Method and Apparatus for Tracking Transported Items Using RFID Tags

• US 20100213086A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metrc, LLC
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Emond, Jean-Pierre, Wells, Jeffrey Lane, Uysal, Dilek Dagdelen
• Granted Patent: US 9,449,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07327 Passive means, e.g. Faraday cages Faraday-type protection of electric circuits in general H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking transported items using RFID tags are provided. A tote for transporting RFID tagged items includes a body capable of enclosing one or more RFID tagged items. RF reflective and/or absorbent material is positioned to inhibit RF signals from reaching the enclosed RFID tagged items from outside the body. A portion of a wall of the tote or a sleeve for insertion into the tote can be free of reflective and/or absorbent material to allow RF signals to be sent into, and exit, the tote. The RF reflective and/or absorbent material can be provided with or without texture.

Claims

1. A tote, comprising:

a body capable of at least partially enclosing one or more RFID tagged item; and

at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to a first portion of the body so as to prevent outgoing RFID signals from the one or more RFID tagged item from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the body, wherein a second portion of the body allows the passage of RF signals from outside the body through the second portion of the body to the RFID tagged item so as to cause an RF outgoing signal from the RFID tagged item to pass through the second portion of the body to outside the body.

2. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents outgoing RFID signals from the one or more RFID tagged item from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the body by preventing RF signals from reaching the RFID tagged item from outside the body through the first portion of the body and causing an outgoing RFID signal to pass through the first portion of the body from the one or more RFID tagged item to outside the body.

3. The tote according to claim 2, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents RF signals from reaching the one or more RFID tagged item from outside the body through the first portion of the body.

4. The tote according to claim 2, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents RF outgoing signals from the one or more RFID tagged items from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the body.

5. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a bottom of the body.

6. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a top of the body.

7. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a side of the body.

8. The tote according to claim 5, wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the bottom of the body, wherein upon stacking the tote on a second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the bottom of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body and causing an RF outgoing RFID signal from the one or more RFID tagged item to pass through the bottom of the body to the outside of the body.

9. The tote according to claim 8, wherein upon stacking the tote on the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the bottom of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

10. The tote according to claim 6, wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the top of the body, wherein upon stacking a second tote on the tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the top of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body and causing an RF outgoing signal from the one or more RFID tagged item to pass through the top of the body to outside the body.

11. The tote according to claim 10, wherein upon stacking the second tote on the tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the top of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

12. The tote according to claim 7, wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the side of the body, wherein upon placing the tote adjacent to a second tote with the same orientation such that the at least a portion of the side is adjacent the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the at least a portion of the side of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

13. The tote according to claim 12, wherein upon placing the tote adjacent to the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the at least a portion of the side of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

14. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the body comprises a top and four sides of the body.

15. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is incorporated in a sleeve that is positioned in the body.

16. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is incorporated in a sleeve in which the body is positioned.

17. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is incorporated in the first portion of the body.

18. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is provided with texture.

19. The tote according to claim 18, wherein the texture comprises a grid pattern.

20. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the one or more RFID tagged item is one or more semi-active RFID tagged item.

21. The tote according to claim 1, wherein the one or more RFID tagged item is one or more active RFID tagged items.

22. A system for storage and/or transporting one or more RFID tagged item, comprising:

a plurality of totes, each tote comprising;

a body capable of at least partially enclosing one or more RFID tagged item;

at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to a first portion of the body so as to prevent outgoing RFID signals from the one or more RFID tagged item from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the body, wherein a second portion of the body allows the passage of RF signals from outside the body through the second portion of the body to the RFID tagged item so as to cause an RF outgoing signal from the RFID tagged items to pass through the second portion of the body to outside the body; and

at least one RFID reader, wherein the at least one RFID reader is positioned to read the RFID tags inside the plurality of tote through the second portion of the body of each tote.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents outgoing RFID signals from the one or more RFID tagged item from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the body by preventing RF signals from reaching the RFID tagged item from outside the body through the first portion of the body and causing an outgoing RFID signal to pass through the first portion of the body from the one or more RFID tagged item to outside the body.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents RF signals from reaching the one or more RFID tagged item from outside the body through the first portion of the body.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents RF outgoing signals from the one or more RFID tagged items from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the body.

26. The system according to claim 22, wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a bottom of the body.

27. The system according to claim 22, wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a top of the body.

28. The system according to claim 22, wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a side of the body.

29. The system according to claim 26, wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the bottom of the body, wherein upon stacking the tote on a second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the bottom of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body and causing an RF outgoing RFID signal from the one or more RFID tagged item to pass through the bottom of the body to the outside of the body.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein upon stacking the tote on the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the bottom of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

31. The system according to claim 27, wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the top of the body, wherein upon stacking a second tote on the tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the top of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body and causing an RF outgoing signal from the one or more RFID tagged item to pass through the top of the body to outside the body.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein upon stacking the second tote on the tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the top of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

33. The system according to claim 28, wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the side of the body, wherein upon placing the tote adjacent to a second tote with the same orientation such that the at least a portion of the side is adjacent the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the at least a portion of the side of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein upon placing the tote adjacent to the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the at least a portion of the side of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

35. The system according to claim 22, wherein the first portion of the body comprises a top and four sides of the body.

36. The system according to claim 22, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is incorporated in a sleeve that is positioned in the body.

37. The system according to claim 22, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is incorporated in a sleeve in which the body is positioned.

38. The system according to claim 22, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is incorporated in the first portion of the body.

39. The system according to claim 22, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is provided with texture.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein the texture comprises a grid pattern.

41. The system according to claim 22, wherein the one or more RFID tagged item is one or more semi-active RFID tagged item.

