Methods and apparatus to visualize locations of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged items

• US 7,986,239 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Workday Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/603,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20100039238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340 101- 105, 340/10.51, 705/28, 235/375, 235/376, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/043 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/046 Displays or indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10376 the interrogation device being adapted for being moveable
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to visualize locations of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged items are described. One example method includes receiving a request from a portable electronic device to access product information associated with an individual radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged item, determining a location of the product information in a database, transmitting the located product information to the portable electronic device for display thereon, receiving modified product information associated with the individual RFID tagged item from the portable electronic device, and storing the modified product information to the location of the product information in the database.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a portable electronic device to access product information associated with an individual radio frequency identification tagged item;

determining a location of the product information in a database;

transmitting the product information to the portable electronic device;

receiving modified product information associated with the individual radio frequency identification tagged item from the portable electronic device; and

storing the modified product information to the location of the product information in the database.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising configuring a wireless communication channel to facilitate communication between the portable electronic device and the database prior to receiving the request.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the request includes an identification number of the individual radio frequency identification tagged item.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein the determining the location of the product information in the database includes cross-referencing the identification number to the product information.

5. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein the product information includes an available quantity.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the product information is modified by an input received by the portable electronic device.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the database is communicatively coupled to a central database that is accessed by a distribution system.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the modified product information is accessed by a second portable electronic device.

9. An apparatus comprising a database configured to:

receive a request from a portable electronic device to access product information associated with an individual radio frequency identification tagged item;

determine a location of the product information in the database;

transmit the product information to the portable electronic device;

receive modified product information associated with the individual radio frequency identification tagged item from the portable electronic device; and

store the modified product information to the location of the product information.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising a wireless communication channel to facilitate communication between the portable electronic device and the database.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the request includes an identification number of the individual radio frequency identification tagged item.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the database is configured to determine the location of the product information by cross-referencing the identification number to the product information.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the product information includes an available quantity.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the modified product information includes a modified available quantity.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the database is communicatively coupled to a central database that is accessed by a distribution system.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the modified product information is accessed by a second portable electronic device.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the database receives the request from a processor communicatively coupled to the portable electronic device.

18. A machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to:

receive a request from a portable electronic device to access product information associated with an individual radio frequency identification tagged item;

determine a location of the product information in a database;

transmit the product information to the portable electronic device;

receive modified product information associated with the individual radio frequency identification tagged item from the portable electronic device; and

store the modified product information to the location of the product information in the database.

19. The machine readable medium as defined in claim 18, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to configure a wireless communication channel to facilitate communication between the portable electronic device and the database prior to receiving the request.

20. The machine readable medium as defined in claim 18, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to determine the location of the product information in the database by cross-referencing an identification number to the product information.