METHODS AND APPARATUS TO VISUALIZE LOCATIONS OF RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) TAGGED ITEMS

• US 20110279246A1
• Filed: 07/19/2011
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Workday Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.42
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/043 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/046 Displays or indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10376 the interrogation device being adapted for being moveable
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to visualize locations of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged items are described. One example method includes receiving a request from a portable electronic device to access product information associated with an individual radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged item, determining a location of the product information in a database, transmitting the located product information to the portable electronic device for display thereon, receiving modified product information associated with the individual RFID tagged item from the portable electronic device, and storing the modified product information to the location of the product information in the database.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

processing received Radio Frequency waves to determine a location of a radio frequency identification tagged item, where the location of the radio frequency identification tagged item is determined from an angle of a radio frequency wave; and

indicating the location of the radio frequency identification tagged item via a portable electronic device configured with a visual display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location comprises a distance and a lateral position.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the location is further determined from a time delay of the radio frequency wave.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the location is further determined from an amplitude change of the radio frequency wave.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the location is further determined from a second angle of a second radio frequency wave for a second radio frequency identification tagged item.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving product information at the portable electronic device, wherein the product information is associated with the radio frequency identification tagged item;

receiving at the portable electronic device an input to modify the product information associated with the radio frequency identification tagged item; and

transmitting the product information that is modified from the portable electronic device to a database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the radio frequency wave is processed to extract an identification number to reference the radio frequency identification tagged item.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

using a wireless communication channel to facilitate communication between the portable electronic device and the database.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the receiving the product information includes receiving the identification number for the radio frequency identification tagged item.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the product information includes a product description.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the product information includes an available quantity.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the product information includes a manufacturer name.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the product information includes a model number.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the product information includes a catalog number.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the product information includes a price.

16. The method of claim 6, wherein the database stores the product information that has been modified.

17. The method of claim 6, wherein the input is received from a keypad associated with the portable electronic device.

18. The method of claim 6, wherein the indicating the location of the radio frequency identification tagged item comprises displaying the product information associated with the radio frequency identification tagged item on a transparent display.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

process received Radio Frequency waves to determine a location of a radio frequency identification tagged item, where the location of the radio frequency identification tagged item is determined from an angle of a radio frequency wave; and

indicate the location of the radio frequency identification tagged item via a portable electronic device configured with a visual display.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the location comprises a distance and a lateral position.