Method and apparatus pertaining to installation of an RFID-tag reader system

• US 9,135,481 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• 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: Wilkinson, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US13/803,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.52, 340/10.51, 340/10.5, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/10.3, 340/572.2, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/539.1, 235/487, 235/492, 235/451, 235/385, 700/214, 700/229, 700/225, 700/95, 700/116, 700/213
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10475 arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

One or more RFID-tag readers are operably coupled to one or more RFID-tag reader antennas that are installed to primarily read RFID tags in a given hallway. Accordingly, at least a majority of the area within storage spaces that border the given hallway are without sufficient reader energy to power those RFID tags. Accordingly, many, most, or even all of the items that are stored in the storage space will receive insufficient reader energy to power their corresponding RFID tags.

Claims

1. A method for use with a facility having a plurality of hallways that each have at least one side thereof bordered by storage space for items tagged with corresponding radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and that is accessible from corresponding hallway, the RFID tags each having at least two states with a first state comprising a default state to which the RFID tag defaults when initially powering up and a second state comprising a state to which the RFID tag switches upon having been read, the method comprising:

providing at least one RFID-tag reader;

operably coupling at least two RFID-tag reader antennas to the at least one RFID-tag reader and installing at least one of the RFID-tag reader antennas in a first of the plurality of the hallways and another of the RFID-tag reader antennas in a second of the plurality of the hallways, such that the RFID-tag reader antennas provide effective coverage areas to power the RFID tags within respective hallways where effective coverage areas include both hot spots of higher energy as well as nulls and wherein at least a majority of area within the storage space that borders the first of the plurality of the hallways and the storage space that borders the second of the plurality of the hallways is without sufficient reader energy to power the RFID tags.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein operably coupling at least one RFID-tag reader antenna to the RFID-tag reader comprises operably coupling at least two RFID-tag reader antennas to the RFID-tag reader, and wherein installing the at least one RFID-tag reader antenna comprises installing the at least two RFID-tag reader antennas to both primarily read RFID tags in a given one of at least one hallway.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein installing the at least two RFID-tag reader antennas comprises installing the two RFID-tag reader antennas such that the two RFID-tag reader antennas have overlapping coverage areas and form a combined coverage zone characterized by numerous coverage hot spots and nulls.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the RFID-tag reader antennas that comprise the at least two RFID-tag reader antennas are spaced at least thirty feet apart.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the RFID-tag reader antennas that comprise the at least two RFID-tag reader antennas are spaced approximately fifty feet apart.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the storage space comprises, at least in part, open-front shelving.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the storage space is comprised, at least in part, of electrically-shielding materials.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the open-front shelving is at least thirty-six inches deep.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the hallways are at least thirty feet in length.

10. A apparatus comprising:

a facility having a plurality of hallways that each have at least one side thereof bordered by storage space for items tagged with corresponding radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and that is accessible from corresponding hallway, the RFID tags each having at least two states with a first state comprising a default state to which the RFID tag defaults when initially powering UP and a second state comprising a state to which the RFID tag switches upon having been read;

at least one RFID-tag reader;

at least two RFID-tag reader antennas operably coupled to the at least one RFID-tag reader and installing at least one of the RFID-tag reader antennas in a first of the plurality of the hallways and another of the RFID-tag reader antennas in a second of the plurality of the hallways, such that the RFID-tag reader antennas provide effective coverage areas to power the RFID tags within respective hallways where effective coverage areas include both hot spots of higher energy as well as nulls and wherein at least a majority of area within the storage space that borders the first of the plurality of the hallways and the storage space that borders the second of the plurality of the hallways is without sufficient reader energy to power the RFID tags.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising at least two RFID-tag reader antennas that both operably couple to the RFID-tag reader, wherein both of the at least two RFID-tag reader antennas are configured to both primarily read RFID tags in a given one of at least one hallway.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the two RFID-tag reader antennas have overlapping coverage areas and form a combined coverage zone characterized by numerous coverage hot spots and nulls.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the at least two RFID-tag reader antennas are spaced at least thirty feet apart.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least two RFID-tag reader antennas are spaced approximately fifty feet apart.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the storage space comprises, at least in part, open-front shelving.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the storage space is comprised, at least in part, of electrically-shielding materials.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the open-front shelving is at least thirty-six inches deep.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the hallways are at least thirty feet in length.