Tag Communication, Identification, and Tracking Apparatus and System
First Claim
1. A tag configured for being physically associated with a supply chain item, the tag comprising:
- a processor;
a memory configured for storing data elements; and
a wireless communications device configured for transceiving wireless communications with a second device that is physically separate from the tag, the wireless communications comprising a representation of at least one of the data elements comprising a characteristic associated with the tag, the representation being usable by the second device to determine information to wirelessly transmit to the tag,wherein the processor is configured for executing code stored in the memory to respond to the information wirelessly transmitted from the second device by configuring at least one of the data elements based on the information,wherein at least one of the data elements representing data is usable to process payment for the supply chain item;
wherein at least one of the data elements representing data is usable to configure a display.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and system for supply chain management. The system permits an application server to collect information such as, for example, the spatial and temporal relationship between tags associated with a supply chain item by using a wireless communications device. Embodiments of the present invention may be used throughout any or all locations of a supply chain. For example, when the invention is applied to a retail setting, the retailer can track inventory in an establishment with minimal human involvement. In various embodiments of the present invention, two-way communication between tags and/or an application server allow data to be transmitted and/or received between one or more tags and/or one or more application servers.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A tag configured for being physically associated with a supply chain item, the tag comprising:
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a processor; a memory configured for storing data elements; and a wireless communications device configured for transceiving wireless communications with a second device that is physically separate from the tag, the wireless communications comprising a representation of at least one of the data elements comprising a characteristic associated with the tag, the representation being usable by the second device to determine information to wirelessly transmit to the tag, wherein the processor is configured for executing code stored in the memory to respond to the information wirelessly transmitted from the second device by configuring at least one of the data elements based on the information, wherein at least one of the data elements representing data is usable to process payment for the supply chain item; wherein at least one of the data elements representing data is usable to configure a display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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an application server; a tag configured for storing data elements and further configured for wireless communications with the application server and a second device physically separate from the tag, the second device being configured for wireless communications with the tag, wherein the wireless communications comprise a representation of at least one of the data elements comprising a characteristic associated with the tag, wherein the tag is configured for responding to the information wirelessly transmitted from the application server or the second device by configuring at least one of the data elements based on the information or wirelessly transmitting information about at least one of the data elements to the second device or the application server, wherein at least one of the data elements representing data is usable by at least one of the application server or the second device to process a payment for a product associated with the tag; wherein at least one of the data elements representing data is usable by a display device to display information about the product associated with the tag. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium disposed in a tag comprising program code, the program code comprising:
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program code for receiving wireless communications from a second device that is physically separate from the tag, the wireless communications comprising a representation of at least one data element comprising a characteristic associated with the tag, the representation being usable by the second device to determine information to wirelessly transmit to the tag; program code for responding to the information wirelessly transmitted from the second device by configuring a data element based on the information, wherein at least one data element representing data is usable by the second device to process payment for a product associated with the tag; wherein at least one data element representing data is usable by a display device to display information about the product associated with the tag. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification