Method and system for determining the position and movement of items using radio frequency data
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A data reading system for tracking a position of tagged items, comprising:
- a data reader having a read region;
a conveyor system configured to transport a plurality of items through the read region of the data reader;
a processor in operative communication with the data reader;
wherein, for a first item of the plurality of items, the data reader is configured to;
(a) obtain a first item identifier code from a first item tag being passed through the read region, the first item identifier code containing item identification information for identifying the first item to which the first item tag is attached;
(b) obtain a first reading of the first item tag at a first time; and
(c) obtain a second reading of the first item tag at a second time,wherein, for a second item of the plurality of items, the data reader is configured to;
(a) obtain a second item identifier code from a second item tag being passed through the read region, the second item identifier code containing item identification information for identifying the second item to which the second item tag is attached;
(b) obtain a first reading of the second item tag at a first time; and
(c) obtain a second reading of the second item tag at a second time, andwherein the processor is configured to;
(a) estimate an initial position of each item tag for the first and second items based at least on the first and second readings for each item, (b) forecast a time and an order at which each of the first and second items will reach a reference position on the conveyor system based on the estimated initial position for each of the first and second items, (c) assign the first item identifier code to the first item to identify the first item based on the forecasted time and order at which the first item will reach the reference position, and (d) assign the second item identifier code to the second item to identify the second item based on the forecasted time and order at which the second item will reach the reference position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A data reading system, and associated methods of operation, for locating and tracking a position of tagged items on a conveyor system. The system includes a data reader and a conveyor system operable to transport the tagged items through a read region of the data reader. A processor, in operative communication with the data reader, obtains data from an item tag being passed through the read region at a first time, at a second time, at a subsequent third time, and so forth. Based on the readings, the processor estimates an initial position of each item tag and determines an order at which each item reaches a reference position on the conveyor system.
27 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A data reading system for tracking a position of tagged items, comprising:
-
a data reader having a read region; a conveyor system configured to transport a plurality of items through the read region of the data reader; a processor in operative communication with the data reader; wherein, for a first item of the plurality of items, the data reader is configured to;
(a) obtain a first item identifier code from a first item tag being passed through the read region, the first item identifier code containing item identification information for identifying the first item to which the first item tag is attached;
(b) obtain a first reading of the first item tag at a first time; and
(c) obtain a second reading of the first item tag at a second time,wherein, for a second item of the plurality of items, the data reader is configured to;
(a) obtain a second item identifier code from a second item tag being passed through the read region, the second item identifier code containing item identification information for identifying the second item to which the second item tag is attached;
(b) obtain a first reading of the second item tag at a first time; and
(c) obtain a second reading of the second item tag at a second time, andwherein the processor is configured to;
(a) estimate an initial position of each item tag for the first and second items based at least on the first and second readings for each item, (b) forecast a time and an order at which each of the first and second items will reach a reference position on the conveyor system based on the estimated initial position for each of the first and second items, (c) assign the first item identifier code to the first item to identify the first item based on the forecasted time and order at which the first item will reach the reference position, and (d) assign the second item identifier code to the second item to identify the second item based on the forecasted time and order at which the second item will reach the reference position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for tracking a position of tagged items, comprising:
-
transporting, via a conveyor system, a first tagged item and a second tagged item through a read region of a data reader, wherein the first tagged item includes a first item tag including a first item identifier code containing item identification information for identifying the first tagged item, and wherein the second tagged item includes a second item tag including a second item identifier code containing item identification information for identifying the second tagged item; obtaining, via the data reader, at a first time a first reading of the first item tag and the second item tag being passed through the read region; obtaining, via the data reader, at a second time a second reading of the first item tag and the second item tag being passed through the read region; receiving, via a processor, the first and second readings of the first and second item tags obtained by the data reader; estimating, via the processor, an initial position of each of the first and second item tags based at least on the first and second readings; forecasting, via the processor, a time and an order at which each of the first and second tagged items will reach a reference position on the conveyor system based on the estimated initial position for each of the first and second items; and assigning the first item identifier code to the first tagged item and the second item identifier code to the second tagged item based on the forecasted time and order at which each of the first and second tagged item will reach the reference position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification