Item Tracking System and Arrangement

• US 20120013444A1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Aspects
• Original Assignee: Mobile Aspects
• Inventors: Iasella, Gino N., Sriharto, Timur P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,648,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers

Abstract

An item tracking system including at least one signal emitting element directly or indirectly attached to a portion of at least one item, wherein at least a portion of the at least one signal emitting element extends from the at least one item. The system further includes a container, including: (i) a support surface configured to at least partially support the at least one item and having at least one opening extending therethrough, which is configured to at least partially receive at least a portion of the signal emitting element therethrough; and (ii) at least one signal receiving member configured for communication with the portion of the at least one signal emitting member extending through the at least one opening. An item tracking container and method of tracking are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An item tracking system, comprising:

at least one signal emitting element directly or indirectly attached to a portion of at least one item, wherein at least a portion of the at least one signal emitting element extends from the at least one item; and

a container, comprising;

(i) a support surface configured to at least partially support the at least one item and having at least one opening extending therethrough, which is configured to at least partially receive at least a portion of the signal emitting element therethrough; and

(ii) at least one signal receiving member configured for communication with the portion of the at least one signal emitting member extending through the at least one opening.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal receiving member is positioned at least partially below at least a portion of the support surface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one item is at least one of the following:

a flimsy item, a thin item, an item including at least one metallic component or portion, an item in a package, or any combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication between the at least one signal receiving member and the at least one signal emitting element is based upon radio frequency waves.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal receiving element comprises:

an attaching portion for direct or indirect attachment to the at least one item; and

a signal emitting portion configured for transmitting data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the attaching portion is at least one of:

attachable to the at least one item, integrated with the at least one item, permanently attachable to the at least one item, removably attachable to the at least one item, attachable to packaging associated with the at least one item, integrated with packaging associated with the at least one item, permanently attachable to packaging associated with the at least one item, removably attachable to packaging associated with the at least one item, or any combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is at least one of the following:

a shelf, a drawer, a support structure, a containment unit, or any combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal emitting element is a radio frequency identification tag, and the at least one signal receiving member is at least one antenna.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the support surface comprises a plurality of openings in the form of slots, each slot defined by at least one sidewall.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the at least one sidewall is at least one of the following:

square-shaped, rectangle-shaped, rounded, circular-shaped, or any combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a local controller in communication with the at least one signal receiving member and configured to control at least one function of the at least one signal receiving member.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the local controller is further configured to control at least one function of the container.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a central controller configured to communicate with and control at least one of the following:

a local controller, at least one function of the container, at least one function of the at least one signal receiving member, at least one function of the at least one signal emitting element, or any combination thereof.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of openings arranged in a plurality of areas within the container.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one signal receiving member is configured to obtain data emitted from at least one signal emitting element associated with at least one specific area of the plurality of areas within the container.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising an sensing arrangement configured to sense the presence of the at least one signal emitting element extending through an opening.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one spacer extending from a surface of the support surface and positioned between adjacent openings.

18. An item tracking container, comprising:

a support surface configured to at least partially support at least one item and having at least one opening extending therethrough, which is configured to at least partially receive therethrough at least a portion of a signal emitting element directly or indirectly attached to a portion of at least one item; and

at least one signal receiving member configured for communication with the portion of the at least one signal emitting member extending through the at least one opening.

19. The container of claim 18, wherein the at least one item is at least one of the following:

a flimsy item, a thin item, an item including at least one metallic component or portion, an item in a package, or any combination thereof.

20. A method of tracking at least one item having at least one signal emitting element attached to at least a portion thereof, the method comprising:

positioning at least a portion of the at least one signal emitting element through at least one opening extending through a support surface configured to at least partially support the at least one item thereon; and

communicating, by at least one signal receiving member, with the portion of the at least one signal emitting extending through the at least one opening.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one item is at least one of the following:

a flimsy item, a thin item, an item including at least one metallic component or portion, an item in a package, or any combination thereof.