System and method for tracking ID tags using a data structure of tag reads

• US 20060208887A1
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Zillmer, Angela R., Raynor, William J. Jr., Fields, Carla K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,199,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system and method of tracking tags at several successive points of a business process. A reader attempts to read each tag at each successive point. A processor populates a database with information corresponding to the reading of each tag at each successive point and the time of each reading. A tool modifying part of the information in the database as a function of other information in the database. The modified information is used to track the tags through the business process.

Claims

1. A method of tracking tags at several successive points of a business process, said method comprising:

Attempting to read each tag at each successive point;

Populating a database with information corresponding to the reading of each tag at each successive point and the time of each reading;

Modifying part of the information in the database as a function of other information in the database; and

Using the modified information to track the tags through the business process.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

Populating comprises populating a data structure having a cell corresponding to each tag at each successive point and storing in each corresponding cell of the data structure information relating to whether or not each tag was read at each successive point;

Modifying one or more cells in the data structure as a function of other cells in the data structure; and

Using the modified data structure to track the tags.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a first probability is stored in each cell corresponding to a particular tag when a reading of the particular tag is expected at a tag reading point and the reading of the particular tag occurs at the tag reading point, wherein a second probability is stored in each cell corresponding to a particular tag when a reading of the particular tag is expected at a tag reading point and the reading of the particular tag does not occur at the tag reading point, and wherein nothing is stored in each cell corresponding to a particular tag when a reading of the particular tag is not expected at a tag reading point and the reading of the particular tag does not occur at the tag reading point.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the tags are associated with products which carry the tags, and wherein the products are handled in a supply chain during which the products and their tags pass several tag reading points, and further comprising adjusting the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein adjusting the supply chain comprises varying the supply of additional products to the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the modified information comprises legacy information which is used to adjust the supply of additional products to the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein adjusting the supply chain comprises adjusting the handling of the products during the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the modified information is used to impute information about a product and the information is used to adjust the handling of the products during the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

9. A method of improving an RFID system for a business process associated with a supply chain, comprising the method of tracking tags at several successive points of the business process according to claim 1, and further comprising:

using the information in the database to identify at least one problematic portion of the supply chain having a relatively high level of errors in reading tags, and

physically modifying one or more of the at least one identified problematic portion of the supply chain to reduce the likelihood or error.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein physically modifying one or more of the at least one identified problematic portion of the supply chain comprises modifying a handling process for objects associated with the tags, or an environmental factor.

11. A system of tracking tags at several successive points of a business process, said system comprising:

a reader for reading each tag at each successive point and the time of each reading;

a database;

a processor responsive to the reader for storing in the database information corresponding to the reading of each tag at each successive point and the time of each reading; and

a tool for modifying part of the information stored in the database as a function of other information stored in the database whereby the modified information is used to track the tags through the business process.

12. The system of claim 11:

Wherein the database includes a data structure having a cell corresponding to each tag at each successive point;

Wherein the processor stores in each corresponding cell of the data structure corresponding to whether or not each tag was read at each successive point; and

Wherein the tool modifies one or more cells in the data structure as a function of other cells in the data structure.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein a first probability is stored in each cell corresponding to a particular tag when a reading of the particular tag is expected at a tag reading point and the reading of the particular tag occurs at the tag reading point, wherein a second probability is stored in each cell corresponding to a particular tag when a reading of the particular tag is expected at a tag reading point and the reading of the particular tag does not occur at the tag reading point, and wherein nothing is stored in each cell corresponding to a particular tag when a reading of the particular tag is not expected at a tag reading point and the reading of the particular tag does not occur at the tag reading point.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the tags are associated with products which carry the tags, and wherein the products are handled in a supply chain during which the products and their tags pass several tag readers, and wherein the processor adjusts the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the processor varies the supply of additional products to the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the modified information comprises legacy information and further comprising a supply chain control for adjusting the supply of additional products to the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the processor adjusts the handling of the products during the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the modified information is used to impute information about a product and further comprising a calculator for adjusting the handling of the products during the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

21. A method of supplying products carrying tags wherein the products are handled in a supply chain during which the products and their tags pass several tag reading points, said method comprising:

Populating a database with information corresponding to the reading of each tag at each tag reading point and the time of each reading;

Modifying part of the information in the database as a function of other information in the database; and

Adjusting the supply chain as a function of the modified information.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein:

Populating a database comprises populating a data structure having a cell corresponding to each tag at each tag reading point and storing in each corresponding cell of the data structure information relating to whether or not each tag was read at each tag reading point;

Modifying comprises modifying one or more cells in the data structure as a function of other cells in the data structure; and

Using the modified data structure information to adjust the supply chain.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein a first probability is stored in each cell corresponding to a particular tag when a reading of the particular tag is expected at a tag reading point and the reading of the particular tag occurs at the tag reading point, wherein a second probability is stored in each cell corresponding to a particular tag when a reading of the particular tag is expected at a tag reading point and the reading of the particular tag does not occur at the tag reading point, and wherein nothing is stored in each cell corresponding to a particular tag when a reading of the particular tag is not expected at a tag reading point and the reading of the particular tag does not occur at the tag reading point.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising activating an alarm and/or implementing an adjustment when no reading of the particular tag is expected at a tag reading point and the reading of the particular tag occurs at the tag reading point.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein adjusting the supply chain comprises adjusting the supply of additional products to the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the modified information comprises legacy information which is used to adjust the supply of additional products to the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein adjusting the supply chain comprises adjusting the handling of the products during the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the modified information is used to impute information about a product and the imputed information is used to adjust the handling of the products during the supply chain as a function of the modified information in the database.

29. A method for use with an tag-enabled supply chain system for handling errors in tag tracking, comprising:

applying a tag with an electronic product code to a package;

tracking the package at a plurality of locations in a supply chain using tag readers in electronic communication with a central tag information system to create tracking information in a database that includes time and location information associated with the reading of the tag by the readers;

identifying the observed pathway of the product based on the tracking information;

comparing the observed pathway of the product to a compilation of valid pathways for products in the supply chain to determine if the observed pathway corresponds to a valid pathway;

storing the observed pathway in the database if it matches a valid pathway; and

modifying the observed pathway if it corresponds to a valid pathway and storing the modified pathway in the database.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising in response to the observed pathway not being a valid pathway, determining if the invalid pathway is likely due to one or more missed reads by RFID readers in the RFID-enable supply chain;

and in response one or more missed reads being determined, adding information to the database to identify a valid pathway that the product traveled, the valid pathway including information about the readers that experienced missed reads.

31. A method of improving the accuracy of a tag-enabled supply chain system comprising:

Applying tags to products in a supply chain, and associating tag code information with the products in the supply chain;

Tracking the products with tag readers at multiple locations in a supply chain, such that the time and location of tag reads are stored in a database of information about the supply chain;

Identifying an acceptable delay time between a first tag reader and a second tag reader in the supply chain, the first and second tag readers being successive on an intended pathway for the products;

In response to a product being read by the first tag reader but not yet having been read by the second tag reader within the acceptable delay time, issuing an alert indicating that a problem may have occurred.