RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DISTRIBUTING PRODUCTS

• US 20110234371A1
• Filed: 05/05/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Original Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Inventors: Linton, John, Linton, William A., Krueger, Julia E., Dearing, Michael P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• 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: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A method and system for vending products from a defined area, such as a micro-warehouse with a door. The method includes fitting each product with a radio frequency identification tag, positioning the plurality of products in a micro-warehouse, sensing opening and closing of the micro-warehouse door, scanning the plurality of products in the micro-warehouse upon sensing closing of the door to determine the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, generating a message based on the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, transmitting the message to a remote processor or server, and maintaining an inventory in the remote processor based on the message. The system is designed to be accessed by authorized individuals possessing some type of code or identifying mechanism. The micro-warehouses may be cabinets, refrigerators, secured rooms, or similar storage units or areas.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring an RFID inventory system, the inventory system including a cabinet having a plurality of sides and a locking door defining an interior space having at least one RFID tagged product therein, and a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the interior space, the temperature sensor being in communication with a controller and the controller being in communication with a server, the method comprising:

receiving a request initiated by a user to gain access to the cabinet via the door;

authenticating the user,

reading the temperature sensor to obtain a temperature;

determining, using the controller, a relationship of the temperature to a predetermined temperature range;

if the temperature is within the predetermined temperature range

unlocking the locking door; and

if the temperature is above or below the predetermined temperature range

transmitting a signal to the server,

maintaining the locking door in a locked state, and

reading the temperature sensor to obtain a new temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the status of the locking door and, if the locking door remains unlocked for a predetermined amount of time, locking the locking door.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined amount of time is five seconds.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cabinet further comprises a proximity sensor to sense whether the door is open, the method further comprising determining, using the proximity sensor, whether the door is open and, if the door remains open for a predetermined amount of time, transmitting a close door message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cabinet further comprises a power line operably connected to the controller, the method further comprising monitoring a voltage of the power line and locking the door if the voltage is below a predetermined level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cabinet further comprises a refrigeration unit to cool the interior space of the cabinet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein if the temperature is above or below the predetermined temperature range, the method further comprising maintaining the locking door in a locked state until an administrator inspects the at least one RFID tagged product.

8. An inventory comparison system comprising:

a commerce server for tracking RFID tagged products; and

a storage container enterprise application for maintaining an inventory of RFID tagged products, the enterprise application configured to identify movement of the RFID tagged products in and out of a storage container.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein information related to the movement of the RFID tagged products is communicated to the commerce server by the storage container enterprise application, the information being available for marketing and inventory functions.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the commerce server includes a module selected from the group consisting of a registration module, an order history module, an account set-up module, and a stock-request module.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the module is maintained for the storage container.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes a registration module which provides location information for the storage container.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes an order history module which stores the history of orders for the storage container.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes an order history module which stores the product preferences for the storage container.

15. The system according to claim 8, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes an account set-up module which provides at least one of administrative payment authorization and user information.

16. The system according to claim 8, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes a stock request module which controls inventory replenishment in response to at least one of usage and a customer request.

17. The system according to claim 8, wherein the storage container includes a controller having an RFID user sensing system and a radio frequency data collector inventory interface.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein RFID signatures of the RFID tagged products are accessed by the controller.

19. The system according to claim 8, wherein each RFID tagged product is associated with an individual RFID tag.

20. The system according to claim 8, wherein the storage container enterprise application is configured to perform a plurality of functions selected from the group consisting of controlling an arrangement of RFID user badges, managing communication sessions with a storage container, maintaining an inventory of products for the storage container, checking inventory of the storage container prior to product ordering, managing security of communications, providing system administrative functionality, and monitoring and maintaining health of the storage container.