System and method for electronic inventory
First Claim
1. A method for conducting an inventory of passenger bags, wherein a bag tag is attached to each bag and each bag tag is permanently assigned a tag identification number (Tag ID) and a manufacturer number, the method comprising the steps of:
- at a tag reader, transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one first clock signal;
at each bag tag,incrementing a first tag count in response to said at least one first clock signal, andtransmitting the Tag ID assigned to said each bag tag when said Tag ID of said each bag tag corresponds to said first tag count;
at said tag reader,incrementing a first reader count in response to said at least one first clock signal,storing a given first reader count when more than one bag tag responds to one of said at least one clock first signal that corresponds to said given first reader count, andtransmitting said given first reader count followed by at least one second clock signal; and
at each bag tag that responded to said one of said at least one first clock signal that corresponds to said given first reader count,incrementing a second tag count in response to said at least one second clock signal, andtransmitting the manufacturer number assigned to said each bag tag that responded to said one of said at least one first clock signal that corresponds to said given first reader count when said manufacturer number of said each bag tag corresponds to said second count.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a Tag ID and a manufacturer number. Each tag can be attached to an item to take inventory of those items. A tag reader transmits a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal. Each tag increments a first tag count in response to the clock signals, and transmits the Tag ID assigned to the tag when the first tag count corresponds to the Tag ID assigned to the tag. The tag reader records the transmitted Tag IDs. When more than one tag transmits simultaneously, the tag stores the Tag ID in order to resolve the contention when the first read cycle is complete. In the second read cycle, the tag reader transmits the contended Tag ID followed by at least one clock signal. Each tag that contended for the transmitted Tag ID increments a second tag count in response to the clock signals, and transmits the manufacturer number assigned to the tag when the second tag count corresponds to the manufacturer number assigned to the tag. The tag reader records the transmitted Tag IDs, completing the inventory of the tags.
-
Citations
67 Claims
-
1. A method for conducting an inventory of passenger bags, wherein a bag tag is attached to each bag and each bag tag is permanently assigned a tag identification number (Tag ID) and a manufacturer number, the method comprising the steps of:
-
at a tag reader, transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one first clock signal; at each bag tag, incrementing a first tag count in response to said at least one first clock signal, and transmitting the Tag ID assigned to said each bag tag when said Tag ID of said each bag tag corresponds to said first tag count; at said tag reader, incrementing a first reader count in response to said at least one first clock signal, storing a given first reader count when more than one bag tag responds to one of said at least one clock first signal that corresponds to said given first reader count, and transmitting said given first reader count followed by at least one second clock signal; and at each bag tag that responded to said one of said at least one first clock signal that corresponds to said given first reader count, incrementing a second tag count in response to said at least one second clock signal, and transmitting the manufacturer number assigned to said each bag tag that responded to said one of said at least one first clock signal that corresponds to said given first reader count when said manufacturer number of said each bag tag corresponds to said second count. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A tag for use in conducting an inventory of passenger bags, wherein each bag is attached to a tag and each tag is permanently assigned a tag identification number (Tag ID) and a manufacturer number, the tag comprising:
-
means for receiving a wake-up signal followed by at least one first clock signal; means for incrementing a first tag count in response to said at least one first clock signal; means for transmitting the Tag ID assigned to the tag when said Tag ID corresponds to said first tag count; means for receiving at least one second clock signal; means for incrementing a second tag count in response to said at least one second clock signal; and means for transmitting the manufacturer number assigned to the tag when said manufacturer number of said each tag corresponds to said second count. - View Dependent Claims (6)
-
-
7. A reader for conducting an inventory of passenger bags, wherein each bag is attached to a tag and each tag is permanently assigned a tag identification number (Tag ID) and a manufacturer number, the reader comprising:
-
means for transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal; means for incrementing a first reader count in response to said at least one first clock signal, means for receiving a Tag ID transmitted by a tag in response to one of said at least one first clock signal; means for storing a given first reader count when more than one tag responds to one of said at least one first clock signal that corresponds to said given first reader count; means for transmitting said given first reader count followed by at least one second clock signal; and means for receiving a manufacturer number transmitted by a tag in response to one of said at least one second clock signal.
