Radio frequency identification method and system of distributing products

• US 7,258,276 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2001
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Original Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Inventors: Linton, John, Linton, William A., Krueger, Julia E., Dearing, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kimberly D.
• Application Number:
  US09/981,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20030034390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/381, 235/382, 235/383, 235/472.02
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A method and system for vending products from a defined area, such as a micro-warehouse with a door. The method includes fitting each product with a radio frequency identification tag, positioning the plurality of products in a micro-warehouse, sensing opening and closing of the micro-warehouse door, scanning the plurality of products in the micro-warehouse upon sensing closing of the door to determine the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, generating a message based on the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, transmitting the message to a remote processor or server, and maintaining an inventory in the remote processor based on the message. The system is designed to be accessed by authorized individuals possessing some type of code or identifying mechanism. The micro-warehouses may be cabinets, refrigerators, secured rooms, or similar storage units or areas.

Claims

1. A method of distributing a plurality of products from a cabinet having a door, the method comprising:

fitting each product with a radio frequency identification tag;

positioning the plurality of products in the cabinet;

sensing opening and closing of the cabinet door;

scanning the plurality of products in the cabinet upon sensing closing of the cabinet door to determine the number and type of products in the cabinet;

generating a message based on the number and type of products in the cabinet;

transmitting the message to a server;

maintaining an inventory in the server based on the message;

reading a code on a user badge;

acknowledging having read the user badge;

determining the authenticity of the code read from the user badge;

opening the cabinet if the code read from the user badge is authentic; and

performing a self-updating boot up procedure for a controller associated with the cabinet, said procedure comprising;

(a) sending a message querying a most recent software version number;

(b) comparing a software version number currently used to the most recent software version number;

(c) downloading software having the most recent software version number if the currently used software version number and the most recent software version number differ when compared;

(d) writing the downloaded software to memory associated with the controller; and

(e) booting the downloaded software by the controller.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

requesting an updated user list; and

receiving the updated user list.

3. A system for distributing a plurality of products, each product having a radio frequency tag, the system comprising:

a radio frequency user badge having a code;

at least one micro-warehouse, the micro-warehouse having (a) an output device, (b) a door with a proximity sensor, (c) an antenna mounted on the micro-warehouse, and (d) a controller coupled to the proximity sensor and the antenna, the controller operable to receive the code, to activate the output device after receiving the code on the user badge, to scan the plurality of products and determine the identity of each of the products, and to create a message including the identity of each of the products; and

a server coupled to the controller to receive the message,

wherein the controller uses a self-updating boot up procedure, the procedure comprising;

(a) sending a message querying a most recent software version number;

(b) comparing a software version number currently used to the most recent software version number;

(c) downloading software having the most recent software version number if the currently used software version number and the most recent software version number differ when compared;

(d) writing the downloaded software to memory associated with the controller; and

(e) booting the downloaded software by the controller.

4. A method of distributing a plurality of products from a cabinet having a door, the method comprising:

fitting each product with a radio frequency identification tag;

positioning the plurality of products in the cabinet;

sensing opening and closing of the cabinet door;

scanning the plurality of products in the cabinet upon sensing closing of the cabinet door to determine the number and type of products in the cabinet;

generating a message based on the number and type of products in the cabinet;

transmitting the message to a server;

maintaining an inventory in the server based on the message;

one of (i) reading a fingerprint and unlocking the cabinet in accordance with the fingerprint read in said reading step, and (ii) reading an RFID badge and unlocking the cabinet in accordance with results of said reading step; and

performing a self-updating boot up procedure for a controller associated with the cabinet, said procedure comprising;

(a) sending a message querying a most recent software version number;

(b) comparing a software version number currently used to the most recent software version number;

(c) downloading software having the most recent software version number if the currently used software version number and the most recent software version number differ when compared;

(d) writing the downloaded software to memory; and

(e) booting the downloaded software by the controller.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said method comprises step (i).

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein said method comprises step (ii).

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein said scanning step uses RFID to effect the scanning,

wherein said generating step generates a message in accordance with a comparison between results of said scanning step and results of an earlier RFID scan of the products in the cabinet,

wherein said unlocking step comprises controlling a solenoid of an electric actuated lock with which the cabinet is equipped,

wherein said step of sensing opening and closing of the cabinet door comprises sensing output of a proximity sensor,

wherein said scanning step uses an antenna mounted on or in the cabinet,

and

wherein passive tags are used in said fitting step.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of products comprise a biological product.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the biological product is selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, an assay, and a cloning vector.