METHODS AND APPARATUS TO VISUALIZE LOCATIONS OF RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) TAGGED ITEMS

• US 20080191846A1
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Workday Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 7,639,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.41
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/043 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/046 Displays or indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10376 the interrogation device being adapted for being moveable
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to visualize locations of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged items are described. One example method processes received Radio Frequency (RF) waves to extract wave angles to determine a location of one or more RFID tagged items. Additionally, the example method also indicates the location of one or more RFID tagged items via a portable electronic device configured with a transparent visual display.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

processing received Radio Frequency (RF) waves to extract wave angles to determine a location of one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged items; and

indicating the location of one or more RFID tagged items via a portable electronic device configured with a visual display.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the visual display of the portable electronic device configured to be transparent.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the location associated with the received RF waves are determined from calculating the distance and lateral position of one or more RFID tags.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the received RF waves are further processed to extract an identification number to reference an individual RFID tag.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication channel configured to facilitate communication between the electronic device and a database.

6. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein conveying the information associated with the RFID tag identification number comprises conveying the identification number for a RFID tag to reference information relating to an item comprising an RFID tag.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein the stored information referenced from the identification number of the RFID tag relates to information associated with the characteristics of the RFID tagged item.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein indicating the location of one or more RFID tags comprises presenting the information associated with the location, identification number, and database presented on a transparent display to a user

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the displayed information overlays on the transparent screen configured so as not to obstruct the view of a user.

10. An apparatus comprising:

an wave angle processor to calculate the wave angles of received RF waves to determine a location of one or more RFID tags;

an information processor to compile information associated with the location and characteristics of a RFID tagged item for display on a electronic device.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a transceiver configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic energy in the form of RF waves.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the wave angle processor calculates the location of the RF waves in response to a transmitted signal emitted from the transceiver to one or more RFID tags.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the wave angle processor is further configured to extract an identification number from the RF wave received from an individual RFID tag.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a transparent display for indicating the location and data complied by the information processor to a user.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a electronic device having a processing unit and a memory coupled to the processing unit, wherein the portable electronic device is to;

transmit and receive RF wave information associated with the location of one or more tagged RFID items;

process information associated with at least one of a item based on information associated with a location and characteristics of the item; and

present at least some of the information associated with the at least one item on a transparent display to a user.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the electronic device is to receive the RFID wave information associated with an identification number for an individual RFID tag.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the electronic device is configured to transfer information via a wireless communication system to a database.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the identification number from at least one of the items comprising an RFID tag is transferred to a database to reference the characteristics information associated with the item.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the electronic device is to present the at least some of the information associated with the location and the characteristics of at least one of the items comprising the RFID tag to a user.

20. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein the presented information overlays on the transparent display configured so as not to obstruct the view of a user.