a hazardous materials handling process.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said commander is further configured to engage a document generator.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said document generator is configured to generate a document selected from the group of an electronic mail message, an electronic text message, a human readable report, and a computer readable report.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said commander is further configured to command a change in hardware configuration of said identification tag reader according to said received configuration control parameters.

11. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said hardware configuration change is selected from the group of a position adjustment for an antenna of said identification tag reader, a radio signal power level for an antenna of said identification tag reader, a speed of travel control of a material handler for said handling flow, a polarization option of an antenna of said identification tag reader, and enabling video surveillance of an area of handling of said articles.

12. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said commander comprises one or more sensor inputs for receiving sensor signals from a sensor selected from the group of a motion sensor, a weight-sensitive floor mat, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, a touch sensor, and a humidity sensor, and wherein said commander is further configured to utilize said sensor inputs in order to perform one or more actions selected from the group of commanding a change in a hardware configuration of said identification tag reader, initiate a business process, and engage a document generator.

19. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said commander is further configured to command a change in hardware configuration of said identification tag reader according to said received configuration control parameters.

13. A method for initiation of selected businesses processes in a real-time flow of material handling, said system comprising:

physically associating a radio-frequency-readable configuration tag with one or more articles in a physical handling flow, said configuration tag storing one or more configuration control parameters, said articles having at least one radio-frequency-readable identification tag;

providing a configuration tag reader positioned prior to a radio frequency identification tag reader in said flow of articles to read said configuration control parameters from said configuration tag responsive to said article passing in said flow;

selectively transmitting said configuration control parameters from said configuration tag to said configuration tag reader;

receiving by a commander said transmitted configuration control parameters via said configuration tag reader;

selecting by a commander at least one computer-based business process according to said received configuration control parameters; and

engaging by a commander said selected business processes.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said step of associating a configuration tag comprises associating said configuration tag with a container for a plurality of said articles, and where each of said articles in said container is provided with an identification tag.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising receiving by said commander a signal from a user-proximity detector, and wherein said step of selecting a business process comprises selecting said business process according to presence of a user.

16. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said step of selecting a business processes comprises selection of a business processes selected from the group of a quality control business process, an article traceability process, a theft prevention process, and a hazardous materials handling process.

17. The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising selecting and engaging by said commander a document generator according to said receive configuration control parameters.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said step of engaging a document generator comprises generating a document selected from the group of an electronic mail message, an electronic text message, a human readable report, and a computer readable report.

20. An article of manufacture for initiation of selected businesses processes in a real-time flow of material handling, said article comprising:

a computer readable medium suitable for storing computer program code; and

computer program code stored on said medium, configured to perform the steps of;

(a) physically associating a radio-frequency-readable configuration tag with one or more articles in a physical handling flow, said configuration tag storing one or more configuration control parameters, said articles having at least one radio-frequency-readable identification tag;

(b) interfacing a commander to a configuration tag reader, said commander being positioned prior to a radio frequency identification tag reader in said flow of articles to read said configuration control parameters from said configuration tag responsive to said article passing in said flow;

(c) receiving by a commander configuration control parameters transmitted via said configuration tag reader interface;

(e) selecting by a commander at least one computer-based business process according to said received configuration control parameters; and

(f) engaging by a commander said selected business processes.