Dynamic scan context determination for asset reconciliation

• US 9,342,810 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2012
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Plocher, Tom, Vargas, Joseph, Wang, Ynjiun Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aziz, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US13/461,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20130293352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.85, 340/10.1, 340/10.42, 340/572.1, 700/214, 235/385
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1424 Electronic display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/072 the record carrier comprising a plurality of integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0727 the arrangement being a circuit facilitating integration of the record carrier with a hand-held device such as a smart phone of PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• 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: H04B 5/45 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

Asset reconciliation is facilitated by dynamically determining and applying a scan context to asset-describing tag data. Tag data representative of assets are received from RFID tags. A working scan context defining a scope of coverage of assets to be included in an asset reconciliation is dynamically determined based on the received tag data. Additional tag data representative of additional assets are received, and the dynamically determined working scan context is applied to the additional tag data to automatically identifying which assets of the additional assets are to be included in the asset reconciliation. Assets included in the scope of coverage of the working scan context are included in the asset reconciliation, and assets not included in the scope of coverage of the working scan context are not included in the asset reconciliation.

Claims

1. A method for asset reconciliation, comprising:

receiving tag data from a plurality of radio frequency identification tags carrying the tag data, the tag data representative of a plurality of assets;

identifying characteristics about each of the plurality of assets based on at least a portion of each respective tag data;

grouping a first plurality of assets based on a common characteristic of the characteristics of the first plurality of assets identified in each respective tag data;

determining, by at least one processor, a working scan context based on a number of the first plurality of assets having the common characteristic;

receiving additional tag data from one or more additional radio frequency identification tags carrying the additional tag data, the additional tag data representative of one or more additional assets and including at least one characteristic of the one or more additional assets;

applying the determined working scan context to the additional tag data from the one or more additional radio frequency identification tags, the applying automatically identifying which assets of the one or more additional assets are to be included in the working context when the common characteristic is included within the additional tag data of the one or more additional assets; and

dynamically switching the working scan context to a different working scan context, based on tag data received from further radio frequency identification tags, the dynamically switching being responsive to satisfying a condition for switching the working scan context.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein responsive to the tag data of another radio frequency identification tag of the one or more additional radio frequency identification tags being representative of an asset not within the scope of coverage defined by the working scan context, the asset is excluded from inclusion in the asset reconciliation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein tag data of each radio frequency identification tag of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags comprises indications of asset properties of the asset represented by the tag data of the respective radio frequency identification tag, and wherein determining the working scan context comprises identifying, based on the indications of asset properties in the tag data of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags, commonality between multiple assets of the plurality of assets.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the identifying commonality comprises:

performing data mining on the tag data from the plurality of radio frequency identification tags to identify the indications of asset properties thereof;

clustering tag data from radio frequency identification tags of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags according to at least one matching identified indication of asset properties, to form at least one cluster of tag data from radio frequency identification tags of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags; and

selecting a cluster from the at least one cluster, wherein the determined working scan context comprises the selected cluster.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the matching indication of asset properties comprises a matching global trade item number encoded in the tag data.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the matching indication of asset properties includes matching information determined from a global trade item number encoded in the tag data, wherein the matching information indicates at least one of:

a matching Universal Product Code, a matching European Article Number, a matching asset manufacturer, or a matching product type.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the selected cluster comprises a cluster of the at least one cluster having a greatest number of assets represented by tag data therein.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising, subsequent to the applying:

receiving tag data from further radio frequency identification tags;

performing data mining on the tag data from the further radio frequency identification tags and clustering tag data from radio frequency identification tags of the further radio frequency identification tags according to at least one matching identified indication of asset properties, wherein the received tag data from the further radio frequency identification tags are added to at least one of;

a

cluster of the one or more clusters or a newly formed cluster.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the condition for switching the working scan context comprises reaching a threshold amount of time since tag data from a radio frequency identification tag was added to the selected cluster, wherein the dynamically switching comprises switching the working scan context responsive to determining that no tag data was added to the selected cluster within the threshold amount of time, and wherein the different working scan context comprises a different cluster than the selected cluster, the different cluster being a cluster of the one or more clusters or the newly formed cluster.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the condition for switching the working scan context comprises a growth rate of a different cluster than the selected cluster exceeding a growth rate of the selected cluster by a threshold difference in growth rates, the different cluster being a cluster of the one or more clusters or the newly formed cluster, wherein the dynamically switching comprises switching the working scan context responsive to determining that the growth rate of the different cluster exceeds the growth rate of the selected cluster by at least the threshold difference in growth rates, and wherein the different working scan context comprises the different cluster.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the determined working scan context comprises determining a confidence level for the determined working scan context, the confidence level indicating a level of confidence that the determined working scan context is to be applied, and automatically applying the determined working scan context responsive to the confidence level exceeding a predefined threshold confidence level.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the determined working scan context comprises presenting to a user the working scan context for approval, and receiving input from the user indicating that the working scan context is to be applied.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a predefined asset reconciliation list comprising a list of assets to be included in the asset reconciliation; and

