U.S. patent application number 11/836307 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-22 for methods and apparatus for identification of container contents based on radio frequency identification technology.
Invention is credited to Patrick J. II Sweeney.
Application Number | 20070268139 11/836307 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34677021 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070268139 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sweeney; Patrick J. II |
November 22, 2007 |
Methods and Apparatus for Identification of Container Contents
Based on Radio Frequency Identification Technology
Abstract
A method includes acquiring, via an antenna disposed within a
container, information associated with a radio frequency
identification tag coupled to an object disposed within a container
via an antenna. The information is transferred to an exterior radio
frequency identification tag disposed outside of the container. The
exterior radio frequency identification tag is configured to send
an inventory indicator associated with the information to an
external interrogator unless the container is open.
Inventors: |
Sweeney; Patrick J. II;
(Philomont, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOLEY GODWARD KRONISH LLP;ATTN: PATENT GROUP
Suite 500
1200 - 19th Street, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-2402
US
|
Family ID: |
34677021 |
Appl. No.: |
11/836307 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10707511 |
Dec 18, 2003 |
7256682 |
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11836307 |
Aug 9, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
340/572.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 17/00 20130101;
G06K 7/10336 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/572.1 |
International
Class: |
G08B 13/22 20060101
G08B013/22 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: an antenna configured to be disposed
within an interior portion of a container and configured to receive
an inventory-related information associated with an object disposed
within the container; and a radio frequency identification tag
configured to be coupled to an exterior portion of the container
and configured to receive the inventory-related information
received at the antenna in response to the container being
closed.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a radio frequency
identification tag configured to be coupled to the interior portion
of the container and configured to be coupled to the antenna, the
radio frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to the
interior portion of the container being configured to acquire the
inventory-related information via the antenna in response to the
container being closed.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inventory-related
information is associated with a radio frequency identification tag
configured to be coupled to the object.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inventory-related
information is associated with a radio frequency identification tag
configured to be coupled to the object, at least one of the radio
frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to the object
or the object has a specified orientation relative to the
antenna.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a data storage
component configured to store the inventory-related information,
the radio frequency identification tag configured to receive the
inventory-related information from the data storage component.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a radio frequency
identification interrogator configured to be coupled to the
interior portion of the container and including the antenna, the
radio frequency identification interrogator configured to be in
communication with the radio frequency identification tag.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency
identification tag is configured to change from a power-conserving
mode to an inventory-acquiring mode when a switch configured to be
coupled to the container is toggled in response to the container
being closed.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency
identification tag is configured to translate the inventory-related
information from a signal that is incompatible with an external
radio frequency identification interrogator into a signal that is
compatible with the external radio frequency identification
interrogator.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to
receive the inventory-related information in response to at least
one of a signal from a motion sensor or a signal produced by a
timer.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency
identification tag is configured to send an indicator of the
inventory-related information to an external radio frequency
identification interrogator within a specified time period of a
request from the external radio frequency interrogator.
11. A method, comprising: acquiring, via an antenna disposed within
a container, information associated with a radio frequency
identification tag coupled to an object disposed within a
container; and transferring the information to an exterior radio
frequency identification tag disposed outside of the container, the
exterior radio frequency identification tag configured to send an
inventory indicator associated with the information to an external
interrogator unless the container is open.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the antenna is configured to be
coupled to a radio frequency interrogator disposed within the
container and in communication with the exterior radio frequency
identification tag.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the acquiring includes
acquiring during an interrogation time period starting when the
container changes from being open to closed.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the container is a first
container disposed within a second container, the antenna is a
first antenna, the exterior radio frequency identification tag is a
first exterior radio frequency identification tag disposed within
the second container, the method further comprising: acquiring
information associated with the first exterior radio frequency
identification tag via a second antenna disposed within the second
container and configured to be disposed exterior to the first
container; and transferring the information associated with the
first exterior radio frequency identification tag to a second
exterior radio frequency identification tag disposed outside of the
second container via the second antenna.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the acquiring includes
acquiring at a first time, the method further comprising: sending
the information at a second time to the external interrogator as a
beacon signal after a preset time interval has elapsed, the sending
being prevented when the container is open, the second time being
after the first time.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving at the
exterior radio frequency identification tag a polling signal from
the external interrogator at a first time when the container is
open, the polling signal being a request for the inventory
information; and sending the inventory information at a second time
to the external interrogator in response to the container being
closed, the second time being after the first time.
