CUSTOMER INTERACTION WITH INVENTORY VIA RFID

• US 20080195517A1
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Minerley, Kevin G.
• Application Number:
  US12/102,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195517A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Customer interaction with inventory via radio frequency identification (RFID) are disclosed, where a unique RFID is combined into ID cards, credit, debit, and smartcards. The current inventory RFID technology and RFID reader are moved into a place convenient to the end-user or customer to remove the need for cashiers. Some applications include point-of-sale terminals, libraries, tool cribs, and places where customers or end-users remove items from inventories and inventories need to be monitored.

Claims

1. A system for interaction with inventory, comprising:

at least one inventory item having an inventory RFID tag;

a check-out system including at least one RFID reader, the at least one RFID reader for reading the inventory RFID tag and a personal RFID tag on a personal item, the check-out system for associating the personal item with the at least one inventory item in proximity to the RFID reader; and

at least one exit area in communication with the check-out system, the at least one exit area allowing passage, in response to a signal from the check-out system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the exit area is adapted for a retail store, a library or a tool crib.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the personal item is a personal card, a credit card, a debit card, a smart card, a cell phone, or an identification card.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one exit area includes at least one door, the at least one door opening in response to the signal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the door is a revolving door.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one door is coupled to at least one check-out queue.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one check-out queue maximizes throughput.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the signal is an indication of agreement to the associating and checking-out.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a returned items area for receiving at least one returned item of the at least one inventory item and de-associating the at least one returned item from the personal item.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the returned items area is a drop box.