RFID-BASED BOOK TAGGING DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20120299703A1
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitac Information Technology Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Claridy Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: CHEN, Horng-Ji
• Granted Patent: US 8,730,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0722 comprising an arrangement for testing the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The present invention relates to a radio frequency identification (RFID) device and method for book tagging, using which a RFID tag which is designed to attach to a book is first being scanned and detected in view of optimizing the RFID tag'"'"'s signal strength and its effective reading rate as well so as to determine a position on the book for the RFID tag to attach thereat while allowing the detection to the RFID tag to be prevented from being adversely affected by metals or magnetic materials that are situated ambient to the book.

Claims

1. An RFID-based book tagging method, comprising the steps of:

using an RFID-based book tagging device to perform a data accessing test upon an RFID tag;

using a barcode reader to read a barcode of a book so as to obtain a book information relating to the book from a database according to the barcode, and then encoding the book information so as to be registered into a memory embedded inside the RFID tag for establishing a data linkage between the book and the RFID tag;

using a tag mover to move the RFID tag relative to the book while performing a scanning operation upon the RFID tag while being move, and after completing the scanning operation, attaching the RFID tag on the book; and

performing a book tagging test.

2. The RFID-based book tagging method of claim 1, wherein the data accessing test further comprises the steps of:

using the RFID-based book tagging device to access data stored in the memory of the RFID tag; and

using the RFID-based book tagging device to scan and detect the RFID tag in view of its signal strength and read rate so as to determine whether the RFID tag is capable of working normally, i.e. qualified, to be used in posterior operations.

3. The RFID-based book tagging method of claim 1, wherein the reading of the barcode of the book using the barcode reader further comprises the steps of:

establishing a link to a database for retrieving the book information corresponding to the barcode from the database and then encoding the book information using a specific encoding rule so as to be registered into the memory of the RFID tag; and

accessing the memory of the RFID tag for obtain the book information so as to verify the data linkage to RFID tag.

4. The RFID-based book tagging method of claim 1, wherein the moving of the RFID tag relative to the book while performing a scanning operation upon the moving RFID tag further comprises the steps of:

opening and placing the book inside an RFID scanning zone while enabling the same to abut tightly against a positioning plate;

disposing the RFID tag whose data linkage had already been verified on the open book while enabling the same to move relative to the book;

using the RFID-based book tagging device to scan and detect the RFID tag in view of its signal strength and read rate; and

enabling the RFID-based book tagging device to issue a reminding signal at the moment when the detected signal strength and read rate reaches a predefined criteria and then stopping the RFID tag movement at the position where the RFID tag meets the predefined criteria; and

doing a book tagging operation for attaching the RFID tag to the book at the stopping position.

5. The RFID-based book tagging method of claim 4, wherein after completing the tag attaching operation, the RFID-based book tagging device is activated for scanning and detecting the RFID tag which is attached to the book in view of its signal strength and read rate so as to verify whether the signal strength and read rate of the RFID tag reaches the predefined criteria.

6. The RFID-based book tagging method of claim 1, wherein the tag mover is configured with at least two terminals to be used for engaging with the RFID tag during the use of the tag mover for driving the RFID tag to move horizontally.

7. The RFID-based book tagging method of claim 1, wherein the detection results obtaining from the step of performing a data accessing test upon an RFID tag, the step of moving of the RFID tag relative to the book while performing a scanning operation upon the moving RFID tag, and the step of the scanning and detecting of the RFID tag that is attached to the book in view of its signal strength and read rate so as to verify whether the signal strength and read rate of the RFID tag reaches the predefined criteria are all being stored in a test information database or a test information file which can be used in an optimization control analysis.

8. An RFID-based book tagging device, comprising:

a shielding box, is consisted of metallic material and having at least one non-metallic RFID scanning zone being constructed therein where electromagnetic waves are allowed to transmit and used in testing the RFID tag, for defining an area where an RFID tag is being accessed and to reduce the external electromagnetic interference;

an antenna, mounted at a position inside the shielding box to be used for detecting the RFID tag so as to obtain characteristics of the RFID tag during the RFID tag is used in the book tagging operations;

an enclosure case, integrating the shielding box and the antenna so as to be used as an operation platform for the book tagging operations;

a barcode reader;

an adjustable bracket;

a page holder, for enabling an open book to maintain open;

at least one digital interface, mounted on the surface of the enclosure case for controlling data transmission and storage;

at least one press-key/switch, mounted on the surface of the enclosure case for activating controls relating to the book tagging operation; and

at least one displaying/indication unit, mounted on the surface of the enclosure case for providing an indication relating to the testing of the RFID tag that is constructed by elements selected from the group consisting of;

texts, graphics, colors and sounds.

9. The RFID-based book tagging device of claim 8, wherein antenna is electrically connected to a built-in RFID reader or to an external RFID reader by an RF coaxial cable, for enabling the RFID reader to access information from the RFID tag as well as testing the RFID tag.

10. The RFID-based book tagging device of claim 8, wherein each digital interface is designed to connect to external computers or networks through a communication device for transmitting data and commands there between, and thus performing operations including system control, file accessing and database linkage.

11. The RFID-based book tagging device of claim 10, wherein the communication device is a device selected from the group consisting of:

an Ethernet device, an RS-232 interface device, an RS-485 interface device, an RS-422 interface device and an USB interface device.

12. The RFID-based book tagging device of claim 8, wherein each digital interface is substantially a memory card used in an off-line operation for data inputting and outputting.

13. The RFID-based book tagging device of claim 12, wherein the memory card is a device selected from the group consisting of:

an SD card, a CF card, an XD card and an USB flash memory.

14. The RFID-based book tagging device of claim 8, wherein the adjustable bracket is provided for holding the barcode reader while enabling the orientation angle and the level thereof to be adjustable so as to facilitate the performing of an encoding operation or a data linking operation.

15. The RFID-based book tagging device of claim 8, wherein each displaying/indication unit further comprises a displaying unit selected from the group consisting of:

a liquid crystal display device, a flat panel display device, and a cathode ray tube display device, whichever is capable of displaying information including commands, signals and graphics, etc.

16. The RFID-based book tagging device of claim 8, wherein the displaying unit is further configured with a light indicator selected from the group consisting of:

an indicator composed of lights of different colors, and an indicator composed of lights flashing at different frequencies, whichever is capable of representing the result of the testing to the RFID tag in view of whether the status is passed or failed in the book tagging operations.

17. The RFID-based book tagging device of claim 8, wherein each displaying/indication device further comprises an indication unit, being substantially an audio device capable of outputting a series of audio signals, sounds of different frequencies, sound streams with different tempos, or music of different melodies, whichever is capable of pointing out the status relating to the book tagging operations.

18. The RFID-based book tagging device of claim 8, wherein each press-key/switch is provided for turning on or turning off the RFID-based book tagging device, and/or for controlling the operations of the RFID-based book tagging device.

19. The RFID-based book tagging device of claim 8, wherein each of the interior walls of the shielding box is further being covered by an electromagnetic wave absorbing material for reducing the reflection of electromagnetic waves inside the shielding box so as to reduce the electromagnetic interference.