Radio frequency identification method and system of disturbing products

• US 7,942,321 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Original Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Inventors: Linton, John, Linton, William A., Krueger, Julia E., Dearing, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/862,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20040232230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,534 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/381, 235/375, 235/383, 340/540, 340/585, 340/620, 340/693.5, 340/572.1, 340/141, 340/151
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• 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: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for vending products from a defined area, such as a micro-warehouse with a door. The method includes fitting each product with a radio frequency identification tag, positioning the plurality of products in a micro-warehouse, sensing opening and closing of the micro-warehouse door, scanning the plurality of products in the micro-warehouse upon sensing closing of the door to determine the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, generating a message based on the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, transmitting the message to a remote processor or server, and maintaining an inventory in the remote processor based on the message. The system is designed to be accessed by authorized individuals possessing some type of code or identifying mechanism. The micro-warehouses may be cabinets, refrigerators, secured rooms, or similar storage units or areas.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a detecting device that is configured to detect, using RFID, removal from storage of an object having a RFID tag;

a temperature detection unit that is configured to determine the temperature within the storage;

an access control unit that is configured to control access to the storage;

a control unit that is configured to control said access control unit so as to prevent a user from accessing the storage by maintaining the storage in a locked state in accordance with the temperature determined by said temperature detection unit; and

a charging unit that is configured to charge a user for the object in response to the detection by said detecting device of the removal from the area of the object;

wherein said detecting device detects the removal in accordance with a comparison between two inventory records, each prepared in accordance with RFID detection.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage is selected from the group consisting of a refrigerator, a freezer, a container, a room, a cabinet, and an apparatus.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the two inventory records are prepared in accordance with respective successive RFID scans of the storage.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object comprises a life science research product.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the life science research product is selected from the group consisting of enzyme, assay, cloning vector, and competent cell.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said access control unit comprises a detection unit selected from the group consisting of a card reader, a magnetic card swipe device, an antenna, a fingerprint reader, and an RFID device, and

wherein said access control unit controls access to the storage in accordance with a detection by said detection unit.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a commerce processing unit that is configured to store information providing a correspondence between (a) a user that has used said access control unit to access the storage and (b) the removed object.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said commerce processing unit invoices the user for the removed object.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the invoicing is electronic.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a determination as to whether to restock the object is automatically made by a restock determination unit in accordance with the detection by said detecting device.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the restock determination unit is in another apparatus.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object comprises biological material.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a user detecting unit that is configured to detect the identity of a user that has accessed the storage.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a commerce processing unit that is configured to store information providing a correspondence between (a) the identity of the user detected by said user detecting unit and (b) the removed object.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said commerce processing unit charges the user for the removed object.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting device further detects, using RFID, addition to the storage of an object having a RFID tag.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for reading a fingerprint and unlocking the apparatus in accordance with the fingerprint.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for reading an RFID badge and unlocking the apparatus in accordance with results of the reading.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a message is generated in accordance with a comparison between an RFID scanning result and an earlier RFID scanning result,

wherein the unlocking comprises controlling a solenoid of an electric actuated lock with which the apparatus is equipped,

wherein the detection of closing of the door comprises sensing output of a proximity sensor,

wherein the RFID scanning uses an antenna mounted in the apparatus, and wherein passive RFID tags are used.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the RFID detection is performed in response to a signal from a sensor detecting closing of a door.

21. An apparatus according to claim 4, comprising:

a detecting device that is configured to detect, using RFID, removal from storage of an object having a RFID tag;

a temperature detection unit that is configured to determine the temperature within the storage;

an access control unit that is configured to control access to the storage; and

a control unit that is configured to control said access control unit so as to prevent a user from accessing the storage by maintaining the storage in a locked state in accordance with the temperature determined by said temperature detection unit,

wherein said detecting device detects the removal in accordance with a comparison between two inventory records, each prepared in accordance with RFID detection,

wherein the object comprises a life science research product,

wherein the life science research product is selected from the group consisting of enzyme, assay, cloning vector, and competent cell.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a refrigerator, a freezer, a container, and a cabinet.

29. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the RFID detection is performed in response to a signal from a sensor detecting closing of a door.

23. A system comprising:

a detecting device that is configured to detect, using RFID, whether an object having a RFID tag is present in an area;

a determination unit that is configured to determine how much time the object has spent in the area in accordance with two RFID scanning results obtained by said detecting device;

a comparing unit that is configured to compare the time determined by said determination unit to a predetermined amount of time;

an access control unit that is configured to control access to the area; and

a lock down unit that is configured to actuate a lock of said access control unit to effect a lock down condition in accordance with the comparison by said comparing unit, wherein the lock down condition continues until removal of the object from the area

wherein said access control unit is configured so as to provide one-time access to the area, expiring after use, corresponding to a delivery of one or more objects to be placed into the area.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein said determination unit is further configured to determine a temperature history for the object.

25. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the area is selected from the group consisting of a refrigerator, a freezer, a container, a room, a cabinet, and an apparatus.

26. A system according to claim 23, further comprising means for generating a message in accordance with the comparison.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein the message is an e-mail message.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the e-mail message comprises a pick list identifying an object to be removed from the area.

30. A system comprising:

detecting means that is configured to detect, using RFID, whether an object having a RFID tag is present in an area;

means for determining how much time the object has spent in the area in accordance with two RFID scanning results obtained by said detecting means;

means for comparing the time determined by said determining means with a predetermined amount of time;

means for controlling access to the area; and

means for actuating a lock of said means for controlling access to the area to effect a lock down condition in accordance with the comparison by said comparing means, wherein the lock down condition continues until removal of the object from the area

wherein said means for controlling access to the area comprises means for providing one-time access to the area, expiring after use, corresponding to a delivery of one or more objects to be placed into the area.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the area is selected from the group consisting of a refrigerator, a freezer, a container, a room, a cabinet, and an apparatus.

32. A system according to claim 30, wherein each RFID scanning result is obtained in response to detection by a sensor of closing of a door.

33. A method comprising:

detecting, using RFID, whether an object having a RFID tag is present in an area; and

determining how much time the object has spent in the area in accordance with two RFID scanning results obtained by said RFID detecting step;

comparing the time determined in said determining step with a predetermined amount of time;

actuating a lock to effect a lock down condition in accordance with the comparison of said comparing step; and

ending the lock down condition upon removal of the object from the area; and

providing one-time access to the area, expiring after use, corresponding to a delivery of one or more objects to be placed into the area.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the area is selected from the group consisting of a refrigerator, a freezer, a container, a room, a cabinet, and an apparatus.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein each RFID scanning result is obtained in response to detection by a sensor of closing of a door.

36. A system comprising:

detecting means for detecting, using RFID, a change in presence in storage of an object having an RFID tag;

determining means for determining whether the object detected by said detecting means has been recalled; and

means for actuating a lock to effect a lock down condition for a user wherein the user cannot access the object, in accordance with a determination by said determining means that the object has been recalled, wherein the lock down condition for the user ends only upon removal, by another user, of the recalled object,

wherein said detecting means detects the change in presence in accordance with a comparison between two inventory records, each prepared in accordance with RFID detection, and

wherein the user is a user who is not an administrator, and the another user is a user who is an administrator, each of the user and the another user having a respective RFID access badge having an identification code stored therein for requesting access to the storage.

37. An apparatus comprising:

detecting means for detecting, using RFID, removal from storage of a RFID tag;

temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature within the storage;

preventing means for preventing a user from accessing the storage by maintaining the storage in a locked state in accordance with the temperature determined by said temperature detecting means;

charging means for charging a user for an object related to the RFID tag in response to the detection by said detecting device of the removal from the area of the RFID tag; and

wherein said detecting means detects the removal in accordance with a comparison between two inventory records, each prepared in accordance with RFID detection.

38. A system comprising:

a detecting device that is configured to detect, using RFID, whether a RFID tag is present in an area;

a determination unit that is configured to determine how much time an object corresponding to the RFID tag has spent in an area in accordance with two RFID scanning results obtained by said detecting device;

a comparing unit that is configured to compare the time determined by said determination unit to a predetermined amount of time;

an access control unit for controlling access to the area; and

a lock down unit that is configured to actuate a lock of said access control unit to effect a lock down condition ending upon removal of the object, in accordance with the comparison by said comparing unit,

wherein said access control unit is configured so as to provide one-time access to the area, expiring after use, corresponding to a delivery of one or more objects to be placed into the area.

39. A method comprising:

detecting, using RFID, a change in presence in storage of a RFID tag;

determining whether an object corresponding to the RFID tag detected by said detecting means has been recalled; and

actuating a lock to effect a lock down condition for a user wherein the user cannot access the object, in accordance with a determination by said determining step that the object has been recalled, wherein the lock down condition for the user ends only upon removal, by another user, of the recalled object,

wherein said detecting step detects the change in presence in accordance with a comparison between two inventory records, each prepared in accordance with RFID detection, and

wherein the user is a user who is not an administrator, and the another user is a user who is an administrator, each of the user and the another user having a respective RFID access badge having an identification code stored therein for requesting access to the storage.

40. A system according to claim 39, wherein the RFID tag is attached to the object.