System and method to track inventory using RFID tags

• US 7,348,886 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jeffries, Clark D., Himberger, Kevin D., Peyravian, Mohammad
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US11/333,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20070164863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/10.1, 340/10.4, 340/5.92, 235/375, 235/384, 235/385, 235/487, 235/492
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

System and method for tracking inventory of a multiplicity of products. First RFID tags are associated with respective products or groups of products. Second Active RFID tags are associated with respective first containers for the multiplicity products. A third Active RFID tag is associated with a second container for the first containers. First RFID tags broadcast their respective identifications. Second Active RFID tags hash the identities of the first RFID tags within their respective first containers and broad their hashed values. Third Active RFID tag hash the hashed values broadcast by the second Active RFID tags. An expected value is compared to a result of the third Active RFID tag hashing the hashed values broadcast by the second Active RFID tags.

Claims

1. A method for tracking inventory of a multiplicity of products, first RFID tags associated with respective products or groups of products, second Active RFID tags associated with respective first containers for said multiplicity products, and a third Active RFID tag associated with a second container for said first containers, said method comprising the steps of:

said first RFID tags broadcasting their respective identifications;

said second Active RFID tags hashing the identities of said first RFID tags within their respective first containers and broadcasting their hashed values; and

said third Active RFID tag hashing the hashed values broadcast by said second Active RFID tags.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second Active RFID tags are attached to packages containing said each product or group of products.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first containers are boxes.

4. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second container is a shipping container adapted for shipping as a body of a tractor trailer truck.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

comparing an expected value to a result of the step of said third Active RFID tag hashing the hashed values broadcast by said second Active RFID tags.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first RFID tags are Passive RFID tags.

7. A system for tracking inventory of a multiplicity of products, said system comprising:

first RFID tags associated with respective products or groups of products, said first RFID tags including means for broadcasting their respective identifications;

second Active RFID tags associated with respective first containers for said multiplicity products, said second Active RFID tags including means for hashing the identities of said first RFID tags within their respective first containers and broadcasting their hashed values; and

a third Active RFID tag associated with a second container for said first containers, said third Active RFID tag including means for hashing the hashed values broadcast by said second Active RFID tags.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second Active RFID tags are attached to packages containing said each product or group of products.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first containers are boxes.

10. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second container is a shipping container adapted for shipping as a body of a tractor trailer truck.

11. A system as set forth in claim 7 further comprising:

means for comparing an expected value to a result of said third Active RFID tag hashing the hashed values broadcast by said second Active RFID tags.

12. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first RFID tags are Passive RFID tags.