predefining, based on the received predefined asset reconciliation list, a working scan context prior to receiving the tag data of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags, the predefined working scan context based on assets reflected in the predefined asset reconciliation list, the assets in the predefined asset reconciliation list being assets in a database against which the asset reconciliation is to be performed, wherein the predefined working scan context defines a scope of coverage of assets reflected in the database, and wherein the determined working scan context is based, at least in part, on the predefined working scan context.

14. A system for asset reconciliation, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor, in communication with the memory, wherein the system is configured to perform;

receiving tag data from a plurality of radio frequency identification tags carrying the tag data, the tag data representative of a plurality of assets;

identifying characteristics about each of the plurality of assets based on at least a portion of each respective tag data;

grouping a first plurality of assets based on a common characteristic of the characteristics of the first plurality of assets identified in each respective tag data;

determining, by at least one processor, a working scan context based on a number of the first plurality of assets having the common characteristic;

receiving additional tag data from one or more additional radio frequency identification tags carrying the additional tag data, the additional tag data representative of one or more additional assets and including at least one characteristic of the one or more additional assets;

applying the determined working scan context to the additional tag data from the one or more additional radio frequency identification tags, the applying automatically identifying which assets of the one or more additional assets are to be included in the working context when the common characteristic is included within the additional tag data of the one or more additional assets; and

dynamically switching the working scan context to a different working scan context, based on tag data received from further radio frequency identification tags, the dynamically switching being responsive to satisfying a condition for switching the working scan context.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein tag data of each radio frequency identification tag of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags comprises indications of asset properties of the asset represented by the tag data of the respective radio frequency identification tag, and wherein determining the working scan context comprises identifying, based on the indications of asset properties in the tag data of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags, commonality between multiple assets of the plurality of assets, wherein the identifying commonality comprises:

performing data mining on the tag data from the plurality of radio frequency identification tags to identify the indications of asset properties thereof;

clustering tag data from radio frequency identification tags of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags according to at least one matching identified indication of asset properties, to form at least one cluster of tag data from radio frequency identification tags of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags; and

selecting a cluster from the at least one cluster, wherein the determined working scan context comprises the selected cluster.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the matching indication of asset properties comprises at least one of:

a matching global trade item number encoded in the tag data, a matching Universal Product Code derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data, a matching European Article Number derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data, a matching asset manufacturer derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data, or a matching product type derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is further configured to perform, subsequent to the applying:

receiving tag data from further radio frequency identification tags;

performing data mining on the tag data from the further radio frequency identification tags and clustering tag data from radio frequency identification tags of the further radio frequency identification tags according to at least one matching identified indication of asset properties, wherein the received tag data from the further radio frequency identification tags are added to at least one of;

a cluster of the one or more clusters or a newly formed cluster.

18. A computer program product for asset reconciliation, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium readable by at least one processor and storing executable instructions for execution by the at least one processor to facilitate performing;

receiving tag data from a plurality of radio frequency identification tags carrying the tag data, the tag data representative of a plurality of assets;

identifying characteristics about each of the plurality of assets based on at least a portion of each respective tag data;

grouping a first plurality of assets based on a common characteristic of the characteristics of the first plurality of assets identified in each respective tag data;

determining, by at least one processor, a working scan context based on a number of the first plurality of assets having the common characteristic;

receiving additional tag data from one or more additional radio frequency identification tags carrying the additional tag data, the additional tag data representative of one or more additional assets and including at least one characteristic of the one or more additional assets;

applying the determined working scan context to the additional tag data from the one or more additional radio frequency identification tags, the applying automatically identifying which assets of the one or more additional assets are to be included in the working context when the common characteristic is included within the additional tag data of the one or more additional assets; and

