Method and system for inventory monitoring
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of RFID reading comprising the steps of:
- pointing a handheld RFID reader toward a read area containing RFID tags including both item tags and reference tags, wherein an item tag is disposed on an item and includes identification data corresponding to that item, wherein a reference tag is positioned at a location in the read area such that when read by the RFID reader signifies that the RFID reader has effectively read a region proximate that location of the read area;
actuating a trigger on said handheld RFID reader to commence reading the RFID tags;
performing a first read operation comprising interrogating and sensing with said RFID reader at least one RFID tag in said read area.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing operational feedback of systems using electronic tags such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for inventory monitoring, including reference tags, that provide feedback to check if all inventory items have been identified. In one configuration, the RFID reader actuates by a single trigger pull, with the reader continuing to read multiple RFID tags in the read zone until a terminating event occurs.
74 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of RFID reading comprising the steps of:
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pointing a handheld RFID reader toward a read area containing RFID tags including both item tags and reference tags, wherein an item tag is disposed on an item and includes identification data corresponding to that item, wherein a reference tag is positioned at a location in the read area such that when read by the RFID reader signifies that the RFID reader has effectively read a region proximate that location of the read area; actuating a trigger on said handheld RFID reader to commence reading the RFID tags; performing a first read operation comprising interrogating and sensing with said RFID reader at least one RFID tag in said read area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of electronic tag reading comprising the steps of:
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passing a handheld electronic tag reader past a read volume, said read volume containing multiple electronic tags including at least one item tag and at least one reference tag, wherein an item tag is disposed on an item and includes identification data corresponding to that item, wherein a reference tag is positioned at a predetermined location in said read volume rather than disposed on an item such that when read by the electronic tag reader signifies that the electronic reader has effectively read a region proximate that location of the read volume; activating said reader; reading at least one of said electronic tags; and notifying a user of said reading by an indication signal representing that said electronic tags have been read. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 22)
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15. A system for reading a plurality of electronic tags disposed in a read area, comprising:
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a) an electronic tag reader for reading electronic tags; b) a plurality of electronic tags including item tags and at least one reference tag disposed in the read area, wherein an item tag is disposed on an item and includes identification data corresponding to that item, wherein a reference tag is positioned at a specific location in the read area such that when read by the electronic tag reader signifies that the electronic tag reader has effectively read a region proximate that specific location of the read area; c) means for actuating said electronic tag reader to commence reading said electronic tags; d) wherein said electronic tag reader is operative (i) to perform a first read operation, wherein said first read operation comprises interrogating and sensing the at least one reference tag and one or more item tags in said read area. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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23. A method of electronic tag reading comprising the steps of
arranging a plurality of reference tags at specific locations about a read area; using an electronic tag reader to read electronic tags including both item tags and reference tags disposed in the read area, wherein an item tag is disposed on an item and includes identification data corresponding to that item, wherein a reference tag is positioned at a specific location in the read area such that a successful read by the electronic tag reader of that reference tag signifies that the electronic tag reader has effectively read a region proximate that specific location of the read area. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An inventory monitoring system comprising
a read area within which a plurality of items are disposed, each item bearing electronic item tag readable by an electronic tag reader; -
a plurality of electronic reference tags disposed at predetermined locations spaced about the read area such that a reference tag being read by the electronic tag reader signifies that the electronic tag reader has effectively read that specific location of the read area associated with that reference tag; scanning the electronic tag reader over the read area to read both item tags and reference tags and determining that the read area has been effectively scanned once each of the reference tags has been read.
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29. A method of inventory monitoring in which a given number of items are disposed on a pallet, each item bearing an electronic item tag containing identification information corresponding to the item, the method comprising the steps of
providing the pallet with at least one electronic reference tag, the reference tag containing information relating to the pallet; -
determining the given number of items on the pallet by using an electronic tag reader to obtain the information from the reference tag, using the electronic tag reader to read the item tags on the items and discontinuing reading once the given number of items have been read. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification