Method and System Using RFID Tags for Triggering Document Generation

• US 20080266096A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hanebeck, Hanns-Christian Leemon
• Granted Patent: US 8,203,435 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 document generators are engaged, and optionally one or more business processes are initiated, and optionally one or more reader system hardware configuration changes are implemented.

Claims

1. A system for initiation of selected document generators 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, to select an automatic document generator according to said received configuration control parameters, and to engage said selected document generator.

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 wherein said document generator is configured to generate an electronic mail message.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said document generator is configured to generate a facsimile message.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said document generator is configured to generate a human-readable handling instruction document.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said document generator is configured to generate a quality control document.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said document generator is configured to generate a traceability document.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said document generator is configured to generate a shipping document.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said shipping document comprises a manifest.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said commander is further configured to retrieve one or more identification tag reader hardware profiles, and to command a hardware configuration of said identification tag reader.

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.

13. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said commander is further configured to initiate one or more computer-based business processes according to said received configuration control parameters.

14. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said engaged business process comprises a business process selected from the group of a business processes responsive to user presence, a quality control business process, a quality traceability process, a theft prevention process, and a hazardous materials handling process.

16. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said set of associating a configuration tag comprises associating a 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.

17. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising generating a document by said document generator selected from the group of an electronic mail message, a facsimile message, a human-readable handling instruction document, a quality control document, a traceability document, a shipping document and a manifest.

18. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of retrieving one or more identification tag reader hardware profiles selected by said received configuration control parameters, and commanding a hardware configuration of said identification tag reader according to said retrieved profile.

19. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising initiating one or more computer-based business processes according to said received configuration control parameters.

15. A method for initiation of selected document generators in a real-time flow of material handling, said method comprising:

physically associating a radio-frequency-readable configuration tag 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;

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;

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

selecting by said commander an automatic document generator according to said received configuration control parameters; and

engaging said selected document generator.

20. An article of manufacture for initiation of selected document generators 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) interfacing a configuration tag reader positioned prior to a radio frequency identification tag reader in a physical handling flow of articles, said articles having a physically associated radio-frequency-readable configuration tag, said configuration tag storing and selectively transmitting one or more configuration control parameters to said configuration tag reader, said articles having at least one radio-frequency-readable identification tag;

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

(c) selecting by said commander an automatic document generator according to said received configuration control parameters; and

(d) engaging said selected document generator.