Dynamic RFID-based input devices
First Claim
1. A workstation comprising:
- an input station having a working surface;
an RFID reading system having a plurality of RFID antennas provided on the working surface; and
a computing device having a processor,wherein the computing device is in communication with the RFID reading system, andwherein the computing device is configured to at least;
determine that a portable input pad associated with a worker is placed on the working surface, wherein the portable input pad comprises at least one flexible layer and a plurality of manually activated RFID tags, and wherein each of the plurality of manually activated RFID tags comprises a circuit configured to be closed by bioelectricity;
identify the worker associated with the portable input pad;
in response to identifying the worker associated with the portable input pad, configure an application operating on the computing device for the worker;
receive information regarding a plurality of RFID signals transmitted by at least some of the plurality of manually activated RFID tags to at least one of the plurality of RFID antennas, wherein each of the RFID signals is transmitted in response to contact with a portion of the at least one flexible layer associated with one of the manually activated RFID tags by the worker;
identify at least one action associated with the plurality of RFID signals based at least in part on the information regarding at least the plurality of RFID signals; and
cause the at least one action to be executed by the application.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamic RFID-based input device may include an input surface and an input station. The input surface may include a plurality of RFID transmitting devices provided on at least one flexible layer, and the input station may include one or more RFID receiving devices, e.g., antennas and/or readers, provided in communication with a computing system or network. A worker may contact one or more portions of the input surface, and thereby cause one or more of the RFID transmitting devices to transmit one or more RFID signals including information, data, commands or instructions to be provided to the RFID receiving devices. Audible, visible or haptic feedback may be provided to the worker in response to the transmission of the one or more RFID signals.
92 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A workstation comprising:
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an input station having a working surface; an RFID reading system having a plurality of RFID antennas provided on the working surface; and a computing device having a processor, wherein the computing device is in communication with the RFID reading system, and wherein the computing device is configured to at least; determine that a portable input pad associated with a worker is placed on the working surface, wherein the portable input pad comprises at least one flexible layer and a plurality of manually activated RFID tags, and wherein each of the plurality of manually activated RFID tags comprises a circuit configured to be closed by bioelectricity; identify the worker associated with the portable input pad; in response to identifying the worker associated with the portable input pad, configure an application operating on the computing device for the worker; receive information regarding a plurality of RFID signals transmitted by at least some of the plurality of manually activated RFID tags to at least one of the plurality of RFID antennas, wherein each of the RFID signals is transmitted in response to contact with a portion of the at least one flexible layer associated with one of the manually activated RFID tags by the worker; identify at least one action associated with the plurality of RFID signals based at least in part on the information regarding at least the plurality of RFID signals; and cause the at least one action to be executed by the application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
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automatically recognizing a first portable input surface associated with a first worker by at least one computer processor, wherein the first portable input surface comprises at least one layer and a plurality of manually activated RFID transmitting devices disposed in association with the at least one layer, and wherein each of the plurality of manually activated RFID transmitting devices comprises a circuit configured to be closed by bioelectricity; in response to automatically recognizing the first portable input surface associated with the first worker, selecting one of a plurality of configurations for one of a first input station or a computer application associated with the first input station, wherein the first input station comprises at least one RFID receiving device; receiving information regarding a first RFID signal transmitted from at least one of the plurality of manually activated RFID transmitting devices of the first portable input surface to the first input station; interpreting the information regarding the first RFID signal in accordance with the selected configuration by the at least one computer processor; associating the interpreted information regarding the first RFID signal with at least one of the first worker or the first portable input surface by the at least one computer processor; and storing at least some of the interpreted information regarding the first RFID signal in at least one data store. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22)
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18. A method comprising:
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receiving, at an RFID reading system provided in association with an input station, a first RFID signal transmitted by an automatic RFID device associated with a first worker; receiving, at the RFID reading system provided in association with the input station, a second RFID signal transmitted by a manually activated RFID tag provided on at least one flexible layer of a portable input surface, wherein the manually activated RFID tag comprises a circuit configured to be closed by bioelectricity, and wherein the second RFID signal is transmitted by the manually activated RFID tag upon contact with at least a portion of the portable input surface by the first worker; identifying a confluence of RFID signals comprising the first RFID signal and the second RFID signal; in response to identifying the confluence of RFID signals, providing feedback to the first worker by at least one feedback device associated with the input station; selecting a configuration of the computer system for the first worker; determining at least one action associated with the second RFID signal based on the selected configuration; and causing, by the at least one computer processor, the computer system to execute the at least one action associated with the second RFID signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification