Apparatus, system, and method for automated item tracking

• US 8,860,572 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Element ID, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Element ID, Inc.
• Inventors: Romaine, John E., Martin, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US14/050,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20140084054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/281 for measuring contour or curvature along an axis, e.g. axial curvature of a pipeline or along a series of feeder rollers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10455 the record carriers being fixed to an endless tape or at least not fixed to further objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Disclosed is an automated item tracking method, comprising the steps of reading an RFID signal, obtaining a reported position of an RFID signal generator, measuring the strength of the read RFID signal, creating a read profile, obtaining a physical package profile, comparing the read profile to the physical package profile, and generating a weighted read profile to estimate an actual position of the RFID signal generator by comparing the weighted read profile with the physical package profile.

Claims

1. An automated item tracking method, comprising the steps of:

reading an RFID signal associated with an item;

obtaining a reported position of the item;

measuring the strength of the read RFID signal;

creating a read profile;

obtaining a physical package profile of the item;

comparing the read profile to the physical package profile;

generating a weighted read profile of the item; and

estimating an actual position of the item by comparing the weighted read profile with the physical package profile.

2. The automated item tracking method of claim 1, wherein the reported position of the item is obtained using an optical package detector.

3. The automated item tracking method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

discarding a data reading that falls outside the physical package profile.

4. The automated item tracking method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

counting the number of discarded data readings.

5. The automated item tracking method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

recording the first time, the last time, and the total number of times an RFID signal is read.

6. The automated item tracking method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

generating a confidence factor,

wherein the confidence factor increases as the difference between the weighted read profile and the physical package profile decreases.

7. The automated tracking method of claim 1, wherein the reported position of the item is obtained using a tachometer.

8. The automated tracking method of claim 1, wherein the reported position of the item is obtained using a barcode reader.

9. The automated tracking method of claim 1, wherein the reported position of the item is obtained using an in-motion scale.

10. The automated tracking method of claim 1, wherein the reported position of the item is obtained using a camera system.

11. The automated tracking method of claim 1, wherein the reported position of the item is obtained using a structured light patterns system.

12. The automated tracking method of claim 1, wherein the reported position of the item is obtained using a dimension detection system.

13. The automated tracking method of claim 1 further comprising:

routing the item along a travel path based on an identity of the item and the estimated actual position of the item.

14. An automated item tracking system, comprising:

means for reading an RFID signal associated with an item;

means for obtaining a reported position of the item;

means for measuring the strength of the read RFID signal;

means for creating a read profile;

means for obtaining a physical package profile of the item;

means for comparing the read profile to the physical package profile;

means for generating a weighted read profile of the item; and

means for estimating an actual position of the item by comparing the weighted read profile with the physical package profile.

15. An automated item tracking system calibration method, comprising the steps of:

running a conveyor at a measurable speed;

placing a package on the conveyor, the package having an RFID signal generator on the package;

reading an RFID signal repeatedly and recording the change in distance of the RFID signal generator;

calculating a package position based on the read RFID signal; and

calculating an offset based on the difference between a known package position and the calculated package position.