Container for storing objects

• US 7,652,555 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Hull, Jonathan J., Lee, Dar-Shyang
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Vernal U
• Application Number:
  US10/235,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,702 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.42, 340/568.1, 340/5.92, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/572.8, 340/5.31, 340/5.32, 340/568.2, 340/5.33, 235/375, 235/385, 345/156
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
• 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

Abstract

A container that is capable of outputting information related to objects stored in the container. The container is able to output information for objects that are stored by the container and that have identification tags physically associated with them.

Claims

1. A method performed by a portable container, the container comprising an input interface, a display, one or more tag readers, a memory, and a processor, the method comprising:

generating a signal upon activation of the input interface of the container;

responsive to the signal, reading information from one or more identification tags physically associated with one or more objects disposed in the container using the one or more tag readers, the information including, for an object from the one or more objects, one or more of a history of removal of the object from the container, a history of addition of the object to the container, and a time of reading of the information from the identification tag physically associated with the object;

determining, for each object in the one or more objects, object-related information for the object based upon the information read from the identification tag physically associated with the object and based upon information stored in the memory of the container; and

displaying the object-related information determined for at least one object in the one or more objects using the display of the container;

wherein the method is autonomously performed by the container without requiring any external processing.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the object-related information determined for the at least one object comprises:

displaying a portion of the information read from the identification tag physically associated with the at least one object.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the object-related information for each object in the one or more objects comprises:

for each object in the one or more objects;

determining an identification code from the information read from the identification tag physically associated with the object; and

determining the object-related information to display for the object based upon the identification code read from the identification tag physically associated with the object.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the information stored in the memory of the container comprises a plurality of identification codes and information associated with each identification code in the plurality of identification codes;

determining the object-related information for the object based upon the identification code read from the identification tag physically associated with the object comprises;

accessing the information stored in the memory of the container; and

determining, from the information stored in the memory of the container, information associated with a first identification code from the plurality of identification codes that matches the identification code read from the identification tag physically associated with the object; and

displaying the object-related information determined for the at least one object in the one or more objects comprises;

displaying a portion of the information associated with the first identification code, the portion including a time that the identification tag of the object was read.

5. A method performed by a portable container comprising an input interface, a display, and one or more tag readers, the method comprising:

receiving, via the input interface of the container, a search query that includes information specifying search criteria;

reading information from one or more identification tags physically associated with one or more objects disposed in the container using the one or more tag readers;

determining, based upon the information read from the one or more identification tags physically associated with the one or more objects, if the search criteria is satisfied by an object from the one or more objects; and

displaying, via the display, object-related information for each of the objects in the one or more objects that satisfies the search criteria;

wherein the method is autonomously performed by the container without requiring any external processing.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein determining if the search criteria is satisfied by an object from the one or more objects comprises:

for each object in the one or more objects;

determining an identification code from the information read from the identification tag physically associated with the object; and

determining if the object satisfies the search criteria based upon the identification code read from the identification tag physically associated with the object.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein determining if the object satisfies the search criteria comprises:

accessing first information identifying a plurality of identification codes and object-related information associated with each identification code;

determining, from the first information, object-related information associated with an identification code that matches the identification code read from the identification tag physically associated with the object; and

determining if the object satisfies the search criteria based upon the object-related information associated with the matching identification code.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the search criteria identifies a first object; and

determining if the search criteria is satisfied by an object from the one or more objects comprises;

determining, based upon the information read from the identification tags physically associated with the one or more objects, if the first object is included in the one or more objects.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the search identifies a first characteristic; and

determining if the search criteria is satisfied by an object from the one or more objects comprises;

determining, based upon the information read from the identification tags physically associated with the one or more objects, if an object from the one or more objects possesses the first characteristic.

10. A method performed by a portable container of identifying addition or removal of objects from the container, the container comprising a display, one or more tag readers, and a memory, the method comprising:

reading a first set of identification codes from one or more identification tags physically associated with one or more objects disposed in the container using the one or more tag readers;

comparing the first set of identification codes with a baseline set of identification codes stored in the memory of the container, the baseline set of identification codes corresponding to a baseline set of objects;

indicating, via the display of the container, that at least one object not included in the baseline set of objects is disposed in the container if it is determined from the comparing that the first set of identification codes comprises at least one identification code that is not included in the baseline set of identification codes;

indicating, via the display of the container, that at least one object included in the baseline set of objects is not disposed in the container if it is determined from the comparing that the baseline set of identification codes comprises at least one identification code that is not included in the first set of identification codes; and

storing a history of removal of an object from the container in the identification tag associated with the object, or a history of addition of an object to the container in the identification tag associated with the object;

wherein the method is autonomously performed by the container without requiring any external processing.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein indicating that at least one object not included in the baseline set of objects is disposed in the container comprises:

identifying a time interval when the at least one object was added to the container.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein indicating that at least one object included in the baseline set of objects is not disposed in the container comprises:

identifying a time interval when the at least one object was removed from the container.

