Dynamic control containment unit

• US 8,547,203 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2011
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mobile Aspects
• Original Assignee: Mobile Aspects
• Inventors: Sriharto, Timur, Rahim, Muhammad, Kardono, Pribadi, Mandava, Suneil, Le, Khang
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY III, EDWIN C
• Application Number:
  US13/158,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.7, 340/5.73, 340/10.42, 340/8.1, 340/572.7, 340/568.1, 340/5.9, 340/5.91, 340/10.1, 235/383
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• 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: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2457 Lending systems using EAS tags wherein the tags are reusable, e.g. they can be activated and deactivated more than once, e.g. for a library
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit

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.

Claims

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.

2. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 1, wherein the transponder input mechanism is a badge worn by the user.

3. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 1, wherein the housing is in the form of a cabinet having the plurality of receptacles therein, wherein the securement system provides selective access to each of the plurality of receptacles.

4. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 1, wherein the housing is in the form of a mobile cart having the plurality of receptacles therein.

5. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna mechanism comprises a plurality of antenna mechanisms positioned on or integrated with a respective surface within the housing.

6. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna mechanism comprises at least two antenna mechanisms positioned on or integrated with a respective surface and dedicated to receiving signals emanating from an assigned inner area.

7. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a multiplexor mechanism in communication with the at least one antenna mechanism and configured to provide an output signal corresponding to the signal received by the at least one antenna mechanism;

a signal reader mechanism in communication with the multiplexor mechanism and configured to provide an output signal corresponding to the signal received by the multiplexor mechanism; and

an input/output mechanism in communication with the multiplexor mechanism and the signal reader mechanism and configured to translate at least one output signal into at least one digital output signal,

wherein the central control device is in communication with the input/output mechanism and is configured to receive, process, and transmit signals and initiate an action based upon the at least one digital output signal received from the input/output mechanism.

8. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 1, wherein the signal emitted from the at least one transponder includes a characteristic unique to a group, set, or other association of multiple items.

9. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 1, further comprising a display mechanism in communication with the central control device and configured to include content representing at least one of the following:

one or more actions initiated by the central control device, a use history, an item history, a user history, user data, item data, inventory data, shelf data, control containment unit data, a shelf inventory, a control containment unit inventory, an updated inventory, or any combination thereof.

10. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 1, wherein the input mechanism comprises a recognition signal configured to receive initial input signals corresponding to the plurality of items.

11. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 1, further comprising a door that is connected to a portion of the housing, such that the door can be opened and closed with respect to the housing.

12. A dynamic control containment unit for holding a plurality of discrete items, 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;

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.

13. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 12, wherein the plurality of receptacles comprise a plurality of drawers slidable with respect to the housing, such that the receptacles may be slid open, thereby providing access to the at least one item contained in the receptacles.

14. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 12, wherein the at least one antenna is positioned immediately adjacent the at least one receptacle and dedicated to receiving signals emanating from an assigned receptacle.

15. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 12, wherein the controller comprises:

a multiplexor mechanism in communication with the at least one antenna and configured to provide an output signal corresponding to the signal received by the at least one antenna;

a signal reader mechanism in communication with the multiplexor mechanism and configured to provide an output signal corresponding to the signal received by the multiplexor mechanism;

an input/output mechanism in communication with at least one of the multiplexor mechanism and the signal reader mechanism and configured to translate at least one output signal into at least one digital output signal; and

a central control device in communication with the input/output mechanism and configured to receive, process and transmit signals and initiate an action based upon the at least one digital output signal received from the input/output mechanism.

16. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 15, wherein the controller includes a power control module in communication with the input/output mechanism and configured to provide specified power outputs at specified power levels.

17. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 12, further comprising a switch mechanism in operable communication with the at least one receptacle of the plurality of receptacles, such that, when the at least one receptacle is moved away from the switch mechanism, a signal is transmitted to the controller, which instructs the at least one antenna to begin reading a signal emanating from the at least one transponder.

18. The dynamic control containment unit of claim 12, further comprising a display mechanism in communication with the controller and configured to provide a visual display to a user corresponding to one of an action initiated by the controller, a use history, an item history, a user history, user data, item data, inventory data, receptacle data, control containment unit data, a receptacle inventory, and a control containment unit inventory.

19. A method of determining an inventory of a dynamic control containment unit holding a plurality of discrete items, comprising:

(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.