Method and apparatus to facilitate setting RFID tags to a particular read state

• US 8,860,557 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilkinson, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/193,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20130027191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 340 101- 106
• US Class Current: 340/10.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves

Abstract

A wireless transmitter is configured to transmit compatibly to RFID tags and a control circuit operably couples to that wireless transmitter and is configured to use the wireless transmitter to transmit to those RFID tags a message to cause the RFID tags to have a particular read state without also soliciting a corresponding response from any of those RFID tags. For example, this can comprise causing RFID tags having a B inventory state to switch to an A inventory state (while permitting RFID tags already having an A inventory state to so remain).

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags having selectively changeable read states, the apparatus comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit compatibly to the RFID tags;

a control circuit operably coupled to the wireless transmitter and configured to use the wireless transmitter to transmit to the RFID tags a message to cause the RFID tags to have a particular read state without soliciting a response from any RFID tag, wherein the particular read state specifies, at least in part, whether to respond to a read request.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus lacks any ability to read the RFID tag responses.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a hand-held apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the apparatus has, at least in part, a glove-based form factor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a user-responsive trigger that operably couples to the control circuit and to which the control circuit responds by using the wireless transmitter to transmit to the RFID tags the message to cause the RFID tags to have a particular read state.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a display operably coupled to the control circuit; and

wherein the control circuit is further configured to use the display to present visual information regarding transmissions of the wireless transmitter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a user-input interface operably coupled to the control circuit to permit an end user to select an operating parameter for the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the operating parameter comprises a selection of a particular RFID tag session state.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the particular read state comprises an Electronic Product Code (EPC) Radio-Frequency Identity Protocols Class-1 Generation-2 Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) RFID Protocol for Communications at 860 MHz-960 MHz Version 1.0.9-based read state.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the particular read state consists of one from the group comprising an A inventory state, a B inventory state, and a selected flag (SL) state.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a frequency-hopping wireless transmitter.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein transmitting the message comprises transmitting the message a single time in response to a single transmission instruction.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an apparatus RFID tag having an identifier that correlates to the apparatus and wherein the apparatus RFID tag is responsive to the message.

14. A method for use with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags having selectively changeable read states, the method comprising:

at a control circuit;

using a wireless transmitter to transmit to the RFID tags a message to cause the RFID tags to have a particular read state without soliciting a response from any RFID tag, wherein the particular read state specifies, at least in part, whether to respond to a read request.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

detecting user assertion of a trigger;

and wherein using the wireless transmitter to transmit the message comprises using the wireless transmitter to transmit the message in response to detecting the user assertion of the trigger.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

using a display to present visual information regarding transmissions of the wireless transmitter.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

detecting a user selection of a particular operating parameter; and

wherein using the wireless transmitter to transmit the message comprises modifying the message as a function of the particular operating parameter.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the particular operating parameter comprises a selection of a particular RFID tag session state.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein using a wireless transmitter to transmit the message comprises using a wireless transmitter that is installed at a fixed location.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the fixed location comprises a portal.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the portal comprises a portal that is disposed at least proximal to a point-of-sale station.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein using a wireless transmitter to transmit the message comprises using a wireless transmitter that is installed in conjunction with a receptacle that holds the RFID tags.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the receptacle comprises a wheeled receptacle.