RF point of sale and delivery method and system using communication with remote computer and having features to read a large number of RF tags

• US 8,025,228 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Original Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Inventors: Linton, John, Linton, William A., Krueger, Julia E., Dearing, Michael, Vidugiris, Gediminas
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/980,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20080121700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/383, 235/384, 235/385, 235/375, 920/23
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• 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: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/35 for the management of goods or merchandise
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for providing point-of-sale and point-of-delivery and/or distribution of products in a restricted access unit near the customer. The method and system utilize products equipped with radio frequency tags and reduce the effects of energy sharing, shadowing, and nulls. In one embodiment, a plurality of RF tagged products are placed within a refrigerator, cabinet, or other micro-warehouse that has a door or opening that can detect access to the micro-warehouse. In one embodiment, one or more antennas are positioned within the door. Each antenna may have a transmission line of sight and be configured to emit a signal at predefined frequencies. Each antenna generates an electromagnetic field within the micro-warehouse. In one embodiment, the products are positioned in one or more bins, compartments, or similar devices located within the micro-warehouse such that at least two of the plurality of products are spaced a distance from each other to reduce energy sharing. The electromagnetic field is moved or altered within the micro-warehouse through the use of reflectors, devices that move the antennas, or other mechanisms.

Claims

1. An RFID cabinet for monitoring items having an RFID tag, the cabinet comprising:

a cabinet comprising a back, a first side, a second side, a third side, a bottom and at least one locking door;

an RFID detector for monitoring each item placed within the cabinet and for identifying the data embedded on an RFID tag located on items placed within the cabinet; and

a computer coupled to the RFID cabinet, wherein the computer controls unlocking and locking of the locking door, wherein the computer is configured to receive an input that identifies a user, and wherein the computer is configured to at a plurality of times record data read from the RFID tags by the RFID detector.

2. The RFID cabinet of claim 1, wherein the cabinet is manufactured of a material so that an RFID field produced by the RFID detector is within the interior of the RFID cabinet.

3. The RFID cabinet of claim 1, wherein the RFID detector scans each item placed within the cabinet, such that the RFID cabinet may determine if an item is removed from the interior of the RFID cabinet.

4. The RFID cabinet of claim 1, wherein the computer has a connection chosen from a group comprising Internet and wireless.

5. The RFID cabinet of claim 1, wherein the input that identifies a user is chosen from a group comprising a password, an RFID badge, voice recognition, a mag card, or biometrics.

6. The RFID cabinet of claim 1, wherein the RFID detecting device is coupled to a network, through the computer, wherein a database provides inventory of each of the items placed within the cabinet.

7. The RFID cabinet of claim 6, wherein an inventory control module software enables the RFID detecting device to scan items in the cabinet and to generate a message regarding items taken.

8. The RFID cabinet of claim 1, wherein the means for accessing the RFID cabinet comprises an RFID badge, wherein the locking door of the RFID cabinet unlocks in response to the RFID badge coming into proximity.

9. The RFID cabinet of claim 1, wherein there is a strong enough field within the cabinet such that all items can be read using the RFID detector.

10. A method for removing items having an RFID tag from an RFID cabinet, the method comprising:

providing a cabinet having an RFID detector for monitoring each item placed within the cabinet and for identifying the data embedded on an RFID tag located on each item placed within the cabinet and a computer coupled to the RFID cabinet, wherein the computer controls unlocking and locking of the locking door;

reading an input that identifies a user;

receiving the input that identifies a user at the computer;

unlocking the door to the RFID cabinet if the user is allowed access; and

at a plurality of times scanning all the items in the RFID cabinet to determine if any items have been removed by the user.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising disabling the RFID detector when the door to the RFID cabinet is open.

12. A method for scanning items having an RFID tag in an RFID cabinet, the method comprising:

providing a cabinet having an RFID detector for monitoring each item placed within the cabinet and for identifying the data embedded on an RFID tag located on each item placed within the cabinet and a computer coupled to the RFID cabinet, wherein the computer controls unlocking and locking of the locking door, and wherein the computer is configured to receive an input that identifies a user allows access to the RFID cabinet;

reading the RFID tag associated with an item using an RFID field from the RFID detector; and

recording the resulting information in a database.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising sounding an alert if certain conditions programmed within the memory of the computer are satisfied.

14. An RFID cabinet for monitoring items having an RFID tag, the cabinet comprising:

a cabinet comprising a back, a first side, a second side, a top, a bottom and at least one locking front door;

an RFID detector for monitoring each item placed within the cabinet and for identifying the data embedded on an RFID tag located on items placed within the cabinet, the RFID detector located within the interior of the RFID cabinet; and

a computer coupled to the RFID cabinet, wherein the computer controls unlocking and locking of the locking front door, wherein the computer is configured to receive an input that identifies a user, and wherein the computer is configured to periodically record data read from the RFID tags by the RFID detector.

15. The RFID cabinet of claim 14, wherein the cabinet is manufactured of a material that confines an RFID field produced by the RFID detector within the interior of the RFID cabinet.

16. The RFID cabinet of claim 14, wherein the RFID detector scans each item placed within the cabinet in a time period, such that the RFID cabinet may determine if an item is removed from the interior of the RFID cabinet.

17. The RFID cabinet of claim 16, wherein the time period is a predetermined amount of time.

18. The RFID cabinet of claim 14, wherein the computer has a connection chosen from a group comprising Internet and wireless.

19. The RFID cabinet of claim 14, wherein the input that identifies a user is chosen from a group comprising a password, an RFID badge, a bar code, voice recognition, a mag card, or biometrics.

20. The RFID cabinet of claim 14, wherein the RFID detecting device is coupled to a network, through the computer, wherein a database provides inventory of each of the items placed within the cabinet.

21. The RFID cabinet of claim 20, wherein an inventory control module software enables the RFID detecting device to scan items in the cabinet and to generate a message regarding items taken.

22. The RFID cabinet of claim 14, wherein the means for accessing the RFID cabinet comprises an RFID badge, wherein the locking front door of the RFID cabinet unlocks in response to the RFID badge coming into proximity.

23. The RFID cabinet of claim 14, wherein the material provides a shield sufficient to allow a strong enough field within the cabinet such that all items can be read using the RFID detector.

24. A method for removing items having an RFID tag from an RFID cabinet, the method comprising:

providing a cabinet having an RFID detector for monitoring each item placed within the cabinet and for identifying the data embedded on an RFID tag located on each item placed within the cabinet, the RFID detector located within the interior of the RFID cabinet and a computer coupled to the RFID cabinet, wherein the computer controls unlocking and locking of the locking front door;

reading an input that identifies a user;

receiving the input that identifies a user at the computer;

unlocking the door to the RFID cabinet if the user is allowed access; and

at least periodically scanning all the items in the RFID cabinet to determine if any items have been removed by the user.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising disabling the RFID detector when the door to the RFID cabinet is open.

26. A method for scanning items having an RFID tag in an RFID cabinet, the method comprising:

providing a cabinet having an RFID detector for monitoring each item placed within the cabinet and for identifying the data embedded on an RFID tag located on each item placed within the cabinet, the RFID detector located within the interior of the RFID cabinet and a computer coupled to the RFID cabinet, wherein the computer controls unlocking and locking of the locking front door, and wherein the computer is configured to receive an input that identifies a user allows access to the RFID cabinet;

reading the RFID tag associated with an item using an RFID field from the RFID detector; and

recording the resulting information in a database.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising sounding an alert if certain conditions programmed within the memory of the computer are satisfied.