Electronic check out system

• US 6,989,749 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Mohr, John Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blount, Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/718,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20050110638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/568.1, 340/5.92, 340/505, 340/568.8, 340/569, 340/570, 340/825.49, 705/22, 705/28, 235/385, 235/376, 235/375, 700221-229
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/00 Storage means or arrangements for workshops facilitating access to, or handling of, work tools or instruments containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00; nail dispensers B25C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/028 by sliding extraction from within a common frame
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles

Abstract

An electronic check out system which utilizes radio frequency check out devices to check out tools from a centrally located tool storage facility and to identify the individual checking out the tool. The electronic check out system includes readers located a tool boxes and the central storage facility exit to identify the tool and the user of the tool as well as the time and date the tool was removed from the storage facility.

Claims

1. An electronic checkout system comprising:

(a) a tool box located in a tool storage room;

(b) a plurality of tools stored in said tool box, each of said plurality of tools having a radio frequency identification (RFID) device imbedded therein, said radio frequency identification device for each of said tools operating as an identifier for each of said tools;

(c) a first RFID reader mounted on said tool box, said first RFID reader being adapted to read the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool box by an authorized user, said first RFID reader reading and recording the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from said tool box;

(d) a second RFID reader mounted on a wall adjacent an exit to said tool storage room, said second RFID reader being adapted to read the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool storage room by said authorized user, said second RFID reader reading and recording the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools which has been removed from said tool storage room by said authorized user;

(e) an employee identification badge having a radio frequency identification device imbedded therein, said employee identification badge being worn by said authorized user to identify said authorized user as an individual authorized to remove each of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room;

(f) a wrist band worn by said authorized user, said wrist band having a radio frequency identification device imbedded therein, said wrist band being worn by said authorized user to identify said authorized user as the individual authorized to remove each of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room;

(g) said first RFID reader and said second RFID reader reading the radio frequency identification device of said employee identification badge and the radio frequency identification device of said wrist band to determine when the individual removing any one of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room is said authorized user, wherein said second RFID reader includes an alarm which is activated whenever an unauthorized individual removes one tool of said plurality of tools from said tool storage room;

(h) a wireless link having an antenna, said wireless link being connected to a network which includes said second RFID reader adjacent the exit to said tool storage room;

(i) a remote tool box which transmits information via radio frequency signals to the antenna of said wireless link relating to portable tools removed from said remote tool box by said authorized user; and

(j) a database connected to said network, said database including a list of employees authorized to remove said portable tools from said remote tool box and to remove said tools from said tool box located in said tool storage room.

2. The electronic checkout system of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools and the radio frequency identification device for said employee identification badge operate at a frequency of 13.56 MHz and provides for read distances of approximately five feet.

3. The electronic checkout system of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools and the radio frequency identification device for said employee identification badge operate at a frequency of 2.46 GHz and provides for read distances of approximately ten feet.

4. The electronic checkout system of claim 1 wherein said second RFID reader includes a recorder connected thereto, said recorder recording the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools which has been removed from said tool storage room by said authorized user.

5. The electronic checkout system of claim 1 wherein said first RFID reader has a sensor element, a keypad and a display wherein said sensor element is adapted to receive radio frequency signals transmitted by the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools, said keypad allows said authorized user to enter additional information into said first RFID reader relating to each of said tools said authorized user removes from said tool box, and said display allows said authorized user to read said additional information the authorized user entered into said first RFID reader.

6. The electronic checkout system of claim 1 wherein said second RFID reader has a sensor element, a keypad and a display wherein said sensor element is adapted to receive radio frequency signals transmitted by the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools, said keypad allows said authorized user to enter additional information into said second RFID reader relating to each of said tools said authorized user removes from said tool storage room, and said display allows said authorized user to read said additional information the authorized user entered into said second RFID reader.

7. The electronic checkout system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of tools stored in said tool box comprises screw drivers, pliers, wrenches, metal cutting saws, wire strippers wire cutters, electric drills, electric bandsaws, and specialty tools.

8. An electronic checkout system comprising:

(a) a tool box located in a tool storage room;

(b) a plurality of tools stored in said tool box, each of said plurality of tools having a tool identification device imbedded therein, said tool identification device for each of said tools providing a radio frequency signal containing a digital tool identification code which operates as an identifier for each of said tools;

(c) a first RFID reader mounted on said tool box, said first RFID reader being adapted to receive and read the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool box by an authorized user, said first RFID reader reading the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools and recording the digital tool identification code for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from said tool box;

(d) a second RFID reader mounted on a wall adjacent an exit to said tool storage room, said second RFID reader being adapted to receive and read the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool storage room by said authorized user, said second RFID reader reading the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools and recording the digital tool identification code for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from said tool storage room;

(e) an employee identification badge having a first employee identification device imbedded therein, said employee identification badge being worn by said authorized user to identify said authorized user as an individual authorized to remove each of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room, the first employee identification device providing a radio frequency signal containing a digital employee identification code for said authorized user;

