RFID-based inventory monitoring systems and methods with self-adjusting operational parameters
First Claim
1. A method for maintaining information representing an inventory of articles, the method comprising the steps of:
- maintaining information reflecting a current inventory of the articles;
receiving radio frequency identification (RFID) tag identifying information from an RFID tag reader, wherein the RFID tag identifying information identifies any RFID tags that responded to an RFID tag interrogation signal from the RFID tag reader during an inventory polling operation; and
adjusting an operational parameter based on an analysis of the RFID tag identifying information;
wherein the operational parameter is selected from a group consisting of a missing article detection threshold, and a variable polling parameter that defines one or more polling parameters selected from a group consisting of a time at which the RFID tag reader is to perform a next inventory polling operation, a duration of the next inventory polling operation, an identification of one or more antennas to be activated during the next inventory polling operation, and one or more antenna activation durations for the next inventory polling operation;
wherein the operational parameter is the variable polling parameter, and wherein the step of adjusting the operational parameter comprises determining, in response to an occurrence of a triggering event, an adjustment to the variable polling parameter, wherein the triggering event is selected from a group consisting of an occurrence of a temporal event, and a determination that an inventory change compares unfavorably to a threshold.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inventory monitoring controller maintains information reflecting a current inventory of articles based on radio frequency identification (RFID) tag identifying information received from one or more RFID tag readers in the context of inventory polling operations. In an embodiment, the controller also adjusts an operational parameter (e.g., a missing article detection threshold or a variable polling parameter) based on an analysis of the RFID tag identifying information. For example, a variable polling parameter may be adjusted in response to an occurrence of a triggering event (e.g., an inventory change indicated by the RFID tag identifying information or an occurrence of a temporal event), and a missing article detection threshold may be adjusted based on historical information relating to the detection of (or failure to detect) a particular RFID tag.
55 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for maintaining information representing an inventory of articles, the method comprising the steps of:
-
maintaining information reflecting a current inventory of the articles; receiving radio frequency identification (RFID) tag identifying information from an RFID tag reader, wherein the RFID tag identifying information identifies any RFID tags that responded to an RFID tag interrogation signal from the RFID tag reader during an inventory polling operation; and adjusting an operational parameter based on an analysis of the RFID tag identifying information; wherein the operational parameter is selected from a group consisting of a missing article detection threshold, and a variable polling parameter that defines one or more polling parameters selected from a group consisting of a time at which the RFID tag reader is to perform a next inventory polling operation, a duration of the next inventory polling operation, an identification of one or more antennas to be activated during the next inventory polling operation, and one or more antenna activation durations for the next inventory polling operation; wherein the operational parameter is the variable polling parameter, and wherein the step of adjusting the operational parameter comprises determining, in response to an occurrence of a triggering event, an adjustment to the variable polling parameter, wherein the triggering event is selected from a group consisting of an occurrence of a temporal event, and a determination that an inventory change compares unfavorably to a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for maintaining information representing an inventory of articles, the method comprising the steps of:
-
performing a plurality of inventory polling operations using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader, wherein each of the inventory polling operations includes the RFID tag reader transmitting an RFID tag interrogation signal and transmitting RFID tag identifying information to a remote processing system that identifies any RFID tags that respond to the RFID tag interrogation signal, and wherein a time at which the RFID tag reader is to perform a next inventory polling operation of the plurality of inventory polling operations is defined by a variable polling parameter; obtaining information indicating an adjustment to the variable polling parameter in response to an occurrence of a triggering event selected from a group consisting of an inventory change indicated by the RFID tag identifying information and an occurrence of a temporal event; updating the variable polling parameter in response to obtaining the information indicating the adjustment; and wherein; when the inventory change compares unfavorably with a first threshold, the step of updating the variable polling parameter causes the RFID tag reader to perform the next inventory polling operation at an earlier time than a time defined by a previous version of the variable polling parameter; and when the inventory change compares unfavorably with a second threshold, the step of updating the variable polling parameter causes the RFID tag reader to perform the next inventory polling operation at a later time than the time defined by the previous version of the variable polling parameter.
-
-
13. An inventory monitoring system comprising:
-
a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader configured to perform a plurality of inventory polling operations, wherein each of the inventory polling operations includes the RFID tag reader transmitting an RFID tag interrogation signal and transmitting RFID tag identifying information to an inventory monitoring controller, wherein the RFID tag identifying information identifies any RFID tags that respond to the RFID tag interrogation signal; and the inventory monitoring controller configured to maintain information reflecting a current inventory, to receive the RFID tag identifying information from the RFID tag reader, and to adjust an operational parameter based on an analysis of the RFID tag identifying information; wherein the operational parameter is selected from a group consisting of a missing article detection threshold, and a variable polling parameter that defines one or more polling parameters selected from a group consisting of a time at which the RFID tag reader is to perform a next inventory polling operation, a duration of the next inventory polling operation, an identification of one or more antennas to be activated during the next inventory polling operation, and one or more antenna activation durations for the next inventory polling operation; wherein the operational parameter is the variable polling parameter, and wherein the inventory monitoring controller is configured to adjust the operational parameter by determining, in response to an occurrence of a triggering event, an adjustment to the variable polling parameter, wherein the triggering event is selected from a group consisting of an occurrence of a temporal event, and a determination that an inventory change from the current inventory, which is calculated based on the RFID tag identifying information, compares unfavorably to a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification