Portable RFID reading terminal with visual indication of scan trace

• US 9,041,518 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Vargas, Joseph, Plocher, Tom, Wang, Ynjiun Paul, Putrevu, Sriharsha, Zumsteg, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): AKKI, MUNEAR T
• Application Number:
  US13/359,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20130194077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340 101- 106, 340/691.6, 340/815, 353/28, 353/46, 235/440
• US Class Current: 340/10.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10475 arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials

Abstract

A portable radio-frequency identifier (RFID) reading terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, an RFID reading device, and a display. The portable RFID reading terminal can be configured to display a scan trace provided by a line comprising a plurality of time varying points. Each point can be defined by a projection of a radio frequency (RF) signal coverage shape of the RFID reading device onto a chosen plane at a given moment in time.

Claims

1. A portable radio-frequency identifier (RFID) reading terminal comprising:

a microprocessor;

a memory;

an RFID reading device comprising a radio frequency (RF) antenna;

a display;

wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is configured to display a scan trace; and

wherein said scan trace is provided by a line comprising a plurality of time varying points, each point being defined by a projection of a coverage shape of an RF signal transmitted by said RFID reading device onto a chosen plane at a given moment in time.

2. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is configured, by reading RFID tags attached to said items, to reconcile an inventory of items stored in a facility against at least one of:

an expected inventory list, an expected count of items.

3. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is configured, by reading RFID tags attached to said items, to reconcile an inventory of items stored in a facility against at least one of:

an expected inventory list, an expected count of items; and

wherein said RFID terminal is configured to receive from an external computer at least one of;

said expected inventory list, said expected count of items.

4. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, further comprising a user interface;

wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is configured, by reading RFID tags attached to said items, to reconcile an inventory of items stored in a facility against at least one of;

an expected inventory list, an expected count of items; and

wherein said RFID terminal is configured to receive via said user interface at least one of;

said expected inventory list, said expected count of items.

5. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, further comprising a two-dimensional imager;

wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is configured, by reading RFID tags attached to said items, to reconcile an inventory of items stored in a facility against at least one of;

an expected inventory list, an expected count of items; and

wherein said RFID terminal is configured to receive via said two-dimensional imager at least one of;

said expected inventory list, said expected count of items.

6. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is configured, by reading RFID tags attached to said items, to reconcile an inventory of items stored in a facility against at least one of:

an expected inventory list, an expected count of items; and

wherein said RFID terminal is configured to receive from an external memory device at least one of;

said expected inventory list, said expected count of items.

7. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is configured, by reading RFID tags attached to said items, to reconcile an inventory of items stored in a facility against at least one of:

an expected inventory list, an expected count of items; and

wherein said RFID terminal is configured to receive from a first external computer at least one of;

said expected inventory list, said expected count of items; and

wherein said RFID terminal is further configured to transmit to a second external computer at least one of;

a list of read RFID tags, a count of read RFID tags.

8. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is configured, by reading RFID tags attached to said items, to reconcile an inventory of items stored in a facility against at least one of:

an expected inventory list, an expected count of items; and

wherein said RFID terminal is configured to receive from an external computer at least one of;

said expected inventory list, said expected count of items; and

wherein said RFID terminal is further configured to transmit to said external computer at least one of;

a list of read RFID tags, a count of read RFID tags.

9. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, further comprising a two-dimensional imager;

wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to determine a spatial position of said RF signal coverage shape based on a known position and orientation of said RF antenna relatively to a position of a field of view of said two-dimensional imager.

10. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, further comprising a two-dimensional imager;

wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to measure a distance to an object using said two-dimensional imager; and

wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to determine and display a projection of said RF signal coverage shape onto the plane defined by a physical structure.

11. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, further comprising at least one accelerometer;

wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to determine a change of a spatial position and orientation of said RF signal coverage shape based on proper acceleration values received from said at least one accelerometer.

12. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to display at least one of:

a quantity of scanned items, a quantity of items which have not be scanned yet, a total quantity of items to be scanned.

13. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to display an indicator of a ratio of quantity of scanned items to a total quantity of items to be scanned.

14. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to display said scan trace overlaid over an image of a physical structure.

15. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to receive an image of a physical structure;

and

wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to display said scan trace overlaid over said image of said physical structure.

16. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to receive a description of a physical structure;

wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to create an image of said physical structure based on said description; and

wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to display said scan trace overlaid over said image of said physical structure.

17. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, further comprising a two-dimensional imager;

wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured, using said two-dimensional imager, to acquire an image of a physical structure; and

wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to display said scan trace overlaid over said image of said physical structure.

18. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to display an indicator of an RF signal coverage over said scan trace overlaid over an image of a physical structure.

19. The portable RFID reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said portable RFID reading terminal is further configured to display a indicator of an RF signal coverage over a current position within said scan trace.