Methods and apparatus to visualize locations of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged items

• US 7,639,138 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Toan N
• Application Number:
  US11/673,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20080191846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340 101- 105, 340/10.51, 705/28, 235/375, 235/376, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 includes processing received Radio Frequency (RF) waves to determine a location of one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged items, indicating the location of one or more RFID tagged items via a portable electronic device configured with a visual display, receiving at the portable electronic device product information associated with a selected individual RFID tag, receiving at the portable electronic device one or more inputs to modify the product information associated with the selected individual RFID tag, and transmitting the modified product information associated with the selected individual RFID tag from the portable electronic device to a database.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

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

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

receiving at the portable electronic device product information associated with a selected individual RFID tag;

receiving at the portable electronic device one or more inputs to modify the product information associated with the selected individual RFID tag; and

transmitting the modified product information associated with the selected individual RFID tag from the portable electronic device to a database.

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

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

4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein receiving the product information associated with the REID tag identification number includes receiving the identification number for a RFID tag to reference product information relating to an item comprising an RFID tag.

5. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein the stored product information includes at least one of a product description, an available quantity, a manufacturer name, a model number, a catalog number, or a price.

6. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the database stores the modified product information associated with the characteristics of the REID tagged item.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more inputs to modify the product information are from at least one or more values selected from a keypad associated with the portable electronic device or one or more values entered from the keypad.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein indicating the location of one or more RFID tags comprises displaying the product information associated with the REID tag on a transparent display.

9. An apparatus comprising:

an information processor to;

receive product information associated with a selected individual RFID tag; and

receive one or more inputs to modify the product information associated with the selected individual RFID tag; and

a transceiver to transmit the modified product information associated with the selected individual RFID tag from the portable electronic device to a database.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising:

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

a display to visually indicate the location of one or more RFID tagged items.

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

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein at least one of the wave angle processor, the display, the information processor, or the transceiver is included within a portable electronic device.

13. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the display includes a transparent display to indicate the location of one or more RFID tags by displaying the product information associated with the RFID tag.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the transceiver is communicatively coupled to a wireless communication channel configured to facilitate communication between the portable electronic device and the database.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the database stores product information including at least one of a product description, an available quantity, a manufacturer name, a model number, a catalog number, or a price.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the database stores the modified product information associated with the characteristics of the REID tagged item.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the information processor receives the product information associated with the RFID tag identification number by receiving the identification number for a RFID tag to reference product information relating to an item comprising an RFID tag.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising a keypad to receive at least one or more inputs to modify the product information.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the information processor is to:

upon indicating the location of one or more REID tagged items, receive one or more inputs to select at least one of the indicated REID tagged items to be filtered; and

conceal the one or more selected REID tagged items.