(f) a wrist band worn by said authorized user, said wrist band having a second employee identification device imbedded therein, said wrist band being worn by said authorized user to identify said authorized user as the individual authorized to remove each of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room, the second employee identification device providing a radio frequency signal containing said digital employee identification code for said authorized user;

(g) said first RFID reader and said second RFID reader receiving the radio frequency signal provided by said first employee identification device and the radio frequency signal provided by said second employee identification device, said first RFID reader and said second RFID reader reading the digital employee identification code contained within the radio frequency signal provided by said first employee identification device and the radio frequency signal provided by said second employee identification device to determine when the individual removing any one of said tools from said tool box and said tool storage room is said authorized user; and

(g) said tool identification device for each of said tools, said first employee identification device for said employee identification badge and said second employee identification device for said wrist band each comprising a radio frequency identification device selected from the group of radio frequency identification devices consisting of (a) a first RFID device operating at a frequency of 13.56 MHz and providing for read distances of approximately five feet, and (b) a second RFID device operating at a frequency of 2.46 GHz and providing for read distances of approximately ten feet;

(h) a wireless link having an antenna, said wireless link being connected to a network which includes said second RFID reader adjacent the exit to said tool storage room;

(i) a remote tool box which transmits information via radio frequency signals to the antenna of said wireless link relating to portable tools removed from said remote tool box by said authorized user; and

(j) a database connected to said network, said database including a list of employees authorized to remove said portable tools from said remote tool box and to remove said tools from said tool box located in said tool storage room.

9. The electronic checkout system of claim 8 wherein said second RFID reader includes a recorder connected thereto, said recorder recording the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools which has been removed from said tool storage room by said authorized user.

10. The electronic checkout system of claim 8 wherein said first RFID reader has a sensor element, a keypad and a display wherein said sensor element is adapted to receive radio frequency signals transmitted by the radio frequency identification device for each of said tools, said keypad allows said authorized user to enter additional information into said first RFID reader relating to each of said tools said authorized user removes from said tool box, and said display allows said authorized user to read said additional information the authorized user entered into said first RFID reader.

11. The electronic checkout system of claim 8 wherein said plurality of tools stored in said tool box comprises screw drivers, pliers, wrenches, metal cutting saws, wire strippers wire cutters, electric drills, electric bandsaws, and specialty tools.

12. An electronic checkout system comprising:

(a) a plurality of tool boxes located in a tool storage room;

(b) a plurality of tools stored in said plurality tool boxes, each of said plurality of tools having a tool identification device imbedded therein, said tool identification device for each of said tools providing a radio frequency signal containing a digital tool identification code which operates as an identifier for each of said tools;

(c) a plurality of tool box RFID readers, one of said plurality of tool box RFID readers mounted on each of said tool boxes, said plurality of tool box RFID readers being adapted to receive and read the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from one of said tool boxes by an authorized user, said plurality of tool box RFID readers reading the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools and recording the digital tool identification code for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from one of said tool boxes;

(d) a wall mounted RFID reader mounted on a wall adjacent an exit to said tool storage room, said wall mounted RFID reader being adapted to receive and read the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools to determine when each of said tools is being removed from said tool storage room by said authorized user, said wall mounted RFID reader reading the radio frequency signal provided by each of said tools and recording the digital tool identification code for each of said tools which said authorized user removed from said tool storage room;

(e) an employee identification badge having a first employee identification device imbedded therein, said employee identification badge being worn by said authorized user to identify said authorized user as an individual authorized to remove each of said tools from said tool boxes and said tool storage room, the first employee identification device providing a radio frequency signal containing a digital employee identification code for said authorized user;

(f) a wrist band worn by said authorized user, said wrist band having a second employee identification device imbedded therein, said wrist band being worn by said authorized user to identify said authorized user as the individual authorized to remove each of said tools from said tool boxes and said tool storage room, the second employee identification device providing a radio frequency signal containing said digital employee identification code for said authorized user;

(g) said plurality of tool box RFID readers and said wall mounted RFID reader receiving the radio frequency signal provided by said first employee identification device and the radio frequency signal provided by said second employee identification device, said first RFID reader and said second RFID reader reading the digital employee identification code contained within the radio frequency signal provided by said first employee identification device and the radio frequency signal provided by said second employee identification device to determine when the individual removing any one of said tools from said tool boxes and said tool storage room is said authorized user; and

(h) a wireless link having an antenna, said wireless link being connected to a network which includes said second RFID reader adjacent the exit to said tool storage room;

(i) a remote tool box which transmits information via radio frequency signals to the antenna of said wireless link relating to portable tools removed from said remote tool box by said authorized user; and

(j) a database connected to said network, said database including a list of employees authorized to remove said portable tools from said remote tool box and to remove said tools from said tool boxes located in said tool storage room.