Dynamic control containment unit
First Claim
1. A dynamic control containment unit for holding a plurality of discrete items, comprising:
- a housing including a plurality of receptacles positioned therein and defining an associated inner area;
at least one radio frequency identification transponder associated with each item of the plurality of discrete items and configured to emit a radio frequency signal including a characteristic unique to a specific item or group of items of the plurality of discrete items;
at least one antenna mechanism integrated with at least one surface bounding the inner area and dedicated to receiving signals emanating from an assigned inner area associated with at least one receptacle of the plurality of receptacles, the at least one antenna mechanism configured to receive the radio frequency signals emitted from the at least one transponder, including the characteristic unique to a specific item or group of items, wherein at least one of the plurality of items is positionable within the inner area in any position or orientation, and wherein the at least one item is accessible by accessing the at least one receptacle;
a central control device operatively coupled to the at least one antenna mechanism and configured to receive signals therefrom;
at least one receptacle shielding element associated with each of the plurality of receptacles to prevent signals associated with items positioned in one of the plurality of receptacles from being read by the at least one antenna mechanism when the at least one antenna mechanism is receiving signals emanating from another of the plurality of receptacles;
a housing shielding element associated with the housing to prevent signals emanating from the plurality of receptacles from passing through the housing; and
a securement system comprising;
(a) an automated lock mechanism for preventing unauthorized access to the inner area associated with the plurality of receptacles; and
(b) a radio frequency identification transponder input mechanism configured to communicate with the at least one antenna such that the transponder input mechanism receives and transmits user data from a user of the unit to the central control device, the user data comprising access level data or authorization level data associated with a specified user,wherein the central control device is configured to;
(i) update an inventory database of the plurality of items in the enclosed housing based upon the characteristic unique to a specific item or group of items emitted from the at least one transponder;
(ii) associate the user that has accessed the inner area and/or unit with each item that is added or removed from the inner area and/or unit; and
(iii) provide selective access to the inner area and/or the unit via the securement system, based upon the user data received by the transponder input mechanism.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a dynamic control containment unit for holding a plurality of discrete items, including a signal emitting mechanism associated with each of the plurality of discrete items, an enclosed housing having at least one receptacle accessible by a user and having at least one of the plurality of items contained therein, a passive signal receiving mechanism in communication with the receptacle for receiving signals emanating from the signal emitting mechanism and a securement system configured to prevent unauthorized access to the dynamic control containment unit. A controller is in communication with the signal receiving mechanism and initiates actions based upon the signal content.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A dynamic control containment unit for holding a plurality of discrete items, comprising:
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a housing including a plurality of receptacles positioned therein and defining an associated inner area; at least one radio frequency identification transponder associated with each item of the plurality of discrete items and configured to emit a radio frequency signal including a characteristic unique to a specific item or group of items of the plurality of discrete items; at least one antenna mechanism integrated with at least one surface bounding the inner area and dedicated to receiving signals emanating from an assigned inner area associated with at least one receptacle of the plurality of receptacles, the at least one antenna mechanism configured to receive the radio frequency signals emitted from the at least one transponder, including the characteristic unique to a specific item or group of items, wherein at least one of the plurality of items is positionable within the inner area in any position or orientation, and wherein the at least one item is accessible by accessing the at least one receptacle; a central control device operatively coupled to the at least one antenna mechanism and configured to receive signals therefrom; at least one receptacle shielding element associated with each of the plurality of receptacles to prevent signals associated with items positioned in one of the plurality of receptacles from being read by the at least one antenna mechanism when the at least one antenna mechanism is receiving signals emanating from another of the plurality of receptacles; a housing shielding element associated with the housing to prevent signals emanating from the plurality of receptacles from passing through the housing; and a securement system comprising; (a) an automated lock mechanism for preventing unauthorized access to the inner area associated with the plurality of receptacles; and (b) a radio frequency identification transponder input mechanism configured to communicate with the at least one antenna such that the transponder input mechanism receives and transmits user data from a user of the unit to the central control device, the user data comprising access level data or authorization level data associated with a specified user, wherein the central control device is configured to;
(i) update an inventory database of the plurality of items in the enclosed housing based upon the characteristic unique to a specific item or group of items emitted from the at least one transponder;
(ii) associate the user that has accessed the inner area and/or unit with each item that is added or removed from the inner area and/or unit; and
(iii) provide selective access to the inner area and/or the unit via the securement system, based upon the user data received by the transponder input mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A dynamic control containment unit for holding a plurality of discrete items, comprising:
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at least one radio frequency identification transponder associated with each item of the plurality of discrete items and configured to emit a radio frequency signal including a characteristic unique to a specific item of the plurality of discrete items; an enclosed housing having a plurality of receptacles accessible by a user, at least one of the plurality of items contained therein; at least one antenna in communication with at least one receptacle of the plurality of receptacles and configured to receive the radio frequency signals emitted from the at least one transponder, including the characteristic unique to a specific item; a controller in communication with the at least one antenna and configured to initiate an action based upon the signal content; at least one receptacle shielding element associated with each of the plurality of receptacles to prevent signals associated with items positioned in one of the plurality of receptacles from being read by the at least one antenna when the at least one antenna is receiving signals emanating from another of the plurality of receptacles; a housing shielding element associated with the housin to prevent signals from passing through the housing; and a securement system configured to prevent unauthorized access to the dynamic control containment unit, the securement system comprising; (a) an automated lock mechanism for preventing unauthorized access to the enclosed housing; and (b) a radio frequency identification transponder input mechanism configured to communicate with the at least one antenna such that the transponder input mechanism receives and transmits user data from a user of the unit to the controller, the user data comprising access level data or authorization level data associated with a specified user, wherein the controller is configured to associate the user that has accessed the enclosed housing with each item that is added or removed from the enclosed housing, and provide selective access to the enclosed housing via the securement system, based upon the user data received by the radio frequency identification transponder input mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of determining an inventory of a dynamic control containment unit holding a plurality of discrete items, comprising:
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(a) providing the dynamic control containment unit comprising; at least one radio frequency identification transponder associated with each item of the plurality of discrete items and configured to emit a radio frequency signal including a characteristic unique to a specific item of the plurality of discrete items; an enclosed housing having a plurality of receptacles accessible by a user, at least one of the plurality of items contained therein; at least one antenna in communication with at least one receptacle of the plurality of receptacles and configured to receive the radio frequency signals emitted from the at least one transponder, including the characteristic unique to a specific item; a controller in communication with the at least one antenna and configured to initiate an action based upon the signal content; and a securement system configured to prevent unauthorized access to the dynamic control containment unit; (b) shielding each of the plurality of receptacles at least partially with at least one receptacle shielding element to prevent signals associated with items positioned in one of the plurality of receptacles from being read by the at least one antenna when the at least one antenna is receiving signals emanating from another of the plurality of receptacles; (c) shielding the housing with a housing shielding element to prevent signals emanating from the plurality of receptacles from passing through the housing; (d) transmitting, via a radio frequency identification transponder input mechanism configured to communicate with the at least one antenna, to the controller a user'"'"'s authorization to access the dynamic control containment unit, or any combination thereof; (e) receiving signals at the controller in response to the at least one receptacle being accessed; (f) associating the signals with at least one of the plurality of discrete items; (g) logging the identification of items into an inventory database, thereby providing an inventory of the items; and (h) upon subsequent access, repeat steps (e) - (g), thereby providing an updated inventory of the items.
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Specification