Dual mode reader device

• US 20050162269A1
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Lambright, Stephen J., Rajapakse, Ravindra U., Shannon, David L., LaCorte, Blair B.
• Application Number:
  US11/009,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20050162269A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

An identification device establishes a relative hierarchy of associated containers as logistical units, providing multi-layer visibility of nested and adjacent containers. The relative hierarchy comprises lower-layer containers and upper-layer containers relative to the identification device. An integrated reader device reads heterogeneous tag types. This allows disparate tag types simultaneously using a single device.

Claims

1. An integrated reader device for sending and receiving signals to and from both active and passive type identification devices, comprising:

a first transceiver for transmitting and receiving a first type of signals to and from active type identification devices;

a second transceiver for transmitting and receiving a second type of signals to and from passive type identification devices; and

a processing unit for processing the first and second types of signals.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the reader device is handheld.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the reader device is stationary.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the signals processed by the processing unit are transmitted to an external computer.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power source.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first type of signals are in the ultra high frequency range.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first type of signals are at a frequency of 433 MHz.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the second type of signals are in the ultra high frequency range.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the second type of signals are at a frequency of 900 MHz.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver is configured to transmit and receive signals from distances up to three hundred feet.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the second transceiver is configured to transmit and receive signals from distances up to thirty feet.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing includes initiating interrogation signals to the identification devices.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing includes associating the first and second types of signals.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the second transceiver is separable from the first transceiver to allow for sending and receiving signals to and from both active and passive type identification devices separately.

15. A method for sending and receiving signals to and from active and passive type identification devices using an integrated reader device, the method comprising:

transmitting and receiving a first type of signal to and from active type identification devices;

transmitting and receiving a second type of signals to and from passive type identification devices;

processing the first type of signals; and

processing the second type of signals.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of transmitting a first type of signal is performed before the step of transmitting the second type of signal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of transmitting a second type of signal is performed before the step of transmitting the first type of signal.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of processing the first type of signal is performed after the step of transmitting the first type of signal.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of processing the second type of signal is performed after the step of transmitting the second type of signal.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of processing the first type of signal is performed before the step of transmitting the second type of signal.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of processing the second type of signal is performed before the step of transmitting the first type of signal.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting the signals processed to an external computer.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein processing includes associating the first and second types of signals.

24. A method for collecting identification information from a plurality of containers with active and passive type identification devices using a reader device, the method comprising:

collecting first information from a passive type identification device associated with a first container;

selecting an active type identification device associated with a second container;

storing the first information to the active type identification device associated with the second container; and

collecting second information from the active type identification device associated with the second container, the second information including the first information.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first container is enclosed within the second container.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising collecting first information from a passive type identification device associated with a third container.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the third container is enclosed within the second container.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising collecting first information from an active type identification device associated with a third container.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the second container is enclosed within the third container.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the third container is adjacent to the second container.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising processing the information transmitting the processed signals to an external computer.

32. The method of claim 24, further comprising transmitting the signals to an external computer.

33. A method for collecting identification information from a plurality of containers with active and passive type identification devices using an integrated reader device, the method comprising:

collecting identification information from a plurality of active type identification devices;

selecting one of the plurality of active type identification devices associated with a first container;

collecting second container identification information from a passive type identification device associated with a second container; and

writing the second container identification information from the passive type identification device to the selected active type identification device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first container is enclosed within the second container.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising collecting third container identification information from a passive type identification device associated with a third container.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the third container is enclosed within the first container.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising collecting third container identification information from an active type identification device associated with a third container.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the first container is enclosed within the third container.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the third container is adjacent to the first container.

40. The method of claim 33, further comprising processing the information transmitting the processed signals to an external computer.

41. The method of claim 33, further comprising transmitting the signals to an external computer.

42. A method for collecting identification information from a plurality of containers with active and passive type identification devices using an integrated reader device, the method comprising:

sending interrogation signals to a plurality of containers to ascertain identification information associated with the plurality of containers;

receiving first container identification information from an active type identification device associated with a first container; and

receiving second container identification information from a passive type identification device associated with a second container.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the first container identification information includes information from a plurality of active type identification devices.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the first container identification information includes information from a plurality of passive type identification devices.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising processing the identification information.

46. The method of claim 42, further comprising the transmitting the identification information to an external computer.

47. The method of claim 42, further comprising associating the first container and second container identification information.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein sending interrogation signals triggers the active type identification device to poll a plurality of other identification devices.

49. A computer program product for processing identification device signals, comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

computer program code encoded on the medium for;

initiating signals to interrogate identification devices;

processing signals received from active type identification devices; and

processing signals received from passive type identification devices.

50. The computer program product of claim 49, further comprising computer program code encoded on the medium for:

associating with each other the signals from the active and passive type identification devices.

51. The computer program product of claim 49, further comprising computer program code encoded on the medium for:

transmitting processed signals to an external computer.