17. An apparatus, comprising: an antenna configured to be disposed
within an interior portion of a container and configured to receive
an inventory-related information associated with an object disposed
within the container; and a data storage component configured to
receive the inventory-related information received at the antenna
in response to a signal and after the container is closed.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: a radio
frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to an
exterior portion of the container, the radio frequency
identification tag configured to receive the inventory-related
information from the data storage component in response to a
request from an external interrogator.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: a radio
frequency identification tag configured to be disposed within the
interior portion of the container, the radio frequency
identification tag configured to be coupled to the antenna and the
data storage component, the inventory-related information being
transferred from the antenna to the data storage component via the
radio frequency identification tag in response to the container
being closed.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: a radio
frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to an
exterior portion of the container and configured to receive the
inventory-related information from the data storage component, the
data storage component configured to be prevented from transferring
the inventory indicator to an external interrogator when the
container is open.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/707,511, filed Dec. 18, 2003, now U.S. Pat.
No. 7,256,682, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for
performing the remote, real-time identification of the contents of
containers by means of multiple radio frequency identification
systems.
[0003] Radio Frequency ID (RFID) systems allow for the
identification of objects at a distance and out of line of sight.
They are comprised of transponders called radio frequency (RF) tags
and RF interrogators (also called readers). The tags are smaller,
sometimes as small as a grain of rice, less expensive than
interrogators, and are commonly attached to objects such as product
packages in stores. When an interrogator comes within range of an
RF tag, it may provide power to the tag via a querying signal, or
the RF tag may use stored power from a battery or capacitor to send
a radio frequency signal to be read by the RFID interrogator.
[0004] RF tags may consist of single integrated circuits, circuits
and antennae, or may incorporate more complex capabilities such as
computation, data storage, and sensing means. Some categories of
RFID tags include the following: passive tags that acquire power
via the electromagnetic field emitted by the interrogator,
semi-passive tags that respond similarly, but also use on-board
stored power for other functions, active tags that use their own
stored power to respond to an interrogator's signal, inductively
coupled tags that operate at low frequencies and short distances
via a coil antenna, single or dipole antenna-equipped tags that
operate at higher frequencies and longer distances, read-write tags
that can alter data stored upon them, full-duplex or half duplex
tags, collision arbitration tags that may be read in groups, or
non-collision tags that must be read individually.
[0005] RFID systems present a number of advantages over other
object marking and tracking systems. A radio frequency interrogator
may be able to read a tag when it is not in line of sight from the
interrogator, when the tag is dirty, or when a container obscures
the tag. RFID systems may identify objects at greater distances
than optical systems, may store information into read/write tags,
do not require a human operator, and may read tags hidden from
visual inspection for security purposes. These advantages make RFID
systems useful for tracking objects.
[0006] Generally, less expensive RFID systems have lesser
capabilities. For instance, passive tags may have very low cost per
unit, facilitating widespread use, but they also have limited
range. RFID systems may also fail when applied to groups of
objects, containers of multiple objects, or nested containers of
objects. For shipping and warehousing of large containers on
pallets, which often contain nested containers, inexpensive passive
tags on individual objects may not provide adequate identification
rates. Human manipulation of such objects may afford acceptable
identification rates, but it also increases the cost of identifying
each object. Active tags have greater range, but they may be
impractical in many instances because of cost, shelf life, RF
interference or other reasons. There is a need for a system that
allows for the use of multiple tag types for groups of objects in
potentially mobile containers that delivers a high read rate under
a variety of conditions, at a distance, and at a reasonable cost.
Such a system presents an advantage over prior art by surmounting
compatibility issues presented by environments equipped with RFID
systems of one type that need to process items tagged by a system
of a different type.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,928 discloses an apparatus and method
for a radio frequency document control system that enables the
location of documents, such as office files, to be automatically
and rapidly identified. The apparatus differs from this invention
in a number of regards: the intermediate transceiver is not
attached to a mobile container or described as operating while in
motion; it requires a personal computer or other computation means
to process the identity of documents; and its order of
communication between transceivers does not allow for switched,
efficient scanning of a container's content.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,446 discloses an interactive medication
container or console that holds or otherwise organizes one or more
medication vials or containers. The system automatically acquires
information from memory strips on the vials or containers that is
then made available to an external data processing system. It
differs from this invention in several important regards: the
medication container does not communicate via RFID with the
external world, and the invention does not facilitate the rapid
remote inventory of a mobile container.
[0009] U.S. Pat. Application No. 2002/0183882 A1 discloses a point
of sale and delivery method and system using communication with
remote computer and having features to read a large number of tags.
The system resembles that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,446. It
automatically acquires information from tags on the products within
a container and then presents them to an external data processing
system. It differs from this invention in several important
regards: the external container does not communicate its contents
via RFID with the external world. Instead, it uses, in one
embodiment, an external RFID system to restrict access to the
container. The invention does not provide the advantage of
translating between incompatible RFID systems. The invention does
not provide the advantage of effective remote inventory of
clustered or nested containers via an external RFID system.
