RFID reader enclosure and man-o-war RFID reader system

• US 8,258,961 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2011
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Original Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Inventors: Phillips, Travis A., Tinnell, Kenneth Andrew, Salvo, Adam, Doeden, Robert Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/226,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20110315766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 235/385, 700/225
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An apparatus including an enclosure for an RFID reader to be affixed to a storage container; an RFID reader that scans a first storage container using a first antenna and a second storage container using a second antenna; and a networked system of RFID apparatuses including a primary RFID apparatus and secondary RFID apparatuses that are controlled by the primary RFID apparatus.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising:

a storage container having a plurality of walls;

an RFID antenna coupled to the storage container and sending RF signals to at least one RFID tag within the storage container;

an RFID reader interfacing with the RFID antenna to send RF signals and process responses received back from the at least one RFID tag;

a human-machine interface for control of the RFID reader, the human-machine interface authenticating a user seeking access to the storage container and including a display screen to display an advertisement targeted to the user.

2. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the storage container includes a lockable door, and wherein the human-machine interface sends a signal to unlock the door of the storage container in response to authenticating the user.

3. The storage system of claim 2, wherein the human-machine interface instructs the RFID reader to perform an RFID scan in response to a user closing the door and calculates a difference between an RFID scan result returned by the RFID reader and an earlier RFID scan result returned by the RFID reader to determine if any RFID tags have been removed from or added to the storage compartment.

4. The storage system of claim 3, wherein the earlier RFID scan result is obtained before the door is opened.

5. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the human-machine interface is coupled to the storage container.

6. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the human-machine interface is remotely disposed from the storage container.

7. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the display screen includes an LCD touchscreen.

8. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is targeted to the user based upon a user transaction history.

9. The storage system of claim 8, wherein the advertisement is targeted to the user further based upon a sales promotion.

10. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is targeted to the user based upon a purchase request.

11. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the human machine interface further displays a non-targeted advertisement between periods of use.

12. A method of operating a storage system that includes a cabinet having a plurality of walls and a door surrounding an interior cavity, an RFID antenna coupled to the cabinet, an RFID reader operably connected to the RFID antenna, and a human-machine interface configured for user control of the RFID reader, the method comprising:

providing at least one item within the interior cavity, the at least one item including an RFID tag;

entering a user identifier via the human-machine interface;

entering a user request, via the human-machine interface, for the at least one item;

scanning the RFID tag with the RFID reader; and

displaying an advertisement on a display screen of the human machine interface.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising targeting the advertisement to the user based on the user identification.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising targeting the advertisement to the user based further on a current user request.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising targeting the advertisement to the user based further on a past user request.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising communicating an RFID scanning result to an inventory database.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising

instructing the RFID reader, via the human-machine interface, to perform an RFID scan in response to a user closing the door;

calculating a difference between an RFID scan result returned by the RFID reader and an earlier RFID scan result returned by the RFID reader; and

determining if any RFID tags have been removed from or added to the storage compartment.

18. A storage system comprising:

a plurality of storage towers, each storage tower including

a discrete housing;

a first cabinet having a plurality of walls and a door surrounding a first interior cavity;

a compartment disposed adjacent a wall of the first cabinet; and

a first antenna disposed within the first cabinet and operable to scan RFID tags stored within the first interior cavity;

a first RFID reader disposed within the compartment of a first storage tower of the plurality of storage towers, the first RFID reader configured to perform RFID reading via the first antenna of at least the first storage tower;

a second RFID reader disposed within the compartment of a second storage tower of the plurality of storage towers, the second RFID reader operable to perform RFID reading via the first antenna of at least the second storage tower; and

a human-machine interface for receiving a user request and for user control of the first RFID reader and the second RFID, the human-machine interface including a display screen and operable to display an advertisement targeted to the user.

19. The storage system of claim 18, wherein the human-machine interface further communicates via a network connection with an inventory management system.

20. The storage system of claim 19, wherein said human-machine interface controls said first RFID reader to perform plural RFID scans, obtains a first RFID scanning result in accordance with the plural RFID scans by said first RFID reader, control said second RFID reader to perform plural RFID scans, obtains a second RFID scanning result in accordance with the plural scans by said second RFID reader, and communicates with the inventory management system in accordance with the first RFID scanning result and the second RFID scanning result.