Method and apparatus for tracking transported items using RFID tags

• US 9,449,266 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metrc, LLC
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Emond, Jean-Pierre, Uysal, Dilek Dagdelen, Wells, Jeffrey Lane
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CHUN HOI
• Application Number:
  US12/593,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,095 Days
• Field of Search: 206/524, 206/524.1, 206/484, 206/560.01, 206/503, 206/504, 206/508, 206775-783, 174/380, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 343/872, 343/841
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07327 Passive means, e.g. Faraday cages Faraday-type protection of electric circuits in general H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking transported items using RFID tags are provided. A tote for transporting RFID tagged items includes a body capable of enclosing one or more RFID tagged items. RF reflective and/or absorbent material is positioned to inhibit RF signals from reaching the enclosed RFID tagged items from outside the body. A portion of a wall of the tote or a sleeve for insertion into the tote can be free of reflective and/or absorbent material to allow RF signals to be sent into, and exit, the tote. The RF reflective and/or absorbent material can be provided with or without texture.

Claims

1. A tote, comprising:

a body,

wherein the body is configured to enclose two or more RFID tagged items, and

wherein two or more RFID tagged items are enclosed within the body; and

at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to a first portion of the body such that;

(i) the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to the first portion of the body prevents a corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the tote, and

(ii) the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to the first portion of the body does not prevent the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through a second portion of the body to outside the tote,

wherein the tote allows the passage of RF signals from outside the tote through the second portion of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body so as to cause the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body to pass through the second portion of the body to outside the tote,

wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a bottom of the body, and

wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the bottom of the body.

2. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the tote by preventing RF signals from reaching the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from outside the tote through the first portion of the body and causing the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body to pass through the first portion of the body to outside the tote.

3. The tote according to claim 2,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material prevents RF signals from reaching the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from outside the tote through the first portion of the body.

4. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein the second portion of the body is the bottom of the body.

5. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein the first portion of the body comprises:

a top; and

four sides of the body.

6. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is provided with texture.

7. The tote according to claim 6,

wherein the texture comprises a grid pattern.

8. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body are two or more semi-active RFID tagged items.

9. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body are two or more active RFID tagged items.

10. A method of storing and/or transporting two or more RFID tagged items, comprising:

providing a tote according to claim 1; and

reading a corresponding two or more RFID tags of the two or more RFID tagged items from outside the tote.

11. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is embedded in the first portion of the body.

12. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is provided with texture.

13. The method according to claim 12,

wherein the texture comprises a grid pattern.

14. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body are two or more semi-active RFID tagged items.

15. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body are two or more active RFID tagged items.

16. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is at least partially RF reflective.

17. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is at least partially RF absorbent.

18. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is fully RF reflective.

19. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is fully RF absorbent.

20. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is positioned on the first portion of the body.

21. The method according to claim 10,

wherein a top of the body comprises a pair of flaps.

22. The method according to claim 10,

wherein a top of the body comprises a lid.

23. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is at least partially RF reflective.

24. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is at least partially RF absorbent.

25. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is fully RF reflective.

26. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is fully RF absorbent.

27. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is positioned on the first portion of the body.

28. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is embedded in the first portion of the body.

29. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein a top of the body comprises a pair of flaps.

30. The tote according to claim 1,

wherein a top of the body comprises a lid.

31. A tote, comprising:

a body,

wherein the body is configured to enclose two or more RFID tagged items, and

wherein two or more RFID tagged items are enclosed within the body; and

at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to a first portion of the body such that;

(i) the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to the first portion of the body prevents a corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the tote, and

(ii) the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to the first portion of the body does not prevent the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through a second portion of the body to outside the tote,

wherein the tote allows the passage of RF signals from outside the tote through the second portion of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body so as to cause the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body to pass through the second portion of the body to outside the tote,

wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a side of the body, and

wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the side of the body.

32. The tote according to claim 31,

wherein upon placing the tote adjacent to the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from outside the tote from passing through the at least a portion of the side of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body.

33. A method of storing and/or transporting two or more RFID tagged items, comprising:

providing a tote according to claim 31; and

reading a corresponding two or more RFID tags of the two or more RFID tagged items from outside the tote.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprises:

placing the tote adjacent to a second tote that is identical to the tote with the same orientation such that the at least a portion of the side is adjacent the second tote,

wherein upon placing the tote adjacent to a second tote that is identical to the tote with the same orientation such that the at least a portion of the side is adjacent the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from outside the tote from passing through the at least a portion of the side of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body and causing the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body to pass through the at least a portion of the side of the body to outside the tote.

35. The method according to claim 34,

wherein upon placing the tote adjacent to the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from outside the tote from passing through the at least a portion of the side of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body.

36. The method according to claim 33,

wherein the second portion of the body is the side of the body.

37. The tote according to claim 31,

wherein the second portion of the body is the side of the body.

38. A tote, comprising:

a body,

wherein the body is configured to enclose two or more RFID tagged items; and

at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to a first portion of the body such that when two or more RFID tagged items are enclosed within the body;

(i) the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to the first portion of the body prevents a corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the tote, and

(ii) the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to the first portion of the body does not prevent the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through a second portion of the body to outside the tote,

wherein the tote allows the passage of RF signals from outside the tote through the second portion of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body so as to cause the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body to pass through the second portion of the body to outside the tote,

wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a bottom of the body,

wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the bottom of the body, and

wherein upon stacking the tote on a second tote that is identical to the tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from outside the tote from passing through the bottom of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body and causing the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body to pass through the bottom of the body to outside the tote.

39. The tote according to claim 38,

wherein upon stacking the tote on the second tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from outside the tote from passing through the bottom of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body.

40. A method of storing and/or transporting two or more RFID tagged items, comprising:

enclosing two or more RFID tagged items within a tote according to claim 38; and

stacking the tote on a second tote that is identical to the tote.

41. The method according to claim 40,

wherein the second portion of the body is the bottom of the body.

42. The method according to claim 40,

wherein the first portion of the body comprises a top and four sides of the body.

43. A tote, comprising:

a body,

wherein the body is configured to enclose two or more RFID tagged items, and

wherein two or more tagged items are enclosed within the body; and

at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to a first portion of the body such that;

(i) the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to the first portion of the body prevents a corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the tote, and

(ii) the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to the first portion of the body does not prevent the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through a second portion of the body to outside the tote,

wherein the tote allows the passage of RF signals from outside the tote through the second portion of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body so as to cause the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body to pass through the second portion of the body to outside the tote,

wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a top of the body,

wherein the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the top of the body, and

wherein upon stacking a second tote on the tote that is identical to the tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from outside the tote from passing through the top of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body and causing the corresponding two or more RFID outgoing signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body to pass through the top of the body to outside the tote.

44. The tote according to claim 43,

wherein upon stacking the second tote on the tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from outside the tote from passing through the top of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body.

45. The tote according to claim 43,

wherein the second portion of the body is the top of the body.

46. A method of storing and/or transporting two or more RFID tagged items, comprising:

providing a tote according to claim 43; and

stacking a second tote that is identical to the tote on the tote.

47. The method according to claim 46,

wherein upon stacking the second tote on the tote, the second tote prevents RF signals from outside the tote from passing through the top of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body.

48. The method according to claim 46,

wherein the second portion of the body is the top of the body.

