Radio frequency identification method and system of distributing products

• US 8,231,053 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2011
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Original Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Inventors: Linton, William A., Linton, John, Krueger, Julia E., Dearing, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/101,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20110234371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/381, 235/382, 705/22, 705/2, 340/568.1, 340/572
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• 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: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for vending products from a defined area, such as a micro-warehouse with a door. The method includes fitting each product with a radio frequency identification tag, positioning the plurality of products in a micro-warehouse, sensing opening and closing of the micro-warehouse door, scanning the plurality of products in the micro-warehouse upon sensing closing of the door to determine the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, generating a message based on the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, transmitting the message to a remote processor or server, and maintaining an inventory in the remote processor based on the message. The system is designed to be accessed by authorized individuals possessing some type of code or identifying mechanism. The micro-warehouses may be cabinets, refrigerators, secured rooms, or similar storage units or areas.

Claims

1. An inventory comparison system comprising:

a commerce server for tracking RFID tagged products; and

a storage container enterprise application for maintaining an inventory of RFID tagged products, the enterprise application configured to identify movement of the RFID tagged products in and out of a storage container,

wherein the storage container enterprise application is configured to perform a plurality of functions selected from the group consisting of controlling an arrangement of RFID user badges, managing communication sessions with a storage container, maintaining an inventory of products for the storage container, checking inventory of the storage container prior to product ordering, managing security of communications, providing system administrative functionality, and monitoring and maintaining health of the storage container.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein information related to the movement of the RFID tagged products is communicated to the commerce server by the storage container enterprise application, the information being available for marketing and inventory functions.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the commerce server includes a module selected from the group consisting of a registration module, an order history module, an account set-up module, and a stock-request module.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the module is maintained for the storage container.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes a registration module which provides location information for the storage container.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes an order history module which stores the history of orders for the storage container.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes an order history module which stores the product preferences for the storage container.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes an account set-up module which provides at least one of administrative payment authorization and user information.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes a stock request module which controls inventory replenishment in response to at least one of usage and a customer request.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the storage container includes a controller having an RFID user sensing system and a radio frequency data collector inventory interface.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein RFID signatures of the RFID tagged products are accessed by the controller.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein each RFID tagged product is associated with an individual RFID tag.

13. A method for inventory comparison, comprising:

tracking RFID tagged products using a commerce server;

maintaining an inventory of RFID tagged products using a storage container enterprise application, where the enterprise application is configured to identify movement of the RFID tagged products in and out of a storage container;

performing a plurality of functions using the storage container enterprise application, wherein the plurality of functions is selected from the group consisting of;

controlling an arrangement of RFID user badges, managing communication sessions with a storage container, maintaining an inventory of products for the storage container, checking inventory of the storage container prior to product ordering, managing security of communications, providing system administrative functionality, and monitoring and maintaining health of the storage container.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising communicating information related to the movement of the RFID tagged products to the commerce server using the storage container enterprise application, the information being available for marketing and inventory functions.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the commerce server includes a module selected from the group consisting of a registration module, an order history module, an account set-up module, and a stock-request module.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising maintaining the module for the storage container.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes a registration module, the method further comprising providing location information for the storage container using the registration module.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes an order history module, the method further comprising storing the history of orders for the storage container using the order history module.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes an order history module, the method further comprising storing the product preferences for the storage container using the order history module.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes an account set-up module, the method further comprising providing at least one of administrative payment authorization and user information using the account set-up module.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the storage container enterprise application includes a stock request module, the method further comprising controlling inventory replenishment in response to at least one of usage and a customer request using the stock request module.

22. The method according to claim 13, wherein the storage container includes a controller having an RFID user sensing system and a radio frequency data collector inventory interface.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising accessing RFID signatures of the RFID tagged products using the controller.

24. The method according to claim 13, further comprising associating each RFID tagged product with an individual RFID tag.