Object matching via RFID

• US 6,992,574 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mathewson, James M. II, Aupperle, Bryan Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/612,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20050001719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 340/505, 340/539.13, 340/539.32, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/10
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
• 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

Abstract

An object matching method, system and apparatus. The system can include a multiplicity of RFID tags storing corresponding tag data coupled individually to respective objects. Selected ones of the RFID tags can be programmed with tag data associating the selected ones of the RFID tags with one another. At least one RFID reader/interrogator can be configured to interrogate the RFID tags and responsive to the interrogation to read the corresponding tag data. Finally, matching logic can be programmed to determine whether interrogated ones of the RFID tags contain tag data indicating an association between coupled ones of the objects. Notably, the matching logic can be disposed in the RFID reader/interrogator.

Claims

1. An object matching system comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags storing corresponding tag data coupled individually to respective objects, wherein selected ones of said RFID tags are programmed with tag data associating said selected ones of said RFID tags with one another;

at least one RFID reader/interrogator configured to interrogate said RFID tags and responsive to said interrogation to read said corresponding tag data; and

,

matching logic programmed to determine whether interrogated ones of said RFID tags contain tag data indicating an association between coupled ones of said objects,

wherein said objects comprise assigned seats in a seating area and respective admissions tickets associated with said assigned seats, wherein said RFID reader/interrogator is disposed in proximity to a threshold leading into said seating area.

2. The object matching system of claim 1, further comprising a pathway of lights disposed between at least one of said seats and said threshold wherein said pathway is configured to illuminate when a corresponding admissions ticket assigned to said at least one of said seats passes in proximity to said RFID reader/interrogator.

3. A method of matching objects, the method comprising the steps of:

programming at least two radio frequency identification (RFID) tags with a baggage claim check number;

for each baggage claim check number, coupling one of said programmed RFID tags to a bag and another of said programmed RFID tags to a claim check;

interrogating at least two of said RFID tags coupled to respective bags;

responsive to said interrogation, reading tag data from each of said at least two RFID tags; and

,

determining whether said tag data matches.

4. A method of matching objects, the method comprising the steps of:

programming at least two radio frequency identification (RFID) tags with a customer identifier;

coupling one of said programmed RFID tags to a consumer card held by a customer, and coupling remaining ones of said programmed RFID tags to products which have been purchased by said customer;

interrogating at least two of said RFID tags;

responsive to said interrogation, reading tag data from each of said at least two RFID tags; and

,

determining whether said tag data matches.

5. A method of matching objects, the method comprising the steps of:

programming at least two radio frequency identification (RFID) tags with a ticket number;

coupling one of said programmed RFID tags to a seat associated with a ticket having said ticket number, and coupling another of said programmed RFID tags to said ticket,

interrogating at least two of said RFID tags;

responsive to said interrogation, reading tag data from each of said at least two RFID tags; and

,

determining whether said tag data matches.

6. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for matching objects, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

programming at least two radio frequency identification (RFID) tags with a customer identifier;

coupling one of said programmed RFID tags to a consumer card held by a customer, and coupling remaining ones of said programmed RFID tags to products which have been purchased by said customer;

interrogating at least two RFID tags coupled to a respective consumer card and product;

responsive to said interrogation, reading tag data from each of said at least two RFID tags; and

,

determining whether said tag data matches.

7. The machine readable storage of claim 6, wherein said determining step comprises the step of determining whether at least a portion of said tag data matches.