System and method for finding a specific RFID tagged article located in a plurality of RFID tagged articles

• US 6,354,493 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Mon, Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US09/470,784
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/383, 235/384, 235/385, 705/28
• US Class Current: 235/380
• 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: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method for operator feedback when utilizing an RFID reader to find a specific RFID tagged article located in a plurality of RFID tagged articles is provided. Specific search criteria associated with a desired article are entered into the RFID reader. To begin searching for the specific RFID tagged article, the RFID reader sends out an interrogation signal to the RFID tags. An RFID tag responds with the desired RFID tag data. A processor compares the number of RFID tags matching the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received. A feedback signal is generated according to the ratio of RFID tags matching the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received.

Claims

1. A method of finding a specific article located in a plurality of articles, comprising the steps of:

providing each article with an RFID tag containing stored information associated with the article;

selecting RFID tag search criteria associated with the specific article to be found;

scanning for RFID tags;

receiving at least one RFID tag data associated with the search criteria;

counting a total number of RPID tags received along with a number of RFID tags having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria, and,

generating a feedback signal that is a function of a ratio of the number of RFID tags received having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing each article with an RFID tag containing stored information associated with the article further comprises providing an RFID tag containing an RFID tag ID.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of selecting RFID tag search criteria associated with the specific article to be found further comprises selecting an RFID tag ID associated with the specific article.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of scanning for RFID tags further comprises scanning for RFID tag IDs.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of receiving at least one RFID tag data associated with the search criteria further comprises receiving said selected RFID tag ID from scanned RFID tags.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of counting the total number of RFID tags received along with the number of RFID tags having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria further comprises counting the total number of RFID tag IDs received along with the number of RFID tag IDs received having said selected RFID tag ID.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of generating a feedback signal that is a function of the ratio of the number of RFID tags received having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received further comprises generating a feedback signal that is a function of the ratio of the number of RFID tag IDs received having the selected RFID tag ID to the total number of RFID tag IDs received.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating a feedback signal comprises generating a plurality of audible sounds wherein a frequency of repetition varies as a function of the ratio of the number of RFID tags received having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating a feedback signal comprises generating a plurality of visual signals wherein a frequency of repetition varies as a function of the ratio of the number of RFID tags received having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating a feedback signal comprises generating a tactile indication wherein a frequency of vibration varies as a function of the ratio of the number of RFID tags received having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received.

11. An apparatus for finding a specific article located in a plurality of articles, comprising:

means for providing each article with an RFID tag containing stored information associated with the article;

means for selecting RFID tag search criteria;

means for scanning for RFID tags, said means for scanning including an RFID tag reader;

means for receiving at least one RFID tag data associated with the search criteria, said means for receiving responsive to said RFID reader;

means for counting the total number of RFID tags received along with the number of RFID tags having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria, said means for counting responsive to said means for receiving; and

,

means for generating a feedback signal that is a function of the ratio of the number of RFID tags received having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received, said means for generating responsive to said means for counting.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for providing each article with an RFID tag containing stored information associated with the article further comprises means for providing an RFID tag containing an RFID tag ID.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for selecting RFID tag search criteria associated with the specific article to be found further comprises means for selecting an RFID tag ID associated with the specific article.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for scanning for RFID tags further comprises means for scanning for RFID tag IDs.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for receiving at least one RFID tag data associated with the search criteria further comprises means for receiving said selected RFID tag ID from scanned RFID tags.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for counting the total number of RFID tags received along with the number of RFID tags received having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria further comprises means for counting the total number of RFID tag IDs received along with the number of RFID tag IDs received having said selected RFID tag ID.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means for generating a feedback signal that is a function of the ratio of the number of RFID tags having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received further comprises means for generating a feedback signal that is a function of the ratio of the number of RFID tag IDs received having said selected RFID tag ID to the total number of RFID tag IDs received.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for generating a feedback signal comprises means for generating a plurality of audible sounds wherein a frequency of repetition varies as a function of the ratio of the number of RFID tags received having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein said means for generating a feedback signal comprises means for generating a plurality of visual signals wherein a frequency of repetition varies as a function of the ratio of the number of RFID tags received having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein said means for generating a feedback signal comprises means for generating a tactile indication wherein a frequency of vibration varies as a function of the ratio of the number of RFID tags received having RFID tag data associated with the search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received.

21. An apparatus for finding a specific article located in a plurality of articles, comprising:

a plurality of articles each with an RFID tag containing stored information associated with the article;

an RFID tag reader for scanning for RFID tags;

means for data entry for inputting specific tag search criteria;

a processor connected to said means for data entry and said RFID tag reader for receiving at least one RFID tag data associated with the specific tag search criteria, said processor counting the total number of RFID tags received along with the number of RFID tags received having RFID tag data associated with the specific tag search criteria, and generating a feedback signal that is a function of the ratio of the number of RFID tags received having RFID tag data associated with the specific tag search criteria to the total number of RFID tags received.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further including a feedback indicator responsive to said feedback signal for generating a variable audible signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 further including a feedback indicator responsive to said feedback signal for generating a variable visual signal.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 further including a feedback indicator responsive to said feedback signal for generating a variable tactile signal.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the specific tag search criteria comprises at least one of an RFID tag ID, a parameter associated with the article price, manufacture date. inventory date, physical size, and description.