RFID whiteboard

• US 7,471,209 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Hart, Matt E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/347,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20070176780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/686.1, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/524, 340/525, 340/539.1, 340/539.21, 273/237, 463/14, 235/375, 403/35, 401/07, 401/10, 404/42
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Systems and methods for using radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology in display boards such as whiteboards, corkboards, and bulletin boards are disclosed. An RFID tag is affixed to each object that is placed on the display board. Each tag uniquely identifies the object to which it is affixed. RFID readers are placed in proximity to the board so that the position and identity of the tagged objects on the board can be determined. RFID readers can quickly convey this information to a computing device. Optionally, receipt of the position and identity information at the computing device can trigger other events such as the output of notifications.

Claims

1. A system for electronically recording information posted on a display board comprising:

a display board, the display board having a display board first surface, the display board first surface being divided into one or more cells, the one or more cells representing increments of time;

an object placed at a user defined cell of the one or more cells on the display board first surface of the display board, the user defined cell indicating an increment of time to be associated with the object,

an RFID tag affixed to the object;

a first RFID reader for reading the RFID tag affixed to the object; and

a computing device communicatively coupled to the RFID reader;

wherein the computing device determines identity of the object and the cell of the one or more cells on the display board first surface in which the object is placed from the reading of the RFID tag.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display board is one selected from a group consisting of a whiteboard, a corkboard, and a bulletin board.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the display board is comprised of a material through which RFID signals can be transmitted.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader is positioned on a display board second surface, the display board second surface being opposite the display board first surface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader is embedded in the display board.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is a read-write tag.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a visual status indicator.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second RFID reader for reading the RFID tag; and

a third RFID reader for reading the RFID tag.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the location of the object on the display board is determined using signal strength triangulation from the readings of the first, second, and third RFID readers.

10. A system for electronically recording information posted on a display board comprising:

a display board, the display board having a display board first surface, the display board first surface being divided into one or more cells, the one or more cells representing a step in a manufacturing process;

an object placed at a user defined cell of the one or more cells on the display board first surface of the display board, the user defined cell indicating a step in the manufacturing process to be associated with the object,

an RFID tag affixed to the object;

a first REID reader for reading the RFID tag affixed to the object; and

a computing device communicatively coupled to the RFID reader;

wherein the computing device determines identity of the object and the cell of the one or more cells on the display board first surface in which the object is placed from the reading of the RFID tag.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the display board is one selected from a group consisting of a whiteboard, a corkboard, and a bulletin board.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the display board is comprised of a material through which RFID signals can be transmitted.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the RFID reader is positioned on a display board second surface, the display board second surface being opposite the display board first surface.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the RFID reader is embedded in the display board.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the RFID tag is a read-write tag.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the object comprises a visual status indicator.

17. A system for electronically recording information posted on a display board comprising:

a display board, the display board having a display board first surface, the display board first surface being divided into one or more cells, the one or more cells representing a step in a work flow process;

an object placed at a user defined cell of the one or more cells on the display board first surface of the display board, the user defined cell indicating a step in the workflow process to be associated with the object,

an RFID tag affixed to the object;

a first RFID reader for reading the RFID tag affixed to the object; and

a computing device communicatively coupled to the RFID reader;

wherein the computing device determines identity of the object and the cell of the one or more cells on the display board first surface in which the object is placed from the reading of the RFID tag.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the display board is one selected from a group consisting of a whiteboard, a corkboard, and a bulletin board.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the display board is comprised of a material through which RFID signals can be transmitted.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the RFID reader is positioned on a display board second surface, the display board second surface being opposite the display board first surface.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the RFID reader is embedded in the display board.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the RFID tag is a read-write tag.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the object comprises a visual status indicator.