Radio frequency identification tag-based task effectuation method and apparatus

• US 7,528,720 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Devanie, Katherine M., Rachwalski, Richard S., Collins, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US11/380,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20070252709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.09, 3405721-5729, 340/573.1, 340/10.1, 235/375, 235/376
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

An identifier of choice is correlated (102) with a predetermined task that potentially comprises a plurality of discrete human-enabled events. At least some of these discrete human-enabled events are then associated (104) with a corresponding capacitively-coupled radio frequency identification tag and the identifier then used (105) to monitor effectuation of the predetermined task. By one approach this monitoring comprises, at least in part, monitoring human-based task effectuation events via the capacitively-coupled radio frequency identification tags.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

correlating an identifier with a predetermined task that comprises at least one discrete human-enabled event;

associating the at least one discrete human-enabled event with a corresponding radio frequency identification tag;

using the identifier to monitor effectuation of the predetermined task, at least in part, by monitoring human-based task effectuation events via the radio frequency identification tags.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifier comprises a substantially unique identifier.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined task comprises at least one of:

a training activity;

an assembly activity.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one discrete human-enabled event is to be carried out by one of:

a single human;

a plurality of humans.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one discrete human enabled event comprises a plurality of discrete human-enabled events and wherein associating the at least one discrete human-enabled event with a corresponding radio frequency identification tag comprises associating each of the plurality of discrete human-enabled events with a corresponding radio frequency identification tag.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a plurality of radio frequency identification tag reader antennas for wherein at least some of the radio frequency identification tag reader antennas are positioned proximal to selected ones of the human-based task effectuation events.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein using the identifier to monitor effectuation of the predetermined task, at least in part, by monitoring human-based task effectuation events via the radio frequency identification tags comprises detecting when a human makes physical contact with given ones of the radio frequency identification tags.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the human provides a path to ground upon making the physical contact with given ones of the radio frequency identification tags.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein providing a plurality of radio frequency identification tag reader antennas comprises, at least in part, providing a dispenser for a task-completion component wherein the task-completion component comprises a radio frequency identification tag and the dispenser comprises a radio frequency identification tag reader antenna.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein associating the at least one discrete human-enabled event with a corresponding radio frequency identification tag comprises, at least in part, at least one of:

combining a product container with one of the radio frequency identification tags;

combining a product ingredient dispenser with one of the radio frequency identification tags;

combining a product bearing surface with one of the radio frequency identification tags.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

dynamically providing instructions to at least one human regarding the at least one discrete human-enabled event as a function, at least in part, of the identifier.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein using the identifier to monitor effectuation of the predetermined task, at least in part, by monitoring human-based task effectuation events via the radio frequency identification tags comprises, at least in part, monitoring compliance by the at least one human with respect to the instructions.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein

correlating an identifier with a predetermined task comprises correlating a customer-based purchase order identifier with a customer-specified meal;

associating the at least one discrete human-enabled event with a corresponding radio frequency identification tag comprises combining radio frequency identification tags with specific human-enabled events related to assembly of the customer-specified meal;

using the identifier to monitor effectuation of the predetermined task, at least in part, by monitoring human-based task effectuation events via the radio frequency identification tags comprises detecting when the assembly of the customer-specified meal proceeds other than in a predetermined manner.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency identification tags are selected from a group consisting of radio frequency identification tags and optical identification tags.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured and arranged to;

correlate an identifier with a predetermined task that comprises at least one discrete human-enabled event;

use the identifier to monitor effectuation of the predetermined task, at least in part, by monitoring human-based task effectuation events via radio frequency identification tags that are each associated with a corresponding discrete human-enabled event as relates to effectuation of the predetermined task.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processor is further configured and arranged to monitor the human-based task effectuation events by receiving information from a plurality of radio frequency identification tag reader antennas wherein at least some of the radio frequency identification tag reader antennas are positioned proximal to selected ones of the human-based task effectuation events.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the processor is further configured and arranged to dynamically provide instructions to at least one human regarding the at least one discrete human-enabled event as a function, at least in part, of the identifier.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the processor is further configured and arranged to use the identifier to monitor effectuation of the predetermined task, at least in part, by monitoring human-based task effectuation events via the radio frequency identification tags by, at least in part, monitoring compliance by the at least one human with respect to the instructions.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the radio frequency identification tags are selected from a group consisting of radio frequency identification tags and optical identification tags.

17. The apparatus of 16 wherein the processor is further configured and arranged to use the information to identify particularly popular product configurations.