Combined optical and radio frequency tag reader
First Claim
1. A dual mode article identification system for goods stored by a carrier unit, comprising:
- a dual mode reader device;
a temporary carrier unit for storing articles of commerce;
an optical bar code disposed on said temporary carrier unit;
a radio frequency transponder device disposed on said temporary carrier unit; and
a plurality of goods stored by said temporary carrier unit;
wherein said reader device said optical bar code and communicates with said radio frequency transponder device;
said reader device generating information based on the reading of said optical bar code, and said reader device utilizing the generated information in communicating with said radio frequency transponder device,further comprising an indicator light disposed on said carrier unit in close proximity to said optical bar code.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is described which utilizes a dual function reader device, which may be a hand-held inventory control device, which first performs an optical read of an optical bar code on a carrier unit, then based on the identification or other information obtained from the optical read a RF read is made of a RF tag attached to, or within, the carrier unit. An indicator light on the carrier unit illuminates when the optical read is completed, which allows an operator to visually verify that the optical read has transpired for the desired carrier unit. The RF tag provides data regarding the inventory of the goods stored within, or on, the carrier unit, the temperature of the goods, the shelf-life of the goods, the source and/or destination of the carrier unit and/or the goods, or other information. Data can also be written to the RF tag by the reader.
50 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A dual mode article identification system for goods stored by a carrier unit, comprising:
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a dual mode reader device; a temporary carrier unit for storing articles of commerce; an optical bar code disposed on said temporary carrier unit; a radio frequency transponder device disposed on said temporary carrier unit; and a plurality of goods stored by said temporary carrier unit; wherein said reader device said optical bar code and communicates with said radio frequency transponder device; said reader device generating information based on the reading of said optical bar code, and said reader device utilizing the generated information in communicating with said radio frequency transponder device, further comprising an indicator light disposed on said carrier unit in close proximity to said optical bar code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A dual mode article identification system for goods stored by a carrier unit, comprising:
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a dual mode reader device; a temporary carrier unit for storing articles of commerce; machine readable information disposed on said temporary carrier unit; a radio frequency transponder device disposed on said temporary carrier unit; and a plurality of goods stored by said temporary carrier unit; wherein said reader device reads said machine readable information and communicates with said radio frequency transponder device; said reader device generating information based on the reading of said machine readable information, and said reader device utilizing the generated information in communicating with said radio frequency transponder device, wherein said reader device includes an optical scanner portion for reading the machine readable information and a radio frequency transceiver portion, further comprising an indicator light disposed on said carrier unit in close proximity to said machine readable information. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of communicating between a reader device, and a wireless communication device having associated machine readable information containing communication control information which enables communication with the wireless communication device via the radio frequency spectrum, the method comprising the steps of:
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reading the machine readable information using the reader device to obtain the communication control information; and establishing communication via the radio frequency spectrum between the reader device and the wireless communication device based upon the communication control information received from the reading of the machine readable information. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of communicating between a reader and radio system, and a wireless communication device having associated readable information which enables communication with the wireless communication device via the radio frequency spectrum, said method comprising the steps of:
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reading the readable information using the reader and radio system to obtain the communication enabling information; and establishing communication via the radio frequency spectrum between the reader and radio system and the wireless communication device based upon the communication enabling information received from the reading of the readable information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus comprising a reader and radio system, and a wireless communication device having associated readable information which enables communication with the wireless communication device via the radio frequency spectrum,
said reader and radio system reading the readable information to obtain the communication enabling information; - and
said reader and radio system establishing communication via the radio frequency spectrum with wireless communication device based upon the communication enabling information received from the reading of the readable information. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification