System, method, and logic for emulating a tag reading environment

• US 7,496,486 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GlobeRanger Corporation (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: GlobeRanger Corporation (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Watson, Mark, Tracey, Bryan D., Hernandez, Daniel G., Calvesbert, Edward F.
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US10/872,065
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 703/2, 703/6, 703/22, 703/23, 3405721-5727, 235/384
• US Class Current: 703/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Emulating a tag reading environment includes accessing a virtual tag reading system of a virtual environment. The virtual tag reading system includes a virtual antenna operable to detect virtual tags. At least one virtual tag is inserted into the virtual environment. The virtual tag is subjected to a field of the virtual antenna. A response of the virtual tag reading system to the virtual tag is monitored.

Claims

1. A method for emulating a tag reading environment, comprising:

using a computer system, accessing a virtual tag reading system of a virtual environment, the virtual tag reading system comprising a virtual antenna operable to detect a plurality of virtual tags;

inserting at least one virtual tag into the virtual environment;

subjecting the at least one virtual tag to a field of the virtual antenna;

monitoring a response of the virtual tag reading system to the at least one virtual tag; and

storing information associated with the monitored response.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a tag reading workflow; and

executing the tag reading workflow in the virtual environment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual tag reading system further comprises a virtual reader that is identified by a physical level identifier.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

accessing a tag reading workflow comprising a reader emulator component; and

setting the reader emulator component to a physical level identifier corresponding to the virtual reader.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the field of the virtual antenna is associated with an item detection area; and

subjecting the at least one virtual tag to the field of the virtual antenna of the tag reading system further comprises moving the virtual tag into or out from the item detection area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the field of the virtual antenna is associated with a portal; and

subjecting the at least one virtual tag to the field of the virtual antenna of the tag reading system further comprises passing the virtual tag through the portal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring a property of the virtual tag reading system, the property describing a tag reading capability of the virtual tag reading system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising specifying an error value of the virtual tag reading system, the error value estimating a percentage of the at least one virtual tags that the virtual tag reading system fails to read.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising specifying a field within which the virtual antenna of the virtual tag reading system is operable to read a virtual tag of the plurality of virtual tags.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the at least one virtual tag further comprises automatically generating a unique tag identifier for each virtual tag of the at least one virtual tags.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

inserting the at least one virtual tag into the virtual environment further comprises grouping the at least one virtual tag into at least one group; and

subjecting the at least one virtual tag to the field of the virtual antenna of the tag reading system further comprises subjecting each group of the at least one group to the field.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a business tool into the virtual environment, the business tool comprising at least one of a virtual pallet, a virtual forklift, a virtual label, and a virtual label printer.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the virtual environment using a computer system.

14. A system for emulating a tag reading environment, comprising:

a database operable to store a virtual tag reading system of a virtual environment, the virtual tag reading system comprising a virtual antenna operable to detect a plurality of virtual tags; and

a server system coupled to the database and operable to;

access the virtual tag reading system;

insert at least one virtual tag into the virtual environment;

subject the at least one virtual tag to a field of the virtual antenna; and

monitor a response of the virtual tag reading system to the at least one virtual tag.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the server system is further operable to:

access a tag reading workflow; and

execute the tag reading workflow in the virtual environment.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the virtual tag reading system further comprises a virtual reader that is identified by a physical level identifier.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the server system is further operable to:

access a tag reading workflow comprising a reader emulator component; and

set the reader emulator component to a physical level identifier corresponding to the virtual reader.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the field of the virtual antenna is associated with an item detection area; and

the server system is further operable to subject the at least one virtual tag to the field of the virtual antenna of the tag reading system by moving the virtual tag into or out from the item detection area.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the field of the virtual antenna is associated with a portal; and

the server system is further operable to subject the at least one virtual tag to the field of the virtual antenna of the tag reading system by passing the virtual tag through the portal.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the server system is further operable to configure a property of the virtual tag reading system, the property describing a tag reading capability of the virtual tag reading system.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the server system is further operable to specify an error value of the virtual tag reading system, the error value estimating a percentage of the at least one virtual tags that the virtual tag reading system fails to read.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the server system is further operable to specify a field within which the virtual antenna of the virtual tag reading system is operable to read a virtual tag of the plurality of virtual tags.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the server system is further operable to insert the at least one virtual tag by automatically generating a unique tag identifier for each virtual tag of the at least one virtual tags.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the server system is further operable to:

insert the at least one virtual tag into the virtual environment by grouping the at least one virtual tag into at least one group; and

subject the at least one virtual tag to the field of the virtual antenna of the tag reading system by subjecting each group of the at least one group to the field.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the server system is further operable to insert a business tool into the virtual environment, the business tool comprising at least one of a virtual pallet, a virtual forklift, a virtual label, and a virtual label printer.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the server system is further operable to initiate display of the virtual environment using a computer system.

27. Software for emulating a tag reading environment, the software embodied in a computer readable medium and when executed operable to:

access a virtual tag reading system of a virtual environment, the virtual tag reading system comprising a virtual antenna operable to detect a plurality of virtual tags;

insert at least one virtual tag into the virtual environment;

subject the at least one virtual tag to a field of the virtual antenna;

monitor a response of the virtual tag reading system to the at least one virtual tag; and

storing information associated with the monitored response.

28. The software of claim 27, wherein the software when executed is further operable to:

access a tag reading workflow; and

execute the tag reading workflow in the virtual environment.

29. The software of claim 27, wherein the virtual tag reading system further comprises a virtual reader that is identified by a physical level identifier.

30. The software of claim 29, wherein the software when executed is further operable to:

access a tag reading workflow comprising a reader emulator component; and

set the reader emulator component to a physical level identifier corresponding to the virtual reader.

31. The software of claim 27, wherein:

the field of the virtual antenna is associated with an item detection area; and

the logic is further operable to subject the at least one virtual tag to the field of the virtual antenna of the tag reading system by moving the virtual tag into or out from the item detection area.

32. The software of claim 27, wherein:

the field of the virtual antenna is associated with a portal; and

the logic is further operable to subject the at least one virtual tag to the field of the virtual antenna of the tag reading system by passing the virtual tag through the portal.

33. The software of claim 27, wherein the software when executed is further operable to configure a property of the virtual tag reading system, the property describing a tag reading capability of the virtual tag reading system.

34. The software of claim 27, wherein the software when executed is further operable to specify an error value of the virtual tag reading system, the error value estimating a percentage of the at least one virtual tags that the virtual tag reading system fails to read.

35. The software of claim 27, wherein the software when executed is further operable to specify a field within which the virtual antenna of the virtual tag reading system is operable to read a virtual tag of the plurality of virtual tags.

36. The software of claim 27, wherein the software when executed is further operable to insert the at least one virtual tag by automatically generating a unique tag identifier for each virtual tag of the at least one virtual tags.

37. The software of claim 27, wherein the software when executed is further operable to:

insert the at least one virtual tag into the virtual environment by grouping the at least one virtual tag into at least one group; and

subject the at least one virtual tag to the field of the virtual antenna of the tag reading system by subjecting each group of the at least one group to the field.

38. The software of claim 27, wherein the software when executed is further operable to insert a business tool into the virtual environment, the business tool comprising at least one of a virtual pallet, a virtual forklift, a virtual label, and a virtual label printer.

39. The software of claim 27, wherein the software when executed is further operable to display the virtual environment using a computer system.

40. A system for emulating a tag reading environment, comprising:

means for accessing a virtual tag reading system of a virtual environment, the virtual tag reading system comprising a virtual antenna operable to detect a plurality of virtual tags;

means for inserting at least one virtual tag into the virtual environment;

means for subjecting the at least one virtual tag to a field of the virtual antenna;

means for monitoring a response of the virtual tag reading system to the at least one virtual tag; and

means for storing information associated with the monitored response.

41. A method for emulating a tag reading environment, comprising:

accessing a virtual tag reading system of a virtual environment, the virtual tag reading system comprising a virtual antenna operable to detect a plurality of virtual tags, the virtual tag reading system further comprising a virtual reader that is identified by a physical level identifier;

displaying the virtual environment using a computer system;

configuring a property of the virtual tag reading system, the property describing a tag reading capability of the virtual tag reading system;

specifying an error value of the virtual tag reading system, the error value estimating a percentage of the at least one virtual tags that the virtual tag reading system fails to read;

specifying a field within which the virtual antenna of the virtual tag reading system is operable to read a virtual tag of the plurality of virtual tags;

inserting a business tool into the virtual environment, the business tool comprising at least one of a virtual pallet, a virtual forklift, a virtual label, and a virtual label printer;

inserting at least one virtual tag into the virtual environment, wherein inserting the at least one virtual tag further comprises;

automatically generating a unique tag identifier for each virtual tag of the at least one virtual tags; and

grouping the at least one virtual tag into at least one group;

subjecting the at least one virtual tag to a field of the virtual antenna, the field of the virtual antenna associated with at least one of an item detection area and a portal, the at least one virtual tag subjected to the field by performing at least one of;

moving the virtual tag into or out from the item detection area; and

passing the virtual tag through the portal; and

subjecting each group of the at least one group to the field;

monitoring a response of the virtual tag reading system to the at least one virtual tag;

storing information associated with the monitored response;

accessing a tag reading workflow comprising a reader emulator component; and

setting the reader emulator component to a physical level identifier corresponding to the virtual reader; and

executing the tag reading workflow in the virtual environment.