Tracking locations and conditions of objects based on RFID signals

• US 9,830,484 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zerlina, Fransisca Vina, Russell, Ryan Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Alunkal, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/314,593
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/06 Arrangements on packages concerning bar-codes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/00 Tamper-indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/42 Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• 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 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10425 the interrogation device being arranged for interrogation of record carriers passing by the interrogation device
• 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 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Locations and conditions of objects within a working environment may be tracked using RFID signals. A working surface within the environment may include a plurality of RFID antennas, and the objects to be tracked may include RFID tags. When one of the objects passes within an operational range of one of the antennas, an RFID signal is transmitted from the tag on the object to the antenna, and the location of the object may be determined based on the location of the antenna. Additionally, where a plurality of tags that are specially associated with a different aspect of a condition of an object are provided thereon, the condition of the object may be determined based on a number of the tags from which RFID signals are received, and the aspects of the condition with which each of such tags is associated.

Claims

1. A tracking system comprising:

an RFID reader having at least one RFID antenna configured to provide an electromagnetic field;

an object having at least a first RFID tag and a second RFID tag provided on at least one surface of the object, wherein the first RFID tag is configured to transmit a first RFID signal comprising first data regarding a first attribute of a condition of the object in the presence of the electromagnetic field, and wherein the second RFID tag is configured to transmit a second RFID signal comprising second data regarding a second attribute of the condition of the object in the presence of the electromagnetic field;

a first non-conductive shielding label releasably applied over the first RFID tag on the at least one surface of the object, wherein the first non-conductive shielding label is configured to inhibit passage of the electromagnetic field therethrough, and wherein a first indicator of the first attribute of the condition of the object is printed on an external face of the first non-conductive shielding label; and

a computing device in communication with at least the RFID reader,

wherein the computing device is configured to at least;

identify the object;

determine whether at least one of the first RFID signal or the second RFID signal is received by the at least one RFID antenna;

in response to determining that the second RFID signal is received by the at least one RFID antenna,

interpret the second data received in the second RFID signal;

determine that the condition of the object is subject to the second attribute based at least in part on the second data; and

store an indication that the condition of the object is subject to the second attribute in at least one data store.

2. The tracking system of claim 1, further comprising a second non-conductive shielding label releasably applied over the second RFID tag on the at least one surface of the object, wherein the second non-conductive shielding label is configured to inhibit passage of the electromagnetic field therethrough, and wherein a second indicator of the second attribute of the condition of the object is printed on an external face of the second non-conductive shielding label, and

wherein the computing device is further configured to at least:

in response to determining that neither the first RFID signal nor the second RFID signal is received by the at least one RFID antenna from the first RFID tag or the second RFID tag,

store an indication that the condition of the object is satisfactory in at least one data store.

3. The tracking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first RFID signal or the second RFID signal is a positive signal relating to one of the first attribute or the second attribute of the condition of the object.

4. The tracking system of claim 1, wherein the first non-conductive shielding label comprises at least one layer of polyethylene terephthalate film.

5. The tracking system of claim 1, wherein a second non-conductive shielding label is not releasably provided over the second RFID tag.

6. The tracking system of claim 1, wherein the object further includes at least one bar code on the at least one surface of the object, and

wherein the computing device is further configured to at least:

identify the object based at least in part on the at least one bar code.

7. The tracking system of claim 1, wherein the object is a container having at least one item therein, and wherein the second data identifies a status of an integrity of the container.

17. The tracking system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to at least:

determine that the first RFID signal is not received by the at least one RFID antenna; and

in response to determining that the first RFID signal is not received by the at least one RFID antenna,

store an indication that the condition of the object is not subject to the first attribute in the at least one data store.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing an object having a plurality of RFID tags on at least one surface, wherein each of the plurality of RFID tags is configured to transmit a unique RFID signal, wherein each of the unique RFID signals comprises data associated with one of a plurality of attributes of a condition of the object;

identifying the object;

determining whether each of the unique RFID signals is received by at least one RFID antenna associated with at least one RFID reader; and

in response to determining that at least one of the unique RFID signals is not received by the at least one RFID antenna, associated with the at least one RFID reader;

identifying the at least one of the unique RFID signals that was not received;

determining at least one attribute of the condition of the object associated with the at least one RFID signal that was not received; and

storing an indication of the condition of the object in at least one data store, wherein the indication is based at least in part on the at least one attribute of the condition of the object associated with the at least one RFID signal that was not received;

wherein the object further comprises a non-conductive shielding label releasably provided over at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of RFID tags from which the at least one of the unique RFID signals is not received, the non-conductive shielding label comprising at least one layer of polyethylene terephthalate film adhered over the at least one of the plurality of RFID tags from which the at least one of the unique RFID signals is not received by a non-conductive adhesive.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

in response to determining that each of the RFID signals is received from each of the plurality of RFID tags by the at least one RFID antenna associated with the at least one RFID reader,

store an indication of the condition of the object in the at least one data store, wherein the indication is that the condition of the object is satisfactory.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of RFID tags are provided in a matrix on the at least one surface.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the unique RFID signals is a negative signal relating to the one of the plurality of the attributes of the condition of the object.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the object is a container, and wherein each of the plurality of the attributes is a unique aspect of a status of an integrity of the container.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the object further comprises at least one of a bar code or an identifying RFID tag provided on the at least one surface, and

wherein identifying the object further comprises:

reading the bar code using at least one imaging device;

or

receiving at least one RFID signal from the identifying RFID tag by the at least one RFID antenna associated with the at least one RFID reader.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein identifying the at least one of the unique RFID signals that was not received comprises:

identifying each of the plurality of RFID tags from which the unique RFID signal was not received;

identifying attributes of the condition of the object associated with each of the unique RFID signals not received;

determining information regarding the condition of the object based at least in part on the attributes associated with each of the unique RFID signals not received; and

causing a display of at least some of the information regarding the condition of the object on at least one computer display.

15. An RFID transmitting device comprising:

an RFID tag provided on a non-conductive adhesive substrate, wherein the RFID tag is configured to transmit a unique RFID signal associated with an attribute of a condition of an object when the RFID tag is coupled with an RFID reader; and

at least one layer formed of a non-conductive electromagnetic energy shielding material, wherein the at least one layer releasably covers at least a portion of the RFID tag, the at least one layer comprising a flexible polyethylene terephthalate film releasably covering at least the portion of the RFID tag by a non-conductive adhesive, and

wherein information regarding the attribute is printed on an external face of the at least one layer.

16. The RFID transmitting device of claim 15, wherein the RFID tag is provided in a matrix including a plurality of other RFID tags on at least one surface of the object, and

wherein each of the plurality of other RFID tags is configured to transmit a unique RFID signal associated with another attribute of the condition of the object when each of the plurality of other RFID tags is coupled with the RFID reader.