Method and Apparatus for Tracking Transported Items Using RFID Tags
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
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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.
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Citations
84 Claims
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1. A tote, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for storage and/or transporting one or more RFID tagged item, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of storing and/or transporting one or more RFID tagged item, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A sleeve for use with a tote, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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Specification