42. The system according to claim 22, wherein the one or more RFID tagged item is one or more active RFID tagged items.

43. A method of storing and/or transporting one or more RFID tagged item, comprising:

locating one or more RFID tagged item in a tote, wherein the tote comprises a body capable of at least partially enclosing the one or more RFID tagged item;

positioning at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material relative to a first portion of the body so as to prevent outgoing RFID signals from the one or more RFID item from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the body, wherein a second portion of the body allows the passage of RF signals from outside the body through the second portion of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item and causing an RF outgoing signal from the one or more RFID tagged item to pass through the second portion of the body to outside the body; and

reading the RFID tags of the one or more RFID tagged item.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents outgoing RFID signals from passing through the first portion of the body from the one or more RFID tagged item to outside the body by preventing RF signals from reaching the one or more RFID tagged item from outside the body through the first portion of the body and causing outgoing RFID signal to pass through the first portion of the body from the RFID tagged item to outside the body.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents RF signals from reaching the one or more RFID tagged item from outside the body through the first portion of the body.

46. The method according to claim 44, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents RF outgoing signals from the one or more RFID tagged items from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the body.

47. The method according to claim 43, wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a bottom of the body.

48. The method according to claim 43, wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a top of the body.

49. The method according to claim 43, wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a side of the body.

50. The method according to claim 47, wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the bottom of the body, wherein upon stacking the tote on a second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the bottom of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body and causing an RF outgoing RFID signal from the one or more RFID tagged item to pass through the bottom of the body to the outside of the body.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein upon stacking the tote on the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the bottom of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

52. The method according to claim 48, wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the top of the body, wherein upon stacking a second tote on the tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the top of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body and causing an RF outgoing signal from the one or more RFID tagged item to pass through the top of the body to outside the body.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein upon stacking the second tote on the tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the top of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

54. The method according to claim 49, wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the side of the body, wherein upon placing the tote adjacent to a second tote with the same orientation such that the at least a portion of the side is adjacent the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the at least a portion of the side of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

55. The method according to claim 54, wherein upon placing the tote adjacent to the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the at least a portion of the side of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

56. The method according to claim 43, wherein the first portion of the body comprises a top and four sides of the body.

57. The method according to claim 43, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is incorporated in a sleeve that is positioned in the body.

58. The method according to claim 43, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is incorporated in a sleeve in which the body is positioned.

59. The method according to claim 43, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is incorporated in the first portion of the body.

60. The method according to claim 43, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is provided with texture.

61. The method according to claim 60, wherein the texture comprises a grid pattern.

62. The method according to claim 43, wherein the one or more RFID tagged item is one or more semi-active RFID tagged item.

63. The method according to claim 43, wherein the one or more RFID tagged item is one or more active RFID tagged items.

64. A sleeve for use with a tote, comprising:

a sleeve adapted to be interconnected with a tote, wherein the tote comprises;

a body capable of at least partially enclosing one or more RFID tagged item, wherein the sleeve body comprises at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material, wherein the sleeve is adapted to be positioned relative to a first portion of the body so as to prevent outgoing RFID signals from the one or more RFID tagged item from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the body, wherein a second portion of the body allows the passage of RF signals from outside the body through the second portion of the body to the RFID tagged item so as to cause an RF outgoing signal from the RFID tagged item to pass through the second portion of the body to outside the body.

65. The sleeve according to claim 64, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents outgoing RFID signals from the one or more RFID tagged item from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the body by preventing RF signals from reaching the RFID tagged item from outside the body through the first portion of the body and causing an outgoing RFID signal to pass through the first portion of the body from the one or more RFID tagged item to outside the body.

66. The sleeve according to claim 65, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents RF signals from reaching the one or more RFID tagged item from outside the body through the first portion of the body.

67. The sleeve according to claim 65, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents RF outgoing signals from the one or more RFID tagged items from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the body.

68. The sleeve according to claim 64, wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a bottom of the body.

69. The sleeve according to claim 64, wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a top of the body.

70. The sleeve according to claim 64, wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a side of the body.

71. The sleeve according to claim 68, wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the bottom of the body, wherein upon stacking the tote on a second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the bottom of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body and causing an RF outgoing RFID signal from the one or more RFID tagged item to pass through the bottom of the body to the outside of the body.

72. The sleeve according to claim 71, wherein upon stacking the tote on the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the bottom of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

73. The sleeve according to claim 69, wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the top of the body, wherein upon stacking a second tote on the tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the top of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body and causing an RF outgoing signal from the one or more RFID tagged item to pass through the top of the body to outside the body.

74. The sleeve according to claim 73, wherein upon stacking the second tote on the tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from passing through the top of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

75. The sleeve according to claim 70, wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the side of the body, wherein upon placing the tote adjacent to a second tote interconnected with a second sleeve with the same orientation such that the at least a portion of the side is adjacent the second tote, the second sleeve prevents RF signals from passing through the at least a portion of the side of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

76. The sleeve according to claim 75, wherein upon placing the tote adjacent to the second tote, the second sleeve prevents RF signals from passing through the at least a portion of the side of the body to the one or more RFID tagged item in the body.

77. The sleeve according to claim 64, wherein the first portion of the body comprises a top and four sides of the body.

78. The sleeve according to claim 64, wherein the sleeve is adapted to be inserted into the tote.

79. The sleeve according to claim 64, wherein the sleeve is adapted for the tote to be inserted into the sleeve.

80. The sleeve according to claim 64, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is incorporated in the sleeve.

81. The sleeve according to claim 64, wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is provided with texture.

82. The sleeve according to claim 81, wherein the texture comprises a grid pattern.

83. The sleeve according to claim 64, wherein the one or more RFID tagged item is one or more semi-active RFID tagged item.

84. The sleeve according to claim 64, wherein the one or more RFID tagged item is one or more active RFID tagged items.