RFID point of sale and delivery method and system

• US 7,791,479 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Original Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Inventors: Linton, John, Linton, William A., Krueger, Julia E., Dearing, Michael, Vidugiris, Gediminas
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/559,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/571, 340/568.1, 340/573.1, 340/505, 340/10.1, 700/236, 235/381, 235/383, 235/462.46, 235/385, 709/217
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• 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 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/35 for the management of goods or merchandise
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for providing point-of-sale and point-of-delivery and/or distribution of products in a restricted access unit near the customer. The method and system utilize products equipped with radio frequency tags and reduce the effects of energy sharing, shadowing, and nulls. In one embodiment, a plurality of RF tagged products are placed within a refrigerator, cabinet, or other micro-warehouse that has a door or opening that can detect access to the micro-warehouse. In one embodiment, one or more antennas are positioned within the door. Each antenna may have a transmission line of sight and be configured to emit a signal at predefined frequencies. Each antenna generates an electromagnetic field within the micro-warehouse. In one embodiment, the products are positioned in one or more bins, compartments, or similar devices located within the micro-warehouse such that at least two of the plurality of products are spaced a distance from each other to reduce energy sharing. The electromagnetic field is moved or altered within the micro-warehouse through the use of reflectors, devices that move the antennas, or other mechanisms.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a cabinet;

a detecting device configured to detect, using RFID, removal from an internal area of the cabinet of an object having an RFID tag; and

a sensor configured to sense whether a door of the cabinet is one of opened and closed, wherein RFID detection is performed in response to closing of the door;

wherein an XML message is automatically generated in response to detection by the detecting device of removal of the object from the area; and

wherein business logic decisions regarding the object are made in response to the XML message.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the XML message is sent to a server via a network connection.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the network connection is the Internet.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the network connection is wireless.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the business logic decisions are made by the server.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the business logic decisions include at least one of a transaction decision and a restocking decision.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabinet is a temperature-controlled unit.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting device is an RFID antenna.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a cabinet;

a detecting device configured to detect, using RFID, removal from an interior area of the cabinet of an object having an RFID tag; and

a sensor configured to sense whether a door of the cabinet is one of opened and closed, wherein RFID detection is performed only in response to closing of the door;

wherein a markup language message is automatically generated in response to detection by the detecting device of removal of the object from the area; and

wherein business logic decisions regarding the object are made in response to the markup language message.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the markup language message is sent to a server via a network connection.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the network connection is the Internet.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the network connection is wireless.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the business logic decisions are made by the server.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the business logic decisions include at least one of a transaction decision and a restocking decision.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cabinet is a temperature-controlled unit.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the detecting device is an RFID antenna.

19. A method for use with a cabinet, comprising:

sensing whether a door of the cabinet is one of opened and closed;

detecting, using RFID and only in response to a sensing that the door is closed, removal from an interior area of the cabinet of an object having an RFID tag;

generating an XML message automatically in response to the detecting removal of the object; and

making business logic decisions regarding the object in response to the XML message.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising sending the XML message to a server via a network connection.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the network connection is the Internet.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the network connection is wireless.

23. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the business logic decisions are made by the server.

24. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the business logic decisions include at least one of a transaction decision and a restocking decision.

25. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the cabinet is a temperature-controlled unit.

26. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.

27. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the detecting device is an RFID antenna.

28. A method for use with a cabinet, comprising:

sensing whether a door of the cabinet is one of opened and closed;

detecting, using RFID and only in response to a sensing that the door is closed, removal from an interior area of the cabinet of an object having an RFID tag;

generating a markup language message automatically in response to the detecting removal of the object; and

making business logic decisions regarding the object in response to the markup language message.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the markup language message is sent to a server via a network connection.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the network connection is the Internet.

31. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the network connection is wireless.

32. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the business logic decisions are made by the server.

33. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the business logic decisions include at least one of a transaction decision and a restocking decision.

34. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cabinet is a temperature-controlled unit.

35. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the sensor is proximity sensor.

36. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the detecting device is an RFID antenna.