Radio frequency identification systems applications

• US 7,044,373 B1
• Filed: 08/05/1999
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Nash, James E., Grunes, Mitchell B., Gonzalez, Bernard A., Lindahl, Richard W., Garber, Sharon R., Karel, Gerald L., Jackson, Richard H., Kruse, John M., Piotrowski, Chester, Yorkovich, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US09/368,817
• Time in Patent Office: 2,476 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/375, 235/462.01, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/472.01, 235/381, 235/380, 235/383, 235/382, 235/486, 235/492, 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 340/572.6, 705/28
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07796 arrangements on the record carrier to allow stacking of a plurality of similar record carriers, e.g. to avoid interference between the non-contact communication of the plurality of record carriers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2457 Lending systems using EAS tags wherein the tags are reusable, e.g. they can be activated and deactivated more than once, e.g. for a library

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of RFID systems for use with items of interest having RFID tags, such as in a library. The invention has particular applicability to determining the location, order, and other information regarding such items.

Claims

1. A method of using an RFID device, comprising the steps of:

(a) interrogating an item having an RFID element associated therewith;

(b) inputting information to the device to describe a location;

(c) determining whether the interrogated item belongs at the location; and

(d) providing an appropriate signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location has a separate RFID element, and step (b) comprises scanning the RFID element associated with that location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is a library material, and the location is a library storage location.

4. A method of using a handheld REID device for reading information from an RFID element, comprising the steps of interrogating the RFID tags associated with each of a group of items, detecting where within the group of items a desired item should be placed, and providing an indication to the user of that location.

5. A method of using an RFID device for identifying and locating items having an RFID element associated therewith, comprising:

(a) providing information to the RFID device identifying a cart;

(b) interrogating the items with the RFID device by passing the cart through a tunnel to determine the identity of the items; and

(c) associating the items with the cart.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cart has a separate RFID element, and wherein step (a) comprises interrogating an RFID element associated with the cart.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the method further includes the step of arranging and interrogating the items in a series, so that the RFID device can determine a location of one item with respect to other items.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the items are library materials.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein step (c) comprises passing the RFID device into or through the cart.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the cart includes a shelf having an antenna associated therewith.

11. The method of claim 5, further including the step of:

(d) displaying the items and their respective locations within the cart.

12. The method of claim 5, further including the step of:

(d) downloading the information in step (c) to a computer.

13. A method of locating an item of interest associated with an RFID element among a larger group of items each associated with an RFID element, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a card having an RFID element;

(b) transmitting information related to an item of interest to the card and storing that information in the RFID element;

(c) positioning RFID card readers at positions near the item of interest;

(d) interrogating the RFID card with the RFID card reader; and

(e) providing an indication of the location of the item of interest relative to the location of the RFID card reader.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein step (e) comprises providing a visual display of the location of the item of interest.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the visual display comprises a map of the area including the item of interest.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the item of interest is a library material, and the larger group of items comprise other library materials.