Electronic Inventory Tracking System
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a first set of items positioned in a first item zone, each item in the first set of items having a machine-readable identification tag;
an electronic tag reader capable of remotely reading the identification tags into an electronic record of shopping cart contents when the identification tags are within a readable range from the electronic tag reader;
an energy field generator configured to generate a first detectable energy field extending from a location within the readable range of at least some of the items in the first item zone to a location outside the readable range of any of the items in the first item zone; and
wherein the tag reader is movable along the aisle into and out of the first detectable energy field, and is configured to not read the identification tags into the electronic record while the tag reader is within the first detectable energy field and to selectively read the identification tags into the electronic record when the tag reader is outside the first detectable energy field.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking items in a shopping cart using radio frequency identification. In one embodiment, a first set of items is positioned in a first item zone alongside an aisle. An electronic tag reader is capable of remotely reading identification tags on the items into an electronic record of shopping cart contents when the identification tags are within a readable range from the electronic tag reader. An energy field generator such as an electromagnetic field generator generates a first electromagnetic field extending from a location within the readable range of at least some of the items in the first item zone to a location outside the readable range of any of the items in the first item zone. The tag reader is movable along the aisle into and out of the first electromagnetic field, and is configured to not read the identification tags into the electronic record while the tag reader is within the first electromagnetic field and to selectively read the identification tags into the electronic record when the tag reader is outside the first electromagnetic field.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a first set of items positioned in a first item zone, each item in the first set of items having a machine-readable identification tag; an electronic tag reader capable of remotely reading the identification tags into an electronic record of shopping cart contents when the identification tags are within a readable range from the electronic tag reader; an energy field generator configured to generate a first detectable energy field extending from a location within the readable range of at least some of the items in the first item zone to a location outside the readable range of any of the items in the first item zone; and wherein the tag reader is movable along the aisle into and out of the first detectable energy field, and is configured to not read the identification tags into the electronic record while the tag reader is within the first detectable energy field and to selectively read the identification tags into the electronic record when the tag reader is outside the first detectable energy field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method, comprising:
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positioning a first set of items in a first item zone, each item in the first set of items having a machine-readable identification tag; generating a first detectable energy field extending from a location within the readable range of at least some of the items in the first item zone to a location outside the readable range of any of the items in the first item zone; and moving the tag reader along the aisle into the first detectable energy field, not reading the identification tags into the electronic record while the tag reader is within the first detectable energy field, moving the tag reader out of the first detectable energy field, and selectively reading the identification tags into the electronic record when the tag reader is outside the first detectable energy field. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification