Container with a Detection System
First Claim
1. A portable container for one or more articles each tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, the container having at least one opening into the container and a detector device for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in the container, wherein the container comprises:
- a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device,an activation means in communication with the detector device, wherein the activation means is operable to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container;
a verification means in communication with the detector device, wherein the verification means is operable by movement of the container to cause the detector device to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal deviation from the reference list; and
a signal means in communication with the detector device for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable container for one or more articles each tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, the container comprising a detector device for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in the container; a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device; an activation means operable to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container; a verification means operable by movement of the container to cause the detector device to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal deviation from the reference list; and a signal means for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user. The detector device may transmit an article absent signal and/or an unknown article signal. The detector device may comprise an external antenna configured to detect RFID-tagged articles outside the container.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A portable container for one or more articles each tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, the container having at least one opening into the container and a detector device for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in the container, wherein the container comprises:
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a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device, an activation means in communication with the detector device, wherein the activation means is operable to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container; a verification means in communication with the detector device, wherein the verification means is operable by movement of the container to cause the detector device to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal deviation from the reference list; and a signal means in communication with the detector device for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of detecting removal and/or placement of articles in a container, wherein each article is tagged with a respective Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder, wherein the container has at least one opening into the container, a detector device for detecting removal and/or placement of RFID-tagged articles in the container, a power supply for supplying electrical power to the detector device, an activation means in communication with the detector device, a verification means in communication with the detector device, and a signal means in communication with the detector device for transmitting signals from the detector device to a user, and wherein the method comprises the steps of:
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(a) operating the activation means to cause the detector device to detect a reference list of RFID-tagged articles located in the container and optionally to detect a RFID-tagged key configured to permit detection of the reference list; and (b) operating the verification means by movement of the container to cause the detector device to detect RFID-tagged articles located in the container and to signal detection of deviation from the reference list.
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Specification