Mobile data storage device reader having both radiofrequency and barcode scanners

• US 8,016,194 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Imation Corporation (Glassbridge Enterprises, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hause, Curtis B., Gupta, Sanjay, Rothermel, Stephen J., Gregg, Jody L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US12/074,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20090224039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/384, 235/462.01, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers

Abstract

A mobile reader configured to compile a list of data storage devices for transport includes an interface electrically coupled to circuitry modules including RFID scanning circuitry configured to read a unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices, and barcode scanning circuitry configured to read the unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices. The barcode scanning circuitry communicates with the RFID scanning circuitry. The interface includes a user operable function that enables selectively reading the unique storage device identifier with one of the RFID scanning circuitry or the barcode scanning circuitry to compile a scan list of in-transit data storage devices.

Claims

1. A mobile reader configured to compile a list of data storage devices for transport, the mobile reader comprising:

an interface electrically coupled to circuitry modules including;

RFID scanning circuitry configured to read a unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices, and

barcode scanning circuitry configured to read the unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices, the barcode scanning circuitry communicating with the RFID scanning circuitry;

wherein the interface comprises a user operable function that enables selectively reading the unique storage device identifier with one of the RFID scanning circuitry and the barcode scanning circuitry to compile a scan list of in-transit data storage devices and wherein the user operable function comprises a binary input option displayed on the interface.

2. The mobile reader of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing maintaining an RFID scanning circuitry module and a barcode scanning circuitry module, the housing comprising a display platform including the interface comprising the user operable function and a handle extending from the display platform, the handle including a trigger configured to initiate scanning with one of the RFID scanning circuitry module and the barcode scanning circuitry module.

3. The mobile reader of claim 2, wherein the unique storage device identifier comprises a separate VOLSER number for each of the data storage devices and activation of the trigger is further configured to initialize a tag of each of the data storage devices with an encoded data string that comprises the VOLSER number.

4. The mobile reader of claim 3, wherein upon initialization the barcode scanning circuitry iteratively inputs at least the separate VOLSER number for each data storage device to the RFID scanning circuitry and the RFID scanning circuitry writes the encoded data string including the separate VOLSER number for each data storage device to a respective tag of each data storage device.

5. The mobile reader of claim 1, wherein the interface operates software comprising a locate function, the locate function configured to continuously scan and read VOLSER numbers from RFID tags of the data storage devices, compare the read VOLSER numbers to a VOLSER number of interest, and issue an alert upon finding the VOLSER number of interest.

6. A data storage device tracing system comprising:

a data storage device including a housing enclosing data storage media and a tag coupled to the housing; and

a mobile reader including;

an RFID scanner configured to read a unique storage device identifier from the tag and input the storage device identifier into a scan list of in-transit data storage devices,

a barcode scanner configured to read the storage device identifier from the tag and input the storage device identifier into the scan list of in-transit data storage devices, and

an interface comprising a user operable function that enables selectively reading the unique storage device identifier with one of the RFID scanner and the barcode scanner to compile a scan list of in-transit data storage devices and wherein the user operable function comprises a binary input option displayed on the interface;

wherein the mobile reader is configured to select between the RFID scanner and the barcode scanner in compiling the scan list of in-transit data storage devices.

7. The data storage device tracing system of claim 6, wherein the RFID scanner is operably linked to the barcode scanner.

8. The data storage device tracing system of claim 6, wherein the tag comprises an RFID inlay and an optical label disposed on the RFID inlay, the RFID inlay including an RFID chip and the optical label including a barcode.

9. The data storage device tracing system of claim 8, wherein the storage device identifier comprises a unique VOLSER number for each data storage device and the mobile reader is configured to initialize the RFID chip with at least a portion of the storage device identifier.

10. The data storage device tracing system of claim 9, wherein the barcode scanner is configured to read the storage device identifier from the barcode and communicate the VOLSER number to the RFID scanner, and the RFID scanner is configured to write an encoded data string including the VOLSER number to the RFID chip.

11. The data storage device tracing system of claim 9, comprising multiple data storage devices, and the mobile reader comprises a locate function that is configured to continuously scan and read each VOLSER number, compare the read VOLSER number to a separate VOLSER number of interest, and issue an alert upon finding the VOLSER number of interest.

12. A method of identifying data storage devices for transport, the method comprising:

reading a unique storage device identifier for each data storage device in transit, wherein reading comprises one of;

RF scanning an RFID tag coupled to each data storage device in transit;

barcode scanning a barcode coupled to each data storage device in transit; and

compiling a list of the storage device identifiers for each data storage device in transit, the method further comprising;

locating a misplaced data storage device by recording a misplaced data storage device identifier;

continuously reading a storage device identifier from each one of a plurality of data storage devices; and

comparing the misplaced data storage device identifier with the read storage device identifier from each one of the plurality of data storage devices.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein recording a misplaced data storage device identifier comprises manually entering a misplaced data storage device identifier into a watch list.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein recording a misplaced data storage device identifier comprises importing a misplaced data storage device identifier into a watch list.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein importing a misplaced data storage device identifier into a watch list comprises one of barcode scanning and importing text of a misplaced data storage device identifier into a watch list.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

initializing the RFID tag coupled to each data storage device in transit.

17. A method of identifying data storage devices for transport, the method comprising:

reading a unique storage device identifier for each data storage device in transit, wherein reading comprises one of;

RF scanning an RFID tag coupled to each data storage device in transit;

barcode scanning a barcode coupled to each data storage device in transit; and

compiling a list of the storage device identifiers for each data storage device in transit, the method further comprising;

importing the compiled list of the storage device identifiers into tracking software of an electronic data storage device tracing system;

comparing the compiled list with a list of expected data storage devices in transit; and

reconciling the compiled list with the list of expected data storage devices in transit.

18. A method of identifying data storage devices for transport, the method comprising:

reading a unique storage device identifier for each data storage device in transit, wherein reading comprises one of;

RF scanning an RFID tag coupled to each data storage device in transit;

barcode scanning a barcode coupled to each data storage device in transit; and

compiling a list of the storage device identifiers for each data storage device in transit, the method further comprising;

initializing the RFID tag coupled to each data storage device in transit,

wherein initializing the RFID tag comprises;

barcode scanning the storage device identifier from each data storage device in transit;

passing the storage device identifier from barcode scanning circuitry to RFID scanning circuitry; and

writing an encoded data string including a VOLSER number unique to each data storage device in transit to the RFID tag with the barcode scanning circuitry.

19. A mobile reader configured to compile a list of data storage devices, the mobile reader comprising:

an interface electrically coupled to circuitry modules including;

RFID scanning circuitry configured to read a unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices, and

barcode scanning circuitry configured to read the unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices, the barcode scanning circuitry communicating with the RFID scanning circuitry;

wherein the interface comprises a user operable function that enables selectively reading the unique storage device identifier with one of the RFID scanning circuitry and the barcode scanning circuitry to compile a scan list of data storage devices and wherein the user operable function comprises a binary input option displayed on the interface.