Method and system using RFID tags for system re-configuration

• US 8,207,828 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hanebeck, Hanns-Christian Leemon
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US11/741,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20080266094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.51, 340/10.41, 340/10.3, 340/572.4
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; 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 configuration tags, the identification tag reader can be re-configured dynamically, such as re-positioning a reader antenna or adjusting reader power levels, and specific business processes can be executed, such as triggering special reporting, surveillance, or handling procedures, specific business processes may be initiated, document generators may be engaged, or a combination of these actions may be performed.

Claims

1. A system for configuring a radio frequency identification tag reader comprising:

a radio-frequency-readable configuration tag physically associated with one or more physical articles in a physical article handling system, the configuration tag storing one or more configuration control parameters, each of the one or more physical articles having at least one radio-frequency-readable identification tag;

a user-proximity detector to detect two or more user presence indicators selected from the group consisting of user movement detector, user weight detector, an electronic eye beam, and a user temperature detector;

a configuration tag reader positioned in a flow of physical articles of the physical article handling system to read the one or more configuration control parameters from the configuration tag reader before the one or more physical articles pass a position of the identification tag reader in the flow; and

a commander configured to receive the one or more configuration control parameters from the configuration tag reader, and to command a change in one or more hardware configuration options of the physical article handling system, wherein the change comprises commanding a slowing of speed of a conveyor portion of the physical article handling system responsive to detection of a user in proximity to the flow by the user-proximity detector, and responsive to no detection of a user in proximity to the flow, increasing of speed of the conveyor portion.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander is further configured to engage at least one computer-based business process according to the one or more read configuration control parameters.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander is further configured to engage at least one document generator according to the one or more read configuration control parameters.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the configuration tag is associated with a physical container holding the one or more physical articles.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander is configured to command a servo motor to make a position adjustment for an antenna of the identification tag reader according to the one or more read configuration control parameters.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander is configured to command a radio signal power level for an antenna of the said identification tag reader according to the oen or more read configuration control parameters.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander further commands, responsive to detection of a user in the proximity, changing an antenna power level of the identification tag reader.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander further commands, responsive to detection of a user in the proximity, engaging a hazardous material handling business process.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander is configured to command a polarization option of an antenna of the identification tag reader.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander is configured to command a video monitor subsystem to surveil an area of handling of the one or more physical articles.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the radio-frequency-readable configuration tag and one of the at least one radio-frequency-readable identification tags are integral with each other.

12. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander is further configured to send an electronic notification of receiving the one or more configuration control parameters.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the electronic notification comprises a notification selected from the group consisting of an electronic mail message, an electronic text message, a human readable report, and a computer readable report.

14. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the commander comprises one or more sensor inputs for receiving sensor signals from a sensor selected from the group consisting of a motion sensor, a weight-sensitive floor mat, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, a touch sensor, and a humidity sensor, and wherein the commander is further configured to utilize the sensor inputs in order to perform one or more actions selected from the group consisting of commanding a change in a hardware configuration of the identification tag reader, initiating a business process, and engaging a document generator.

15. A method for configuring a radio frequency identification tag reader, the system comprising:

storing one or more configuration control parameters in a radio-frequency-readable configuration tag;

physically associating the radio-frequency-readable configuration tag with one or more physical articles in a physical article handling system, each of the one or more physical articles having at least one radio-frequency-readable identification tag;

providing a configuration tag reader positioned in a flow of physical articles of the physical article handling flow system to read the one or more configuration control parameters from the configuration tag reader before the one or more physical articles pass a position of the identification tag reader in the flow;

detecting by a user-proximity detection device two or more user presence indicators selected from the group consisting of user movement detector, user weight detector, an electronic eye beam, and a user temperature detector;

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

commanding by the commander a change in one or more hardware configuration options in the radio frequency identification tag reader according to the read one or more configuration control parameters, wherein the change comprises slowing a speed of a conveyor portion of the physical article handling system responsive to detection of a user in proximity to the flow by the user-proximity detector, and responsive to no detection of a user in proximity to the flow, increasing of speed of the conveyor portion.

16. A computer program product for controlling a radio frequency identification tag reader, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to receive one or more configuration control parameters from a configuration tag reader;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to receive a detection signal from a user-proximity detector which detects two or more user presence indicators selected from the group consisting of user movement detector, user weight detector, an electronic eye beam, and a user temperature detector;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to retrieve at least one hardware profile according to the one or more received control parameters; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to command a change in one or more hardware configuration options in a radio frequency identification tag reader according to the retrieved at least one hardware profile, wherein the change comprises slowing a speed of a physical article conveyor system responsive to detection of a user in proximity to the flow by the user-proximity detector, and responsive to no detection of a user in proximity to the flow, increasing of speed of the conveyor portion.