Method and apparatus for tracking or identifying items in a set
First Claim
1. A method of determining whether a set of items is complete, the method comprising:
- transmitting an interrogate signal from a tag reader into an interrogation zone containing a plurality of items, each of the plurality of items having a tag adapted to return a response signal;
including each of the plurality of items, that return a response signal to the tag reader in response to the interrogate signal, in a checked item set;
comparing the checked item set to a set data, wherein the set data identifies all items in a set of items, the set data is stored in at least one tag associated with at least one item in the set of items, and the set data is included in at least one response signal received at the tag reader; and
determining whether the set of items is complete, wherein the set of items is complete when every item identified in the set data is included in the checked item set.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for determining whether a set of items is complete. An interrogate signal is transmitted from a tag reader into an interrogation zone. Each item returning a response signal to the tag reader in response to the interrogate signal is included in a checked item set. The checked item set is compared to a set data. The set data identifies all items in a set of items, the set data is included in at least one tag associated with at least one item in the set of items, and the set data is included in at least one response signal received at the tag reader. A determination is made whether the set of items is complete, wherein the set of items is complete if every item identified in the set data is included in the checked item set.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining whether a set of items is complete, the method comprising:
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transmitting an interrogate signal from a tag reader into an interrogation zone containing a plurality of items, each of the plurality of items having a tag adapted to return a response signal; including each of the plurality of items, that return a response signal to the tag reader in response to the interrogate signal, in a checked item set; comparing the checked item set to a set data, wherein the set data identifies all items in a set of items, the set data is stored in at least one tag associated with at least one item in the set of items, and the set data is included in at least one response signal received at the tag reader; and determining whether the set of items is complete, wherein the set of items is complete when every item identified in the set data is included in the checked item set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer program product comprising:
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a computer usable medium having computer usable program code for determining whether a set of items is complete, said computer program product including; computer usable program code for transmitting an interrogate signal from a tag reader into an interrogation zone containing a plurality of items, each of the plurality of items having an identification tag adapted to return a response signal; computer usable program code for including each of the plurality of items, that return a response signal to the tag reader in response to the interrogate signal, in a checked item set; computer usable program code for comparing the checked item set to a set data, wherein the set data identifies all items in a set of items, the set data is stored in at least one tag associated with at least one item in the set of items, and the set data is included in at least one response signal received at the tag reader; and computer usable program code for determining whether the set of items is complete, wherein the set of items is complete when every item identified in the set data is included in the checked item set. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A data processing system comprising:
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a processor; a bus connected to the processor; a computer usable medium connected to the bus, wherein the computer usable medium contains a set of instructions for determining whether a set of items is complete, wherein the processor is adapted to carry out the set of instructions to; transmit an interrogate signal from a tag reader into an interrogation zone containing a plurality of items, each of the plurality of items having an identification tag adapted to return a response signal; include each of the plurality of items, that return a response signal to the tag reader in response to the interrogate signal, in a checked item set; compare the checked item set to a set data, wherein the set data identifies all items in a set of items, the set data is stored in at least one tag associated with at least one item in the set of items, and the set data is included in at least one response signal received at the tag reader; and determine whether the set of items is complete, wherein the set of items is complete when every item identified in the set data is included in the checked item set. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification