Method and apparatus pertaining to the use of group RFID tag information

• US 9,123,016 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Nicholaus A., Wilkinson, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/826,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.32, 340/5.92, 340/572.1, 340/8.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A plurality of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags for corresponding items are read as a group to provide corresponding group information. This group information is used to determine whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory. If desired, a confidence rating as corresponds to this determination can be determined and even displayed. These teachings can then provide for assigning a physical location within a given facility to each of at least some of these items based upon that determination. And again, if desired, a corresponding confidence rating can be determined and displayed as appropriate.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

reading a plurality of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags for corresponding items as a group to provide corresponding group information;

using the group information to determine whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory;

assigning a physical location within a given facility to each of at least some of the items where those items are destined to be placed based upon the determination regarding whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein reading the plurality of RFID tags includes causing the plurality of RFID tags to revert to a quiet inventory state.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the quiet inventory state comprises a B inventory state as specified by a standard denoted as EPC Radio-Frequency Identity Protocols Class-1 Generation-2 UHF RFID Protocol for Communications at 860 MHz-960 MHz Version 1.0.9.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein using the group information to determine whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory comprises also using information regarding relative contents of at least one pre-stocked retail display.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein also using information regarding relative contents of at least one pre-stocked retail display comprises also using information regarding relative contents of a plurality of different pre-stocked retail displays.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein using the group information to determine whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory comprises using the group information to determine whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory or not-loose inventory.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a confidence rating as corresponds to the assignment of the physical location.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining the confidence rating as a function, at least in part, of previous RFID-tag audits conducted, at least in part, using at least one of;

a handheld RFID-tag reader;

a handheld optical-code scanner;

camera/video equipment.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the given facility comprises a retail sales facility.

10. A method comprising:

reading a plurality of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags for corresponding items as a group to provide corresponding group information;

using the group information to determine whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory; and

determining a confidence rating as corresponds to the determinations regarding whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

displaying the confidence rating.

12. An apparatus comprising:

at least one radio-frequency identification (RFID)-tag reader configured to read a plurality of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags for corresponding items as a group to provide corresponding group information;

a control circuit operably coupled to the at least one RFID-tag reader and configured to use the group information to determine whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory and to assign a physical location within a given facility to each of at least some of the items based upon the determination regarding whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control circuit is configured to use the group information to determine whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventor by also using information regarding relative contents of at least one pre-stocked retail display.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the control circuit is configured to also use information regarding relative contents of at least one pre-stocked retail display by also using information regarding relative contents of a plurality of different pre-stocked retail displays.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control circuit is configured to use the group information to determine whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory by using the group information to determine whether at least some of the corresponding items are loose inventory or not-loose inventory.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control circuit is configured to determine a confidence rating as corresponds to the assignment of the physical location.