System and method of detecting movement of an item

• US 6,747,560 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Stevens, Harden E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/185,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20040000997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.4, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/5.92, 700/214, 700/215, 700/224, 700/225, 700/226, 700/227, 235/383, 235/385, 235/376
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

A system for determining movement of an item bearing an RFID label. The system includes an RFID reader for receiving RFID label identification information from an RFID label associated with the item, and a computer for determining a location of the RFID label and the item by determining location information for the RFID reader, for determining a preferred location for the RFID label and the item, and for comparing the determined location with the preferred location to determine that the RFID label and the item have been moved.

Claims

1. A method determining improper movement of an item comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving RFID label identification information from an RFID label associated with the item through an RFID reader;

(b) determining a location of the RFID label and the item by determining location information for the RFID reader;

(c) determining a preferred location for the RFID label and the item; and

(d) comparing the determined location with the preferred location to determine that the RFID label and the item have been moved.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(e) determining whether the determined location is an unauthorized location; and

(f) issuing an alert if the determined location is the unauthorized location.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(e) determining whether the item is a recalled product; and

(f) issuing an alert if the item is the recalled product to prevent sale of the item.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(e) determining that the RFID label and the item have been moved to an exit;

(f) determining whether the item was purchased; and

(g) issuing an alert if the item was not purchased.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(e) determining that the RFID label and the item have been moved to an exit;

(f) determining whether the item is limited to movement within a predetermined area; and

(g) issuing an alert if the item is limited to movement within the predetermine area.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(e) logging a movement time.

7. A method of determining improper movement of a product comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving RFID label identification information from an RFID label associated with the product through an RFID reader;

(b) determining a location of the RFID label and the product by determining location information for the RFID reader;

(c) determining whether the RFID label and the product have been moved to a checkout terminal;

(d) determining whether the item is a recalled product; and

(e) issuing an alert if the item is the recalled product to prevent sale of the item.

8. A method of determining improper movement of a product comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving RFID label identification information from an RFID label associated with the product through an RFID reader;

(b) determining a location of the RFID label and the product by determining location information for the RFID reader;

(c) determining whether the RFID label and the product have been moved to an exit;

(d) determining whether the item was purchased; and

(e) issuing an alert if the item was not purchased.

9. A method of determining improper movement of an item comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving RFID label identification information from an RFID label associated with the item through an RFID reader;

(b) determining a location of the RFID label and the item by determining location information for the RFID reader;

(c) determining whether the item is limited to movement within a predetermined area;

(d) determining whether the location of the RFID label and the item are outside of the predetermined area; and

(e) issuing an alert if the location of the RFID label and the item are outside of the predetermined area.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

(f) logging an exit time if the item is limited to movement within the predetermine area.

11. A method of determining improper movement of an office item comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving RFID label identification information from an RFID label associated with the office item through an RFID reader;

(b) determining a location of the RFID label and the office item by determining location information for the RFID reader;

(c) determining whether the office item is limited to movement within a predetermined area;

(d) determining whether the location of the RFID label and the office item are outside of the predetermined area; and

(e) issuing an alert if the location of the RFID label and the office item are outside of the predetermined area.

12. A system for determining movement of an item comprising:

an RFID reader for receiving RFID label identification information from an RFID label associated with the item; and

a computer for determining a location of the RFID label and the item by determining location information for the RFID reader, for determining a preferred location for the RFID label and the item, and for comparing the determined location with the preferred location to determine that the RFID label and the item have been moved.

13. A system for determining improper movement of a product comprising:

an RFID reader for receiving RFID label identification information from an RFID label associated with the product through an RFID reader; and

a computer for determining a location of the RFID label and the product by determining location information for the RFID reader, for determining whether the RFID label and the product have been moved to a checkout terminal, for determining whether the item is a recalled product, and for issuing an alert if the item is the recalled product to prevent sale of the item.

14. A system for determining improper movement of a product comprising:

an RFID reader for receiving RFID label identification information from an RFID label associated with the product through an RFID reader; and

a computer for determining a location of the RFID label and the product by determining location information for the RFID reader, for determining whether the RFID label and the product have been moved to an exit, for determining whether the item was purchased, and for issuing an alert if the item was not purchased.

15. A system for determining improper movement of an item comprising:

an RFID reader for receiving RFID label identification information from an RFID label associated with the item through an RFID reader; and

a computer for determining a location of the RFID label and the item by determining location information for the RFID reader, determining whether the item is limited to movement within a predetermined area, determining whether the location of the RFID label and the item are outside of the predetermined area, and for issuing an alert if the location of the RFID label and the item are outside of the predetermined area.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the computer also logs an exit time if the item is limited to movement within the predetermine area.

17. A system for determining improper movement of an office item comprising:

an RFID reader for receiving RFID label identification information from an RFID label associated with the office item through an RFID reader; and

a computer for determining a location of the RFID label and the office item by determining location information for the RFID reader, determining whether the office item is limited to movement within a predetermined area, for determining whether the location of the RFID label and the office item are outside of the predetermined area, and for issuing an alert if the location of the RFID label and the office item are outside of the predetermined area.