Systems and methods for identifying lost or stolen devices

• US 7,639,141 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2007
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Keystone Technology Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Elledge, Dennis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US11/778,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20080012711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/568.1, 340/568.5, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10059 transponder driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

System and methods for identifying a lost or stolen device. In one aspect, a method includes: receiving a plurality of items on a platform configured to support the items for transportation, one or more of the items being registered in a database; interrogating via an interrogation signal transmitted from a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to one or more RFID tags attached to one or more of the items while on the platform; and communicating with the database over an Internet to identify an item as being missing and associated with the platform, based on a result of interrorgating.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a check-in point to receive a plurality of items on one platform of a plurality of platforms configured to support the items for transportation, one or more of the items being registered in a database;

at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, the RFID reader to interrogate via transmission of an interrogation signal to one or more RFID tags attached to one or more items placed on the platform, the RFID reader configured to obtain an identification code of an RFID tag from a response to the interrogation signal; and

a computer coupled to the reader, based on a result of the interrogation signal the computer to communicate with the database over a communication link to look up and determine whether to indicate an item associated with the platform is missing;

wherein the one or more items having the one or more RFID tags attached are packaged in a container for transportation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interrogation signal includes information to authenticate the interrogation signal.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of RFID readers associated with the plurality of platforms respectively, wherein the computer is coupled to the plurality of RFID readers.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the database registers items as lost or stolen.

5. A system, comprising:

a check-in point to receive a plurality of items on one platform of a plurality of platforms configured to support the items for transportation, one or more of the items being registered in a database;

at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, the RFID reader to interrogate via transmission of an interrogation signal to one or more RFID tags attached to one or more items placed on the platform, the RFID reader configured to obtain an identification code of an RFID tag from a response to the interrogation signal;

a computer coupled to the reader, based on a result of the interrogation signal the computer to communicate with the database over a communication link to look up and determine whether to indicate an item associated with the platform is missing; and

a plurality of RFID readers associated with the plurality of platforms respectively;

wherein the computer is coupled to the plurality of RFID readers; and

the database registers items as lost or stolen.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the interrogation signal includes information to authenticate the interrogation signal.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more items having the one or more RFID tags attached are packaged in a container for transportation.

8. A method, comprising:

providing a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader at a location adjacent to an entranceway, the RFID reader configured to interrogate passive RFID tags for identification data stored in the passive RFID tags;

transmitting interrogation signals from the RFID reader to passive RFID tags physically associated with respective items that are supported on a platform to transport through the entranceway, the interrogation signals to cause the passive RFID tags to backscatter identification data to the RFID reader; and

communicating over an Internet with a database, registering a plurality of items associated with a plurality of passive RFID tags, to identify an item as being missing and associated with the platform, based on a result of the transmitting;

wherein the communicating comprises updating data stored in a computer connected to the reader according to at least a portion of corresponding data stored in the database, the data in the computer including data registering the plurality of items physically associated with the plurality of passive RFID tags; and

wherein the updating is performed periodically at predetermined time intervals.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an identification code from the item identified as being missing.

10. A method, comprising:

providing a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader at a location adjacent to an entranceway, the RFID reader configured to interrogate passive RFID tags for identification data stored in the passive RFID tags;

transmitting interrogation signals from the RFID reader to passive RFID tags physically associated with respective items that are supported on a platform to transport through the entranceway, the interrogation signals to cause the passive RFID tags to backscatter identification data to the RFID reader; and

communicating over an Internet with a database, registering a plurality of items associated with a plurality of passive RFID tags, to identify an item as being missing and associated with the platform, based on a result of the transmitting;

wherein the communicating comprises updating data stored in a computer connected to the reader according to at least a portion of corresponding data stored in the database, the data in the computer including data registering the plurality of items physically associated with the plurality of passive RFID tags; and

wherein the updating is performed in response to predetermined changes in the database.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the platform comprises a conveyor belt.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the interrogation signals include information to authenticate the reader.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the information to authenticate the reader comprises a password provided by the reader.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the database includes a record registering the item as lost or stolen.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying a message on a display device to identify the item as missing.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting a visual or auditory alarm signal in response to the item being identified as missing.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving an identification code from the item identified as being missing.

18. A system, comprising:

a plurality of local computers configured to access via an Internet a database stored on a remotely located server, the database registering a plurality of items to which a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are affixed, each of the RFID tags storing an identification code associated with an item to which an RFID tag is attached; and

a plurality of RFID readers coupled to the local computers and located adjacent to a plurality of ingress points for items to enter a region, the RFID readers configured to interrogate passive RFID tags via wireless interrogation signals while items having the passive RFID tags affixed thereto are supported on a plurality of platforms for transportation into the region, wherein in response to the interrogation signals from the readers the passive RFID tags backscatter identification codes that are associated with items to which the passive RFID tags are affixed;

wherein based on results of interrogation by the RFID readers, the local computers are configure to determine whether a first item is missing, via looking up data registered in the database.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first item is one of the plurality of items registered in the database as being missing.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one of the local computers is coupled to more than one of the RFID readers.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein one or more of items having the passive RFID tags attached are packaged in a container for transportation.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the platforms comprise conveyor belts.

23. A system, comprising:

a computer configured to communicate with a database over an Internet, the database registering a plurality of items to which a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are attached; and

an RFID reader coupled to the computer, the RFID reader positioned adjacent to an entranceway and configured to transmit wireless interrogation signals to first RFID tags attached to items supported on a platform for entering into a region via the entranceway, the first RFID tags configured to backscatter identification codes to the RFID reader in response to the interrogation signals, each of the identification codes indicating an identity of an item to which a corresponding RFID tag is attached;

wherein based on a result of interrogation by the RFID reader, the computer is to look up data in the database to identify a first item as being missing and associated with the platform;

wherein the computer is coupled to a plurality of RFID readers located adjacent to a plurality of entranceways respectively.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the identification codes backscattered to the RFID reader include an identification code of an RFID tag attached to the first item.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the computer is remote to the RFID readers.

26. The system of claim 23, farther comprising:

a display device coupled to the computer to display a message to identify the first item in response to the first item being identified as missing.

27. The system of claim 23, farther comprising:

an alarm device coupled to the computer to transmit a visual or auditory alarm signal in response to the first item being identified as missing.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the platform comprises a conveyor belt.

29. A method, comprising:

transporting items on a plurality of platforms through a plurality of entranceways, the items having radio frequency identification (RFID) tags affixed thereto;

transmitting interrogation signals from a plurality of RFID readers, positioned adjacent to the plurality of entranceways respectively, while the items are being transported on the platforms, wherein the RFID tags are configured to derive power from radio frequency (RF) energy transmitted from the readers;

receiving identification codes backscattered from the RFID tags in response to the interrogation signals, the identification codes indicating identities of the items to which the RFID tags are affixed;

accessing, using the identification codes received by the readers, data registered in a database remotely connected to the readers over an Internet, the database registering a plurality of items having RFID tags affixed thereto; and

determining whether a first item is a missing item associated with a first platform of the plurality of platforms, based on a result of the accessing.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the plurality of items are registered in the database as missing items.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of items are registered in the database prior to the determining.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the identification codes backscattered from the RFID tags include an identification code backscattered from an RFID tag affixed to the first item.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

transmitting an alarm signal if the first item is identified as a missing item.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the platforms comprise conveyor belts.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the interrogation signals include information to authenticate the readers.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the information to authenticate the readers comprises a password.

37. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

updating the database to include a record registering the first item as lost or stolen.

38. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

displaying a message on a display device to identify the first item as missing.

39. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

transmitting a visual or auditory alarm signal in response to the first item being identified as missing.