49. A tote, comprising:

a body,

wherein the body is configured to enclose two or more RFID tagged items, and

wherein two or more RFID tagged items are enclosed within the body; and

at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to a first portion of the body such that;

(i) the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to the first portion of the body prevents a corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the tote, and

(ii) the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material positioned relative to the first portion of the body does not prevent the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through the second portion of the body to outside the tote,

wherein the tote allows the passage of RF signals from outside the tote through the second portion of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body so as to cause the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body to pass through the second portion of the body to outside the tote,

wherein;

(i) the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a bottom of the body, and the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the bottom of the body,

(ii) the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a side of the body, and the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the side of the body, or

(iii) the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a top of the body, and the first portion of the body is the entire body except for the at least a portion of the top of the body,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is either;

(i) only coated onto an inside surface of the first portion of the body, or

(ii) only coated on an outside surface of the first portion of the body, and

wherein the first portion of the body does not prevent the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the tote.

50. The tote according to claim 49,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is only coated onto an inside surface of the first portion of the body.

51. The tote according to claim 49,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is only coated onto an outside surface of the first portion of the body.

52. A method of storing and/or transporting two or more RFID tagged items, comprising:

providing a tote according to claim 49; and

,

reading a corresponding two or more RFID tags of the two or more RFID tagged items from outside the tote.

53. The method according to claim 52,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is only coated onto an inside surface of the first portion of the body.

54. The method according to claim 52,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is only coated onto an outside surface of the first portion of the body.

55. A tote, comprising:

a body,

wherein the body is configured to enclose two or more RFID tagged items, and

wherein two or more RFID tagged items are enclosed within the body; and

a sleeve,

wherein the sleeve comprises;

at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material, wherein the sleeve is positioned in a first position relative to the body such that;

(i) the sleeve prevents a corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through a first portion of the body to outside the tote, and

(ii) the sleeve does not prevent the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through a second portion of the body to outside the tote,

wherein the tote allows the passage of RF signals from outside the tote through the second portion of the body to the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body so as to cause the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items to pass through the second portion of the body to outside the tote,

wherein the sleeve is configured to be positioned in a second position relative to the body such that;

(i) the sleeve does not prevent the corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through the first portion of the body to outside the tote, and

(ii) the sleeve does not prevent corresponding two or more outgoing RFID signals from the two or more RFID tagged items enclosed within the body from passing through the second portion of the body to outside the tote.

56. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein the sleeve positioned in the first position is positioned relative to the body such that the body is positioned in the sleeve.

57. A method of storing and/or transporting two or more RFID tagged items, comprising:

providing a tote according to claim 55;

positioning the sleeve in the first position relative to the body; and

reading a corresponding two or more RFID tags of the two or more RFID tagged items from outside the tote.

58. The method according to claim 57,

wherein when the sleeve is positioned in the first position the sleeve is positioned in the body.

59. The method according to claim 57,

wherein when the sleeve is positioned in the first position the body is positioned in the sleeve.

60. The method according to claim 57,

wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of the bottom of the body.

61. The method according to claim 60,

wherein the second portion of the body is the bottom of the body.

62. The method according to claim 57,

wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of the top of the body.

63. The method according to claim 62,

wherein the second portion of the body is the top of the body.

64. The method according to claim 57,

wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a side of the body.

65. The method according to claim 64,

wherein the second portion of the body is the side of the body.

66. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein the sleeve positioned in the first position is positioned relative to the body such that the sleeve is positioned in the body.

67. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of the bottom of the body.

68. The tote according to claim 67,

wherein the second portion of the body is the bottom of the body.

69. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of the top of the body.

70. The tote according to claim 69,

wherein the second portion of the body is the top of the body.

71. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein the second portion of the body is at least a portion of a side of the body.

72. The tote according to claim 71,

wherein the second portion of the body is the side of the body.

73. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is provided with texture.

74. The tote according to claim 73,

wherein the texture comprises a grid pattern.

75. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is at least partially RF reflective.

76. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is at least partially RF absorbent.

77. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is fully RF reflective.

78. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is fully RF absorbent.

79. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is positioned on the sleeve.

80. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein the at least partially RF reflective and/or at least partially RF absorbent material is embedded in the sleeve.

81. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein a top of the body comprises a pair of flaps.

82. The tote according to claim 55,

wherein a top of the body comprises a lid.