IN-FIELD DEVICE FOR DE-CENTRALIZED WORKFLOW AUTOMATION

• US 20130084010A1
• Filed: 09/27/2012
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAF Software Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RAF Technology, Incorporated (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ross, David Justin, Turner, Bryan J., Harbachuk, George, Teudt, Rick, Traina, Christopher, Saur, Kevin, Saavedra, Diego
• Granted Patent: US 9,361,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/182
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/10 Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination methods or arrangements for reading and recognising printed or written characters or geometric figures G06V30/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

In one example, a system is provided. The system includes a portable, in-field unit including: a tag reader to acquire an ID tag identifier from a tag located in or on a physical item positioned within functional range of the in-field unit tag reader; a digital processor arranged for executing software code stored in the in-field unit responsive to the acquired ID tag identifier, the stored software code including—a customer application layer; and a database adapter component configured to provide database services to the processor; wherein the database services include accessing a stored database to acquire stored data associated with the acquired ID tag identifier.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an image capture unit to provide a digital image of an optical identifier visible on a physical item positioned proximate to an in-field device; and

a digital processor arranged for executing software code stored in the in-field device, the stored software code configured to execute a predetermined action associated with the captured digital image.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stored software code includes a recognition process for recognizing information visible in the captured digital image, and further implements a linkage to a backend system remote from the in-field device to communicate results of the recognition process to the backend system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the stored software code implements a recognition process for recognizing handwriting or machine print.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the recognition software code is configured for recognition of identifier data from digital images of at least one of—

mail pieces and packages, passports, drivers licenses, ID cards, vehicle license plates, part IDs, object IDs, field service tags, machinery IDs, package IDs.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the backend system returns data to the in-field device or takes a predetermined action responsive to the results of the recognition process.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the digital processor is configured to access a database of valid results for use in support of the recognition process, to provide valid results based on proposed results generated by the recognition process.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the database of valid results comprises records that reflect at least one of—

a terrorist watch list,

list of outstanding arrest warrants,

Amber alerts,

list of traffic violations,

license suspensions,

postal system destination addresses,

equipment identification and associated databases for field service, and

allowed-access databases, for accessing a gate, door or other physical access portal.

8. A method, comprising:

capturing a digital image in an in-field device of an optical identifier visible on a physical item positioned proximate to the in-field device;

recognizing information in the captured digital image to determine a recognition result; and

transmitting the recognition result to a backend system remote from the in-field device, wherein the backend system is configured to take a predetermined action or provide data responsive to receiving the recognition result.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the recognizing step is carried out independently in the in-field device utilizing a database stored in the in-field device.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the recognizing step is carried out in the in-field device with wireless support from a remote server.

11. The method of claim 10 including:

sending preliminary recognition data from the in-field device to the remote server;

receiving recognition results from the remote server responsive to the preliminary recognition data; and

then

using the received recognition results to verify or correct the preliminary recognition data.

12. The method of claim 10 including accessing a database of valid results in support of the recognition step, the database of valid results accessible to either the in-field device or the remote server.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the recognizing step comprises:

attempting to recognize the information in the captured digital image locally in the in-field device;

in the case that local recognition is not successful, sending the captured digital image over a wireless connection to a remote server; and

receiving a recognition result from the remote server responsive to the captured digital image.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the item positioned proximate to the in-field device is a parcel, and further comprising applying the recognition result from the remote server to complete or correct a destination address of the item before moving the item from a collection point in the field.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the backend system is coupled to the remote server.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said recognizing step utilizes at least one selected recognition software component that is native in the in-field device, and also utilizes at least one other recognition software component that is deployed on the remote server.

17. The method of claim 16 including selecting at least one native recognition component when communication with the remote server is not available.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the recognizing step comprises recognizing identifier data from digital images of at least one of—

mail pieces and packages, passports, drivers licenses, ID cards, vehicle license plates, part IDs, object IDs, field service tags, machinery IDs, and package IDs.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein the backend system comprises a database of records that reflect at least one of—

a terrorist watch list,

list of outstanding arrest warrants,

Amber alerts,

list of traffic violations,

license suspensions,

postal system destination addresses,

equipment identification and associated databases for field service, and

allowed-access databases, for accessing a gate, door or other physical access portal.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the backend system transmits a message responsive to receiving the recognition result.

21. A system comprising:

a portable, in-field unit including;

a tag reader to acquire an ID tag identifier from a tag located in or on a physical item positioned within functional range of the in-field unit tag reader;

a digital processor arranged for executing software code stored in the in-field unit responsive to the acquired ID tag identifier, the stored software code including—

a customer application layer; and

a database adapter component configured to provide database services to the processor;

wherein the database services include accessing a stored database to acquire stored data associated with the acquired ID tag identifier.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein the stored database is stored in the in-field unit.

23. The system according to claim 21 wherein the stored database is accessed via wireless communication with a remote server.

24. The system according to claim 21 wherein the stored database contains a set of operations or procedures associated with or indexed to each ID tag identifier.

25. The system according to claim 21 wherein the software code executable on the in-field unit is operable to return to the customer application layer the stored set of operations associated with the acquired ID tag identifier.

26. The system according to claim 21 wherein the software code executable on the in-field unit is operable to mark (label) the physical item responsive to the stored set of operations associated with the acquired ID tag identifier.

27. The system according to claim 21 wherein the software code executable on the in-field unit is operable to electronically send a message to a predetermined recipient responsive to the ID tag identifier.

28. A method comprising:

in an in-field device, capturing an identifier of a nearby physical object from an on-object identifier, wherein the identifier is associated with a record in a predetermined database;

in the in-field device, capturing information from a document; and

combining the captured information with existing information in the said database record to form a result; and

applying the result to modify subsequent processing of the item.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the on-object identifier comprises an RFID device.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the on-object identifier comprises a barcode.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the document is one of a driver'"'"'s license, a passport, or another document issued by a governmental agency to an individual.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein the document comprises a bill of lading.