Method and system using RFID tags for initiation of selected business processes

• US 8,169,303 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hanebeck, Hanns-Christian Leemon
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US11/741,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20080266095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.5, 340/572.1, 340/10.51, 340/10.41, 340/10.3, 340/572.4
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• 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

Abstract

A system and related methods for dynamically re-configuring a radio frequency identification tag reader, engaging software business processes, or combinations of both, using a radio-frequency-readable configuration tag which physically associated with one or more RFID-tagged articles in a physical handling flow. The configuration tag reader is positioned prior to a radio frequency identification tag reader in said material handling flow, which allows the configuration reader to read the contents of the configuration tags before the articles reach the identification tag reader. Based on the contents of the read configuration tags, one or more selected business processes are initiated to customize the handling process of the tagged items.

Claims

1. A system for initiation of selected businesses processes in a real-time flow of material handling, the system comprising:

a configuration tag which is readable by radio frequency signals, the configuration tag being physically associated with one or more articles in a flow to handle an article which is physical, the configuration tag storing and selectively transmitting a configuration control parameter, the articles having at least one identification tag which is readable by radio frequency signals;

a proximity detector having an output signal indicating presence of a user in an area of the flow;

a configuration tag reader positioned prior to an identification tag reader in the flow reading the configuration control parameter responsive to the article passing the configuration tag reader; and

a commander receiving the configuration control parameters from the configuration tag reader, and, responsive to the output signal, engaging a computer-based business process according to the configuration control parameters, and the commander automatically issuing a hardware configuration change command to the identification tag reader to reduce transmission power of the configuration tag reader while the presence of a user is detected.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the configuration tag is physically associated with a container for a plurality of articles, and wherein each of the plurality of articles is provided an identification tag.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander engages a quality control business process.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander engages a quality traceability process.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander engages a theft prevention process.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander engages a hazardous materials handling process.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander engages a document generator.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7 wherein document generator is generates one or more documents selected from the group consisting of an electronic mail message, an electronic text message, a human readable report, and a computer readable report.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hardware configuration change command further comprises one or more commands selected from the group consisting of a position adjustment for an antenna of the identification tag reader, a speed of travel control of a material handler for the handling flow, a polarization option of an antenna of the identification tag reader, and enabling video surveillance of an area of handling of the articles.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the proximity detector commander comprises one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of a motion sensor, a weight-sensitive floor mat, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, and a touch sensor.

16. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hardware configuration change command further comprises one or more commands selected from the group consisting of a position adjustment for an antenna of the identification tag reader, a speed of travel control of a material handler for the handling flow, a polarization option of an antenna of the identification tag reader, and enabling video surveillance of an area of handling of the articles.

11. A method for initiation of selected businesses processes in a real-time flow of material handling, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a configuration tag reader positioned prior to an identification tag reader in a flow for handling an article which is physical;

reading via radio frequency by the configuration tag reader a configuration control parameter from a configuration tag responsive to the article passing in the flow, wherein the configuration tag is physically associated with the article;

receiving an output signal from a proximity detector indicating presence of a user in an area of the flow;

receiving by a commander the configuration control parameters from the configuration tag reader;

responsive to the output signal from the proximity detector, selecting by a commander a computer-based business process according to the configuration control parameter; and

engaging by a commander the selected business process, and automatically issuing by the commander a hardware configuration change command to the identification tag reader to reduce transmission power of the configuration tag reader while the presence of a user is detected.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein configuration tag is associated with a container for a plurality of articles, and wherein each of the articles in the container is provided with an identification tag.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the step of selecting a business processes comprises selecting one or more business processes from the group consisting of a quality control business process, an article traceability process, a theft prevention process, and a hazardous materials handling process.

14. The method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising selecting and engaging by the commander a document generator according to the configuration control parameter.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the step of engaging a document generator comprises generating one or more documents selected from the group consisting of an electronic mail message, an electronic text message, a human readable report, and a computer readable report.

17. A computer-readable storage memory device encoded with executable program instructions for initiation of a businesses process in a flow of material handling, the computer program product comprising:

a memory device which is computer readable and tangible storage;

program instructions, stored by the memory device, to read via radio frequency by a configuration tag reader a configuration control parameter from a configuration tag responsive to a article passing in a flow of article handling, wherein the configuration tag is physically associated with the article, and wherein the configuration tag reader is positioned prior to an identification tag reader in the flow for handling an article which is physical;

program instructions, stored by the memory device, to receive an output signal from a proximity detector indicating presence of a user in an area of the flow;

program instructions, stored by the memory device, to receive the configuration control parameters from the configuration tag reader;

program instructions, stored by the memory device, to, responsive to the output signal from the proximity detector, select a computer-based business process according to the configuration control parameter; and

program instructions, stored by the memory device, to engage the selected business process, the engaged business process comprising at least automatically issuing by the commander a hardware configuration change command to the identification tag reader to reduce transmission power of the configuration tag reader while the presence of a user is detected.