ENCODED INFORMATION READING TERMINAL WITH ITEM LOCATE FUNCTIONALITY

• US 20130049962A1
• Filed: 08/22/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Taylor, Qu, Huyu
• Granted Patent: US 9,507,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/903 Querying for retrieval from the web G06F16/953
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• 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: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037

Abstract

An encoded information reading terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory communicatively coupled to the microprocessor, a communication interface, and an RFID reading device configured to output raw message data comprising an encoded message and/or output decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message. The EIR terminal can be configured, responsive to receiving one or more target item identifiers, to attempt to locate at least one RFID tag transmitting an encoded representation of a binary string, at least part of which is equal to at least part one of the specified one or more target item identifiers. The EIR terminal can be further configured, responsive to successfully locating at least one RFID tag, to notify a user via a visual message and/or an audible message.

Claims

1. An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal comprising:

a microprocessor;

a memory communicatively coupled to said microprocessor;

a communication interface;

an RFID reading device configured to perform at least one of;

outputting raw message data comprising an encoded message and outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message;

wherein said EIR terminal is configured, responsive to receiving one or more target item identifiers, to attempt to locate at least one RFID tag transmitting an encoded representation of a binary string;

wherein at least part of said binary is equal to at least part of one of said one or more target item identifiers;

wherein said EIR terminal is further configured, responsive to successfully locating said at least one RFID tag, to notify a user of said EIR terminal via at least one of;

a visual message and an audible message.

2. The EIR terminal of claim 1, wherein said RFID reading device comprises an antenna fabricated of a material having a composite right- and left-handed (CRLH) structure.

3. The EIR terminal of claim 1, wherein said target item identifier is provided by at least one of:

a product code, an EPC code, a tag identifier, and an alphanumeric string.

4. The EIR terminal of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to receive one or more target item characteristics.

5. The EIR terminal of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to receive one or more target item characteristics;

wherein said EIR terminal is further configured, responsive to receiving said one or more target item characteristics, to receive said target item identifier by querying an external database via said communication interface for at least one item identifier corresponding to an item conforming to said one or more target item characteristics.

6. The EIR terminal of claim 1, further configured, responsive to reading by said RFID reading device a decoded message comprising a sample item identifier, to query an external database via said communication interface for a description of a sample item identified by said sample item identifier, said description comprising one or more sample item characteristics;

wherein said EIR terminal is further configured to display via a GUI at least part of said description;

wherein said EIR terminal is further configured to receive a user input specifying one or more target item characteristics by modifying at least one of said one or more sample item characteristics; and

wherein said EIR terminal is further configured, responsive to receiving said user input, to receive said target item identifier by querying an external database via said communication interface for at least one item identifier corresponding to an item conforming to said target item characteristics.

8. The EIR terminal of claim 1, further configured, responsive to sensing a spatial movement of said EIR terminal, to repeatedly attempt to locate said at least one RFID tag.

9. The EIR terminal of claim 1, further configured, responsive to failing to locate said at least one RFID tag, to notify a user of said EIR terminal via at least one of:

a visual message indicative of a range within which said at least one RFID tag could not be located and an audible message indicative of a range within which said at least one RFID tag could not be located.

10. The EIR terminal of claim 1, further comprising an EIR device selected from the group consisting of:

a bar code reading device and a card reading device, said EIR device configured to perform at least one of;

outputting raw message data comprising an encoded message and outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message.

11. The EIR terminal of claim 1, further comprising an EIR device selected from the group consisting of:

a bar code reading device and a card reading device, said EIR device configured to perform at least one of;

outputting raw message data comprising an encoded message and outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message;

wherein said EIR terminal is further configured to responsive to reading by said EIR device a decoded message comprising an item identifier, to query an external database via said communication interface for a description of an item identified by said item identifier, said description comprising one or more sample item characteristics;

wherein said EIR terminal is further configured to display via a GUI at least part of said description;

wherein said EIR terminal is further configured to receive a user input specifying one or more target item characteristics by modifying at least one of said one or more sample item characteristics; and

wherein said EIR terminal is further configured, responsive to receiving said user input, to receive said target item identifier by querying an external database via said communication interface for at least one item identifier corresponding to an item conforming to said target item characteristics.

12. The EIR terminal of claim 1, wherein said EIR terminal is provided by one of:

a portable EIR terminal, a bar code reading terminal, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer.

7. The EIR terminal of claim Al, further configured, responsive to successfully locating said at least one RFID tag, to notify a user of said EIR terminal via at least one of:

a visual message indicative of a distance to said at least one RFID tag and an audible message indicative of a distance to said at least one RFID tag.