EPC data manager

• US 7,114,655 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TSC Auto ID Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Printronix
• Inventors: Chen, Ming-Te, Hanel, John S., Anderson, Greg J., Ballesty, Carol D., Le, Van L., Harkins, James, Chapman, Theodore A., Edwards, Andrew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US10/865,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20050230479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385, 235/435, 235/449, 235/451, 235/472.02, 235/487, 235/492, 235/493, 235/462.15, 235/462.01, 235/0.07, 235/0.13, 340 1051- 1052, 340/572.1, 340/5.6, 340/0.61, 340 565- 567, 400/76
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/12 otherwise than by punching
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/18 by transferring data from one type of record carrier on to another type of record carrier, e.g. from magnetic tape to punched card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/00 Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion G06K1/00; pattern recognition G06F18/00; arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding G06V10/00; character recognition, recognising digital ink or document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00

Abstract

An RFID print system includes an RFID printer and reader, a host computer that transmits a data stream containing instructions or commands to the RFID printer for encoding an RFID tag, and a data manager that receives EPC data or other data from the encoded tag. The data manager transmits the data to the host computer, which can then compare what was encoded to what was intended to be encoded. The host computer can then transmit signals to other devices in the system for appropriate action, such as when the encoded tag is defective.

Claims

1. An RFID printer system, comprising:

an RFID encoder receiving a signal and programming an RFID label based on the signal, wherein the signal contains information for programming the RFID label, wherein the RFID encoder is capable of extracts information from data streams of different programming languages; and

a host computer coupled to the RFID encoder, wherein the host computer receives data programmed on the RFID label and sends the signal to the RFID encoder, wherein the signal is a data stream having a first programming language and comprising instructions for printing an image on an optically readable label.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data is EPC (Electronic Product Code), GTIN (Global Trade Identification Number), or SSCC (Serialized Shipping Container Code) data.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an optical label reader sending the signal to the RFID encoder, wherein the signal comprises data read from an optically readable label.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID encoder verifies that information contained in an optically readable label matches data programmed on the RFID label.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an optical label reader receiving the data stream for verifying that the optically readable label has been properly printed.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the optical label reader is coupled to the RFID encoder for receiving the data stream.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the optically readable label is a barcode label.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an optically readable label printer and applicator coupled to the host computer and receiving the data stream.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a conveyer system for moving the package past the optically readable label printer and applicator and the RFID encoder.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the optically readable label printer and applicator applies the optically readable label to the package prior to the object passing by the RFID encoder.

11. A method for processing an RFID label, comprising:

receiving, from a computer, a signal comprising RFID programming information;

programming the RFID label using the RFID programming information;

transmitting data from the programmed RFID label to the computer;

determining whether an optically readable label has been properly printed on a package;

determining whether the RFID label has been properly programmed; and

applying the RFID label to the package if the optically readable label has been properly printed and the RFID label has been properly programmed, wherein the information for determining whether the RFID has been properly programmed is extracted from data streams of different programming languages.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data is EPC (Electronic Product Code), GTIN (Global Trade Identification Number), or SSCC (Serialized Shipping Container Code) data.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising comparing, by the computer, the transmitted data and the RFID programming information.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting comprises receiving the data, processing the data, and transmitting the processed data to the computer.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting a second signal from the computer to a device for acting on the second signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second signal indicates whether the programming was correct.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the acting comprises removing the RFID label before application onto a package if the second signal indicates the programming was faulty.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the signal is a data stream in a programming language.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the signal is read from a corresponding optically readable label.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising programming the RFID label using commands from the data stream.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein commands in the data stream are also used to print the optically readable label.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the RFID label has been properly programmed comprises comparing data on the optically readable label with data encoded in the RFID label.

23. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the optically readable label has been properly printed comprises determining whether the optically readable label is readable.

24. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the optically readable label has been properly printed comprises determining whether the optically readable label contains information from the data stream.

25. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the optically readable label has been properly printed comprises scanning the optically readable label.

26. A printer system, comprising:

an RFID printer, comprising;

an RFID antenna;

an RFID reader; and

an RFID encoder extracting information from data streams of different programming languages; and

a host computer transmitting a signal to the RFID printer, wherein the signal includes information for the RFID printer to encode data on an RFID tag;

and wherein the RFID printer transmits the encoded data back to the host computer.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a data manager receiving the encoded data from the RFID printer and to transmit data to the host computer.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the data is an EPC, GTIN, or SSCC.