Method and apparatus for resolving RFID-based object traffic transactions to a single container in the presence of a plurality of containers

• US 7,345,576 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Identec Solutions AG
• Original Assignee: Identec Solutions, Inc. (Identec Solutions AG)
• Inventors: Barnes, Sharon, Adamson, Christopher, Allen, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III; Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US11/007,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20050128055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.2, 340/10.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 235/437
• US Class Current: 340/10.2
• 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

Abstract

A method for resolving RFID-based object traffic transactions to a single container in the presence of a plurality of containers, where the method includes the steps of: monitoring RFID object traffic transactions to a single container amongst a plurality of containers wherein the traffic transactions are between at least one RFID reader and a plurality of detected RFID tags detected by the at least one RFID reader; calculating a cumulative and weighted data set for each detected RFID tag of the RFID tags; and, comparing the data set for each detected RFID tag with the data set for other of the detected RFID tags and identifying one RFID tag of the detected RFID tags having a greatest cumulative weight calculated for its corresponding data set so as to resolve multiple detections and identifications of the detected RFID tags in the object traffic transactions to the single container.

Claims

1. A method for resolving RFID-based object traffic transactions to a single container in the presence of a plurality of containers comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring RFID object traffic transactions to a single container amongst a plurality of containers wherein said traffic transactions are between at least one RFID reader and a plurality of detected RFID tags detected by said at least one RFID reader,

b) calculating a cumulative and weighted data set for each detected RFID tag of said RFID tags,

c) comparing said data set for said each detected RFID tag with said data set for other of said detected RFID tags and identifying one RFID tag of said detected RFID tags having a greatest cumulative weight calculated for its corresponding said data set so as to resolve multiple detections and identifications of said detected RFID tags in said object traffic transactions to said single container,

wherein said data set includes the following data for said each detected RFID tag;

radio frequency signal strength, an incremental count of the number of said RFID tag detections and identifications, and the corresponding clock time for each count in said incremental count,

and wherein said data is, in order of most important to least important, weighted by said signal strength, said incremental count, and said corresponding clock time.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of mounting said at least one RFID reader on at least one container of the plurality of containers.

3. The method of claim 1 further including the step of mounting said at least one RFID reader adjacent a person sorting objects into the plurality of containers, and mounting said RFID tags on the plurality of containers.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of adding to said data set data from an object detection sensor.

5. The method of claim 4 further including the step of mounting said object detection sensor on each of said at least one RFID reader.

6. The method of claim 1 further including the step of mounting an object detection sensor on each of said RFID tags.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said object detection sensor is a motion detector.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one RFID reader interrogates said RFID tags for said identification of said tags.

9. A system for resolving RFID-based object traffic transactions to a single container in the presence of a plurality of containers comprising:

a) at least one RFID reader and a plurality of RFID tags detectable by said at least one RFID reader,

b) means for monitoring RFID object traffic transactions to a single container amongst a plurality of containers wherein said traffic transactions are between at least one RFID reader and a plurality of detected RFID tags detected by said at least one RFID reader,

c) processor means for calculating a cumulative and weighted data set for each detected RFID tag of said RFID tags,

d) processor means for comparing said data set for said each detected RFID tag with said data set for other of said detected RFID tags and identifying one RFID tag of said detected RFID tags having a greatest cumulative weight calculated for its corresponding said data set so as to resolve multiple detections and identifications of said detected RFID tags in said object traffic transactions to said single container,

wherein said data set includes the following data for said each detected RFID tag;

radio frequency signal strength, an incremental count of the number of said RFID tag detections and identifications, and the corresponding clock time for each count in said incremental count,

and wherein said data is, in order of most important to least important, weighted by said signal strength, said incremental count, and said corresponding clock time.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said at least one RFID reader is mounted on at least one container of the plurality of containers.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said at least one RFID reader is mounted adjacent a person sorting objects into, and said RFID tags are mounted on, a plurality of containers.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said data set includes data from an object detection sensor.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said object detection sensor is mounted on each of said at least one RFID reader.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said an object detection sensor is mounted on each of said RFID tags.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said object detection sensor is a motion detector.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein said at least one RFID reader interrogates said RFID tags for said identification of said tags.