Radio Frequency Identification Devices, Remote Communication Devices, Identification Systems, Communication Methods, and Identification Methods

• US 20100013637A1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Keystone Technology Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Trosper, Scott T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0095 Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0222 Message structure or message content, e.g. message protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units

Abstract

The present invention provides radio frequency identification devices, remote communication devices, identification systems, communication methods, and identification methods. A radio frequency identification device according to one aspect includes a substrate; communication circuitry coupled with the substrate and configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier, to process the identifier of the wireless signal and to output a control signal responsive to the processing of the identifier; and indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to receive the control signal and to indicate presence of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal. A communication method according to another aspect includes providing a radio frequency identification device; receiving a wireless signal including an identifier within the radio frequency identification device; processing the identifier; generating a control signal after the processing; and indicating presence of the radio frequency identification device using indication circuitry of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal.

Claims

1. A method of tracking inventory, the method comprising:

placing one or more items at a first location, the one or more items having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached thereto;

providing one or more interrogators identifying information associated with the RFID tag;

broadcasting by the one or more interrogators a first message, the first message comprising a tag identifier;

receiving by a plurality of RFID tags the first message;

communicating by a first RFID tag of the plurality of RFID tags a second message, the first RFID tag being identified by the tag identifier, the first RFID tag having a first location;

receiving by the one or more interrogators the second message; and

providing an indication of the first location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication includes a visual indication of the first location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the visual indication includes a light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided on the RFID tag.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating includes backscattering the second message.