13. A container comprising:

an input interface;

a processing module;

one or more tag readers; and

a display;

wherein the processing module is configured to receive a search query that includes information specifying search criteria, the search query input using the input interface;

wherein the one or more tag readers are configured to read information from one or more identification tags physically associated with one or more objects disposed in the container;

wherein the processing module is configured to determine, based upon the information read from the one or more identification tags physically associated with the one or more objects, if the search criteria is satisfied by an object from the one or more objects;

wherein the display is configured to output object-related information for each of the objects in the one or more objects that satisfies the search criteria;

wherein the container is portable.

14. The container of claim 13 wherein the processing module is configured to:

for each object in the one or more objects;

determine an identification code from the information read from the identification tag physically associated with the object; and

determine if the object satisfies the search criteria based upon the identification code read from the identification tag physically associated with the object.

15. The container of claim 14 wherein the processing module is configured to:

access first information identifying a plurality of identification codes and object-related information associated with each identification code;

determine, from the first information, object-related information associated with an identification code that matches the identification code read from the identification tag physically associated with the object; and

determine if the object satisfies the search criteria based upon the object-related information associated with the matching identification code.

16. The container of claim 13 wherein:

the search criteria identifies a first object; and

the processing module is configured to;

determine, based upon the information read from the identification tags physically associated with the one or more objects, if the first object is included in the one or more objects.

17. The container of claim 13 wherein:

the search criteria identifies a first characteristic; and

the processing module is configured to;

determine, based upon based upon the information read from the identification tags physically associated with the one or more objects, if an object from the one or more objects possesses the first characteristic.

18. A container comprising:

one or more tag readers configured to read a first set of identification codes from one or more identification tags physically associated with a first set of objects disposed in the container;

a display;

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store a baseline set of identification codes, the baseline set of identification codes corresponding to a baseline set of objects, the memory configured to store a plurality of code modules for execution by the processor, the plurality of code modules comprising;

a code module for comparing the first set of identification codes with the baseline set of identification codes;

a code module for indicating, via the display, that at least one object not included in the baseline set of objects is disposed in the container if the first set of identification codes comprises at least one identification code that is not included in the baseline set of identification codes;

a code module for indicating, via the display, that at least one object included in the baseline set of objects is not disposed in the container if the baseline set of identification codes comprises at least one identification code that is not included in the first set of identification codes; and

a code module for storing a status of removal of an object from the container in the identification tag associated with the object, or a status of addition of an object to the container in the identification tag associated with the object;

wherein the container is portable.

19. The container of claim 18 wherein the code module for indicating that at least one object not included in the baseline set of objects is disposed in the container comprises:

a code module for identifying a time interval when the at least one object was added to the container.

20. The container of claim 18 wherein the code module for indicating that at least one object included in the baseline set of objects is not disposed in the container comprises:

a code module for identifying a time interval when the at least one object was removed from the container.

21. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium and executed by a container comprising an input interface, a display, one or more tag readers, a memory, and a processor, the computer program product comprising:

code for generating a signal upon activation of the input interface of the container;

code for reading information from one or more identification tags physically associated with one or more objects disposed in the container using the one or more tag readers in response to the signal;

code for determining, for each object in the one or more objects, object-related information for the object based upon the information read from the identification tag physically associated with the object and based upon information stored in the memory of the container; and

code for displaying the object-related information determined for at least one object in the one or more objects using the display of the container;

wherein the container is human carriable.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the code for displaying the object-related information determined for the at least one object comprises:

code for displaying a portion of the information read from the identification tag physically associated with the at least one object.

23. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the code for determining the object-related information for each object in the one or more objects comprises:

for each object in the one or more objects;

code for determining an identification code from the information read from the identification tag physically associated with the object; and

code for determining the object-related information to be displayed for the object based upon the identification code read from the identification tag physically associated with the object.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein:

the code for determining the object-related information for the object based upon the identification code read from the identification tag physically associated with the object comprises;

code for accessing the information stored in the memory of the container, the information stored in the memory identifying a plurality of identification codes and information associated with each identification code in the plurality of identification codes; and

code for determining, from the information stored in the memory of the container, information associated with a first identification code from the plurality of identification codes that matches the identification code read from the identification tag physically associated with the object; and

the code for displaying the object-related information determined for the at least one object in the one or more objects comprises;

code for displaying a portion of the information associated with the first identification code.

25. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium and executed by a container comprising an input interface, a display, and one or more tag readers, the computer program product comprising:

code for receiving, via the input interface of the container, a search query that includes information specifying search criteria;

code for reading information from one or more identification tags physically associated with one or more objects disposed in the container using the one or more tag readers;

code for determining, based upon the information read from the one or more identification tags physically associated with the one or more objects, if the search criteria is satisfied by an object from the one or more objects;

code for displaying, via the display of the container, object-related information for each of the objects in the one or more objects that satisfies the search criteria; and

code for storing a status of removal of an object from the container in the identification tag associated with the object, or a status of addition of an object to the container in the identification tag associated with the object;

wherein the container is portable.

26. The computer program product of claim 25 wherein the code for determining if the search criteria is satisfied by an object from the one or more objects comprises:

for each object in the one or more objects;

code for determining an identification code from the information read from the identification tag physically associated with the object; and

code for determining if the object satisfies the search criteria based upon the identification code read from the identification tag physically associated with the object.

27. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the code for determining if the object satisfies the search criteria comprises:

code for accessing first information identifying a plurality of identification codes and object-related information associated with each identification code;

code for determining, from the first information, object-related information associated with an identification code that matches the identification code read from the identification tag physically associated with the object; and

code for determining if the object satisfies the search criteria based upon the object-related information associated with the matching identification code.

28. The computer program product of claim 25 wherein:

the search criteria identifies a first object; and

the code for determining if the search criteria is satisfied by an object from the one or more objects comprises;

code for determining, based upon the information read from the identification tags physically associated with the one or more objects, if the first object is included in the one or more objects.

29. The computer program product of claim 25 wherein:

the search criteria identifies a first characteristic; and

the code for determining if the search criteria is satisfied by an object from the one or more objects comprises;

code for determining, based upon based upon the information read from the identification tags physically associated with the one or more objects, if an object from the one or more objects possesses the first characteristic.

30. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium and executed by a container for identifying addition or removal of objects from the container, the container comprising a display, one or more tag readers, and a memory, the computer program product comprising:

code for reading a first set of identification codes from one or more identification tags physically associated with one or more objects disposed in the container using the one or more tag readers;

code for comparing the first set of identification codes with a baseline set of identification codes stored in the memory of the container, the baseline set of identification codes corresponding to a baseline set of objects;

code for indicating, via the display of the container, that at least one object not included in the baseline set of objects is disposed in the container if the first set of identification codes comprises at least one identification code that is not included in the baseline set of identification codes; and

code for indicating, via the display of the container, that at least one object included in the baseline set of objects is not disposed in the container if the baseline set of identification codes comprises at least one identification code that is not included in the first set of identification codes;

wherein the container is human carriable.

31. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the code for indicating that at least one object not included in the baseline set of objects is disposed in the container comprises:

code for identifying a time interval when the at least one object was added to the container.

32. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the code for indicating that at least one object included in the baseline set of objects is not disposed in the container comprises:

code for identifying a time interval when the at least one object was removed from the container.

33. A container for displaying information, the container comprising:

means for generating a signal to display information related to the one or more objects disposed in the container;

means for reading information from one or more identification tags physically associated with one or more objects disposed in the container responsive to the signal;

means for determining, for each object in the one or more objects, object-related information for the object based upon the information read from the identification tag physically associated with the object and based upon information stored in a memory of the container;

means for displaying the object-related information determined for at least one object in the one or more objects; and

means for storing a status of removal of an object from the container in the identification tag associated with the object, or a status of addition of an object to the container in the identification tag associated with the object;

wherein the container is portable.

34. A container comprising:

means for inputting a search query that includes information specifying search criteria;

means for reading information from one or more identification tags physically associated with one or more objects disposed in the container;

means for determining, based upon the information read from the one or more identification tags physically associated with the one or more objects, if the search criteria is satisfied by an object from the one or more objects; and

means for displaying object-related information for an object from the one or more objects that satisfies the search criteria; and

means for storing a status of removal of an object from the container in the identification tag associated with the object, or a status of addition of an object to the container in the identification tag associated with the object;

wherein the container is portable.

35. A container for identifying addition or removal of objects from a container, the container comprising:

means for reading a first set of identification codes from one or more identification tags physically associated with one or more objects disposed in the container;

means for storing a baseline set of identification codes, the baseline set of identification codes corresponding to a baseline set of objects;

means for comparing the first set of identification codes with the baseline set of identification codes;

means for indicating that at least one object not included in the baseline set of objects is disposed in the container if the first set of identification codes comprises at least one identification code that is not included in the baseline set of identification codes;

means for indicating that an object included in the baseline set of objects is not disposed in the container if the baseline set of identification codes comprises at least one identification code that is not included in the first set of identification codes; and

means for storing a status of removal of an object from the container in the identification tag associated with the object, or a status of addition of an object to the container in the identification tag associated with the object;

wherein the container is portable.