-
-
8. A system for locating a tag, wherein each tag is assigned a permanent identification number and a permanent manufacturer number, the system comprising:
-
a tag reader configured to transmit a wake-up signal, a first time slot number corresponding to the permanent identification number of a tag to be located and a second time slot number corresponding to the permanent manufacturer number of a tag to be located; and at least one tag that transmits, in response to receiving said first time slot number, said permanent identification number assigned to said at least one tag when said permanent identification number assigned to said at least one tag corresponds to said time slot number, wherein said at least one tag further transmits, in response to receiving said second time slot number, the permanent manufacturer number assigned to said at least one tag when the permanent manufacturer number assigned to said at least one tag corresponds to said second time slot number. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
-
10. A method for locating a tag, wherein each tag is assigned a permanent identification number and a permanent manufacture number, the method comprising the steps of:
-
at a tag reader, transmitting a wake-up signal followed by a first time slot number corresponding to the permanent identification number of a tag to be located; at each tag, transmitting a permanent identification number assigned to said each tag when said permanent identification number assigned to said each tag corresponds to said time slot number; at each said tag reader, transmitting a second time slot number corresponding to the permanent manufacturer number of a tag to be located; and at each said tag whose permanent identification number matches said first time slot number, and in response to receiving said second time slot number, transmitting the permanent manufacturer number assigned to said tag when the permanent manufacturer number assigned to said tag corresponds to said second time slot number. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. A system for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a first permanent identification number and a second permanent identification number, the system comprising:
-
a tag reader having means for transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal and for incrementing a reader count in response to said at least one clock signal, means for storing a given reader count when more than one tag responds to one of said at least one clock signal that corresponds to said given reader count, and means for transmitting said given reader count followed by at least one second clock signal; and at least one tag, wherein each tag has, means for incrementing a first tag count in response to said at least one clock signal, means for transmitting the first permanent identification number assigned to said each tag when said permanent identification number of said each tag corresponds to said first tag count. means for incrementing a second tag count in response to said at least one second clock signal, and means for transmitting the second permanent identification number assigned to each said tag when the second permanent identification number of each said tag corresponds to said second tag count. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a first permanent identification number and a second permanent identification number, the method comprising the steps of:
-
at a tag reader, transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal, incrementing a reader count in response to said at least one clock signal, storing a given reader count when more than one tag responds to one of said at least one clock signal that corresponds to said given reader count, and transmitting said given reader count followed by at least one second clock signal; and at each tag, incrementing a tag count in response to said at least one clock signal, and transmitting the permanent identification number assigned to said each tag when said permanent identification number of said each tag corresponds to said tag count; at each tag that responded to said at least one clock signal, incrementing a second tag count in response to said at least one second clock signal, and transmitting the second permanent identification number assigned to said each tag when said second permanent identification number of said each tag corresponds to said second count. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
-
48. A system for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a first and a second permanent identification number, the system comprising:
-
a tag reader having, means for transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal, means for incrementing a reader count in response to said at least one clock signal, means for storing a given reader count when more than one tag responds to one of said at least one clock signal that corresponds to said given reader count, means for recording said reader count when one of said response signals is received, thereby recording the presence of the tag that transmitted said one of said response signals, means for transmitting said given reader count followed by at least one second clock signal, means for incrementing a second reader count in response to said at least one second clock signal, and means for recording said second reader count when one of said second response signals is received, thereby recording the presence of the tag that transmitted said one of said second response signals; at least two tags, wherein each tag has, means for incrementing a tag count in response to said at least one clock signal, means for transmitting a response signal when said permanent identification number of said each tag corresponds to said tag count, means for incrementing a second tag count in response to said at least one second clock signal, and means for transmitting a second response signal when said second permanent identification number of said each tag corresponds to said second count. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
-
-
58. A method for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a permanent identification number and a second permanent identification number, the method comprising the steps of:
-
at a tag reader, transmitting a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal, and incrementing a reader count in response to said at least one clock signal; at each tag, incrementing a tag count in response to said at least one clock signal, and transmitting a response signal when said permanent identification number of said each tag corresponds to said tag count; at said tag reader, recording said reader count when one of said response signals is received, thereby recording the presence of the tag that transmitted said one of said response signals, storing a given reader count when more than one tag responds to one of said at least one clock signal that corresponds to said given reader count, transmitting said given reader count followed by at least one second clock signal, and incrementing a second reader count in response to said at least one second clock signal; at each tag that responded to said one of said at least one clock signal that corresponds to said given reader count, incrementing a second tag count in response to said at least one second clock signal, and transmitting a second response signal when said second permanent identification number of said each tag corresponds to said second count; and at said tag reader, recording said second reader count when one of said second response signals is received, thereby recording the presence of the tag that transmitted said one of said second response signals. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
-
Specification