Radio frequency identification (RFID) household system for tracking and managing RFID tag containing household possessions within short range RF limited boundaries of a household facility

• US 7,118,037 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HCL Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Malik, Nadeem, Kobrosly, Walid M., Holloway, Lane Thomas, Quiller, Marques Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US10/943,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20060054691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/375, 235/383, 235/485, 235/487, 705/28, 340/568.1, 340/572
• 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: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03

Abstract

A computer controlled interactive display RFID (radio frequency identification) household system enabling a householder to track and manage a set of RFID tags containing household possessions located within short range RF limited boundaries of a household facility. The implementation includes the combination of a short range RF transceiver for identifying and communicating with all RFID tags within the household boundaries and apparatus for inputting data indicating whether a RFID tag within said household boundaries is in one of the set of household possessions. In such an environment, there also is an implement for inputting this tracking and management data, as well as for storing this input data. There is also provided a function for prompting said householder in response to the entry within said household boundaries of a RFID tag not in one of the set of household possessions. As will be described hereinafter in greater detail, such prompts help the householder to facilitate the tracking of new products that have been purchased without the need of the householder to periodically take time to enter newly acquired household possessions.

Claims

1. A computer controlled interactive display REID (radio frequency identification) household system enabling a householder to track and manage a set of RFID tags containing household possessions located within short range RF limited boundaries of a household facility comprising:

a short range RF transceiver for identifying and communicating with all RFID tags within said household boundaries;

means for inputting data indicating whether a RFID tag within said household boundaries is in one of said set of household possessions;

means for inputting said tracking and management data;

means for storing said input data;

means for prompting said householder in response to the entry within said household boundaries of a RFID tag not in one of said set of household possessions; and

means responsive to said prompting means for enabling said householder to input said data indicating that said RFID tag entered within said household boundaries is now in one of said set of household possessions.

2. The computer controlled display RFID household system of claim 1 further including:

means enabling said householder to designate household possessions in said set for which said householder is alerted if the RFID tags in said designated possession are not within said RF limited household boundaries.

3. The computer controlled display RFID household system of claim 2 further including means enabling said householder to selectively override any of said prompts.

4. The computer controlled display RFID household system of claim 1 further including Web communication means through which said tracking and management data may be input.

5. The computer controlled display RFID household system of claim 4 further including means associated with vendors of household products containing RFID tags newly sold to said householder for inputting data indicating that said newly sold product is in said set of household products.

6. The computer controlled display RFID household system of claim 4 wherein said tracked and managed data includes household product warranty and servicing data.

7. A computer controlled interactive display RFID method enabling a householder to track and manage a set of RFID tags containing household possessions located within short range RF limited boundaries of a household facility comprising:

identifying and communicating with all transponders within said household boundaries;

inputting data indicating whether a RFID tag within said household boundaries is in one of said set of household possessions;

inputting said tracking and management data;

storing said input data;

prompting said householder in response to the entry within said household boundaries of a RFID tag not in one of said set of household possessions; and

enabling said householder in response to said prompting to input said data indicating that said RFID tag entered within said household boundaries is now in one of said set of household possessions.

8. The RFID household method of claim 7 further including the step of enabling said householder to designate household possessions in said set for which said householder is alerted if the RFID tags in said designated possession are not within said RF limited household boundaries.

9. The RFID household method of claim 8 further including the step of enabling said householder to selectively override any of said prompts.

10. The RFID household method of claim 7 wherein said tracking and management data is input over the Web.

11. The RFID household method of claim 10 further including the step of enabling vendors of household products containing RFID tags newly sold to said householder for inputting data indicating that said newly sold product is in said set of household products.

12. The RFID household method of claim 10 wherein said tracked and managed data includes household product warranty and servicing data.

13. A computer program having code recorded on a computer readable medium for enabling a householder to track and manage a set of RFID tags containing household possessions located within short range RF limited boundaries of a display computer controlled RFID household facility comprising:

a short range RF transceiver for identifying and communicating with all transponders within said household boundaries;

means for inputting data indicating whether a RFID tag within said household boundaries is in one of said set of household possessions;

means for inputting said tracking and management data;

means for storing said input data;

means for prompting said householder in response to the entry within said household boundaries of a RFID tag not in one of said set of household possessions; and

means responsive to said prompting means for enabling said householder to input said data indicating that said RFID tags entered within said household boundaries is now in one of said set of household possessions.

14. The computer program of claim 13 further including:

means enabling said householder to designate household possessions in said set for which said householder is alerted if the RFID tags in said designated possession are not within said RF limited household boundaries.

15. The computer program of claim 14 further including means enabling said householder to selectively override any of said prompts.

16. The computer program of claim 13 further including Web communication means through which said tracking and management data may be input.

17. The computer program of claim 16 further including means associated with vendors of household products containing RFID tags newly sold to said householder for inputting data indicating that said newly sold product is in said set of household products.

18. The computer program of claim 16 wherein said tracked and managed data includes household product warranty and servicing data.