dynamically switching the working scan context to a different working scan context, based on tag data received from further radio frequency identification tags, the dynamically switching being responsive to satisfying a condition for switching the working scan context.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein tag data of each radio frequency identification tag of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags comprises indications of asset properties of the asset represented by the tag data of the respective radio frequency identification tag, and wherein determining the working scan context comprises identifying, based on the indications of asset properties in the tag data of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags, commonality between multiple assets of the plurality of assets, wherein the identifying commonality comprises:

performing data mining on the tag data from the plurality of radio frequency identification tags to identify the indications of asset properties thereof;

clustering tag data from radio frequency identification tags of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags according to at least one matching identified indication of asset properties, to form at least one cluster of tag data from radio frequency identification tags of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags; and

selecting a cluster from the at least one cluster, wherein the determined working scan context comprises the selected cluster.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the matching indication of asset properties comprises at least one of:

a matching global trade item number encoded in the tag data, a matching Universal Product Code derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data, a matching European Article Number derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data, a matching asset manufacturer derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data, or a matching product type derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data.

21. A method for asset reconciliation, the method comprising:

receiving tag data which identifies characteristics about each of a plurality of assets to be included in the asset reconciliation;

determining, by at least one processor, a working scan context based on a common characteristic of the identified characteristics of the first plurality of assets identified in each respective tag data;

receiving tag data from one or more radio frequency identification tags carrying the tag data, the tag data representative of one or more assets and including at least one characteristic of the one or more additional assets;

applying the determined working scan context to the tag data from the one or more radio frequency identification tags, the applying automatically identifying which assets of the one or more assets are to be included in the working context when the common characteristic is included within the additional tag data of the one or more additional assets; and

dynamically switching the working scan context to a different working scan context, based on tag data received from further radio frequency identification tags, the dynamically switching being responsive to satisfying a condition for switching the working scan context.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the working scan context comprises defining at least one cluster for performing clustering on the received tag data based on a matching indication of asset properties indicated in tag data, wherein the matching indication of asset properties comprises at least one of:

a global trade item number encoded in the tag data, a Universal Product Code derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data, a European Article Number derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data, an asset manufacturer derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data, or a product type derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the working scan context comprises defining at least one cluster for performing clustering of the received tag data based on a matching indication of asset properties indicated in received tag data, wherein the matching indication of asset properties comprises at least one of:

a manager number encoded in the tag data, an object class encoded in the tag data, a Universal Product Code derived from the manager number and object class encoded in the tag data, a European Article Number derived from the manager number and object class encoded in the tag data, an asset manufacturer derived from the manager number encoded in the tag data, or a product type derived from the object class encoded in the tag data.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein determining at least one of the first scan context or the second scan context comprises defining at least one cluster for clustering the received tag data based on a matching indication of asset properties indicated in tag data, wherein the matching indication of asset properties comprises at least one of:

a global trade item number encoded in the tag data, a Universal Product Code derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data, a European Article Number derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data, an asset manufacturer derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data, or a product type derived from the global trade item number encoded in the tag data.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein determining at least one of the first scan context or the second scan context comprises defining at least one cluster for performing clustering of the received tag data based on a matching indication of asset properties indicated in received tag data, wherein the matching indication of asset properties comprises at least one of:

a manager number encoded in the tag data, an object class encoded in the tag data, a Universal Product Code derived from the manager number and object class encoded in the tag data, a European Article Number derived from the manager number and object class encoded in the tag data, an asset manufacturer derived from the manager number encoded in the tag data, or a product type derived from the object class encoded in the tag data.

24. A method for facilitating radio frequency identification-based asset reconciliation, the method comprising:

receiving tag data which identifies characteristics about each of a first and second plurality of assets to be included in the asset reconciliation;

determining, by at least one processor, a first scan context, based on a first common characteristic of the identified characteristics of the first plurality of assets identified in each respective tag data;

receiving tag data from a plurality of radio frequency identification tags carrying the tag data, the tag data representative of a plurality of assets and including at least one characteristic of the one or more additional assets;

determining, by the at least one processor, based on the tag data of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags, a second scan context based on a second common characteristic of identified characteristics of the second plurality of assets;

selecting one of the first scan context or the second scan context as a working scan context for applying to the received tag data from the plurality of radio frequency identification tags to automatically identify which assets of the plurality of assets are to be included in the asset reconciliation; and

maintaining the other scan context of the first scan context or the second scan context as a candidate scan context for dynamically switching the working scan context, responsive to satisfying a condition for switching the working scan context, based on tag data received from further radio frequency identification tags.