Radio frequency identification method and system of distributing products

• US 7,591,421 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Original Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Inventors: Linton, John, Linton, William A., Krueger, Julia E., Dearing, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US11/247,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20060081705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/381, 235/383, 235/385, 705/2, 705/22, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/566.1, 340/540, 340/585, 340/620
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A method and system for vending products from a defined area, such as a micro-warehouse with a door. The method includes fitting each product with a radio frequency identification tag, positioning the plurality of products in a micro-warehouse, sensing opening and closing of the micro-warehouse door, scanning the plurality of products in the micro-warehouse upon sensing closing of the door to determine the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, generating a message based on the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, transmitting the message to a remote processor or server, and maintaining an inventory in the remote processor based on the message. The system is designed to be accessed by authorized individuals possessing some type of code or identifying mechanism. The micro-warehouses may be cabinets, refrigerators, secured rooms, or similar storage units or areas.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, using a sensor, a first closing of a door of an apparatus and, in response to the detection of the first closing of the door of the apparatus, automatically scanning the interior of the apparatus using RFID so as to obtain a first RFID scanning result;

detecting, using the sensor, opening of the door of the apparatus and, in response to the detection of opening of the door of the apparatus, disabling an RFID scanning system used to perform the RFID scanning;

detecting, using the sensor, a second closing of the door of the apparatus and, in response to the detection of the second closing of the door of the apparatus, automatically scanning the interior of the apparatus using RFID so as to obtain a second RFID scanning result;

determining whether an item inventory for the apparatus has changed in accordance with a comparison between the first RFID scanning result and the second RFID scanning result;

determining an amount of time that an item having an RFID tag has spent in the interior of the apparatus in accordance with the first RFID scanning result and the second RFID scanning result;

comparing the amount of time to a shelf life for the item to determine if the item has expired; and

in response to the determination that the item has expired, (a) generating an expiration message indicating that the item has expired, and (b) placing the apparatus into a lock down condition that continues until the item has been removed from the interior of the apparatus.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further includes a step of e-mailing the expiration message to an e-mail address.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a refrigerator, a freezer, a container, and a cabinet.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the item comprises a life science research product.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the life science research product is selected from the group consisting of enzyme, assay, cloning vector, and competent cell.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising reading a fingerprint and unlocking the apparatus in accordance with the fingerprint read in said reading step.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising reading an RFID badge and unlocking the apparatus in accordance with results of said reading step.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said unlocking step comprises controlling a solenoid of an electric actuated lock with which the apparatus is equipped,

wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor,

wherein the detection of closing of the door comprises sensing output of the proximity sensor,

wherein the RFID scanning uses an antenna mounted in the apparatus, and

wherein passive RFID tags are used.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the item comprises a biological product.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the biological product is selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, an assay, and a cloning vector.