METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INVENTORY LOCATION COMPLIANCE

• US 20100026493A1
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: MOUNTJOY, Thomas L., MOHNKE, David, RINKES, Charles, HULTHEN, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,102,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

An inventory compliance system includes an RFID reader having an agent configured to periodically read all RF tags within its range and then send the resulting tag information to an inventory application that processes the received information (e.g., tag ID, etc.) to determine the state of inventory at that time—i.e., the number, type, and location of each of the tags. In this way, through automatic updating via mobile and stationary RFID readers, an organization is able to monitor inventory without manual intervention, thereby reducing cost and time associated with conventional inventory compliance methods.

Claims

1. An inventory compliance system comprising:

a plurality of RF tags associated with a respective plurality of assets within an environment;

an inventory application coupled to a network;

a plurality of RFID readers provided within the environment, each having a range, wherein each of the RFID readers includes an agent configured to periodically instruct the RFID reader to acquire tag information from those RF tags that are within the range and then transmit the tag information over the network to the inventory application.

2. The inventory compliance system of claim 1, wherein the inventory application is configured to receive the tag information and determine the type, number, and location of the assets within the environment.

3. The inventory compliance system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of RFID readers includes at least one mobile RFID reader and at least one stationary RFID reader.

4. The inventory system of claim 1, further including a wireless switch coupled to the network, the wireless switch including a locationing subsystem configured to determine the locations of the RFID readers.

5. The inventory compliance system of claim 1, wherein the agent is configured to instruct the RFID reader to acquire tag information when it determines that the RFID reader is not performing another RF reading task.

6. The inventory compliance system of claim 1, wherein the agent is configured to instruct the RFID reader to acquire tag information at regular intervals.

7. The inventory compliance system of claim 6, wherein the regular intervals are configurable by a user.

8. An RFID reader including an agent configured to automatically instruct the RFID reader to acquire tag information from a plurality of RF tags that are within a range and then transmit the tag information over a network to an inventory application.

9. The RFID reader of claim 8, wherein the RFID reader is mobile.

10. The RFID reader of claim 8, wherein the RFID reader is stationary.

11. The RFID reader of claim 8, wherein the agent is configured to instruct the RFID reader to acquire tag information when it determines that the RFID reader is not performing another RF reading task.

12. The inventory compliance system of claim 8, wherein the agent is configured to instruct the RFID reader to acquire tag information at regular intervals.

13. A method for determining the state of inventory for a plurality of assets having a plurality of associated RF tags associated therewith, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of RFID readers, each configured to respond to a request to acquire tag information from a set of the RF tags within its range;

periodically and automatically sending to the RFID readers a request to acquire tag information;

sending the acquired tag information over a network to an inventory application;

determining the location of the plurality of RFID readers; and

determining the state of inventory based on the tag information and the location of the plurality of RFID readers.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the state of inventory includes determining the type, number, and location of the assets within the environment.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of RFID readers includes at least one mobile RFID reader and at least one stationary RFID reader.

16. The method of claim 13, further including providing a wireless switch coupled to the network, the wireless switch including a locationing subsystem configured to perform the step of determining the location of the plurality of RFID readers.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the request to acquire tag information is sent to the RFID reader when the RFID reader is not engaged in another reading task.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the request to acquire tag information is sent to the RFID reader at regular intervals.