SUMMARY
[0010] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for
enabling the remote, real-time identification of the contents of
containers by means of multiple radio frequency identification
(RFID) systems.
[0011] One embodiment of the apparatus comprises a container, an
on-board interrogator with a mobile stored power means, a
mechanical electrical switch affixed to the container opening, an
externally accessible radio frequency (RF) tag, multiple tags
affixed to objects sufficiently small to lie within the container,
and an external interrogator or interrogators which communicate
with the apparatus's externally accessible RF tag.
[0012] When the container is closed, the mechanical switch, which
is affixed to its opening, signals to the on-board interrogator
that it should function for a preset period of time. The
interrogator then queries RF tags within its interior and reads
their IDS into stored memory within the externally accessible RF
tag attached to the container. When the external interrogator polls
the externally accessible RF tag or detects the externally
accessible RF tag's beacon, it acquires the inventory of the
internal tags that was established at the time the container was
closed. Because the externally accessible RF tag may be an active
tag with significant stored power, a potentially more effective
frequency, and with less shielding by the container walls, it may
have a much greater range and capacity to surmount obstacles than
the RF tags within the container. The structure of the container,
externally accessible RF tag, and antenna may be configured such
that a desired successful read rate can be achieved given known
configurations of containers. The apparatus allows for automatic
translation between RFID systems: while the container's interior
may be populated with RF tags that cannot by read by an external
interrogator, as long as the externally accessible RF tag is
compatible, the entire group represented by the container and its
contents may be inventoried by the external interrogator.
[0013] Another embodiment of the apparatus comprises a small mobile
container such as an attache case, RFID tags, onboard interrogator,
and a remote RFID interrogator. Another embodiment comprises a
large mobile container such as a cargo container or vehicle or
trailer, RFID tags, on-board interrogator, and a remote RFID
interrogator. Another embodiment comprises a kit of components that
may be used to retrofit existing containers of various sizes to
give them the desired identification capabilities. Many embodiments
of the invention are suitable for nested use.
[0014] The foregoing general description and the following detailed
description are exemplary and explanatory only and do not restrict
the claims directed to the invention. The accompanying drawings,
which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification, illustrate some embodiments of the invention and
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment incorporated
in an attache case.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment incorporated
in a large container.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operating cycle
typical of inventorying the container.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operating cycle
typical of remotely acquiring the inventory of the container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The following detailed description of embodiments of this
invention and the attached figures are intended to provide a clear
description of the invention without limiting its scope.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the
invention, incorporated in an attache case. The RF tag 101 is
attached to an object or objects within the attache case. In this
embodiment, the RF tag 101 is a passive tag operating at 125 kHz,
13.56 MHz, or 900 MHz. The shape of the objects within the attache,
the shape of the attache, and the orientations of the RF tags with
respect to the objects and the interrogator/interrogator antenna
103 ensure that the rate of successful read operations performed by
the interrogator upon the interior objects is optimal. In an
alternate embodiment, compartments or dividers or multiple
interrogators might perform the same function for containers and
objects of different geometries. Externally accessible RF tag 102
is an active or semi-passive tag that contains an inventory of the
tags contained within the attache as the identification code that
it passes to external interrogators, either by beacon or in
response to a polling signal from an interrogator. The externally
accessible RF tag 102 may also be made to respond to activation of
a physical switch or at preset time intervals or for a period after
a triggering event. Tab 104 toggles electrical switch 105 when the
attache is opened or when the attache is closed. Switch 105
initiates interrogation by interrogator/interrogator antenna 103,
powered by stored power means 106, comprising an electric battery,
fuel cell, or other stored power means. Data storage means and
optional data processing means may reside in 103 or 106. The
components other than the container may collectively represent a
kit that can be added to an ordinary container to give it the
advantages presented by this invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment incorporated
in a large container. The RF tag 201 is attached to an object or
objects within the container 204. In this embodiment, the RF tag
201 is a passive tag operating at 125 kHz, 13.56 MHz, or 900 MHz.
Externally accessible RF tag 202 is an active or semi-passive tag
that contains an inventory of the tags contained within the
container as the identification code that it passes to external
interrogators, either by beacon or in response to a polling signal
from an interrogator. The externally accessible RF tag 202 may also
be made to respond to activation of a physical switch or at preset
time intervals or for a period after a triggering event. When the
container door opens or when a motion sensor is tripped, electrical
switch 205 is toggled. Switch 205 initiates interrogation by either
of the two interrogator/interrogator antenna 203, powered by stored
power means 206, comprising an electric battery, fuel cell, or
other stored power means or by optional externally supplied power.
Data storage means and optional data processing means may reside in
202. The components other than the container may collectively
represent a kit that can be added to an ordinary container to give
it the advantages presented by this invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operating cycle
typical of inventorying the container. In 301, the cycle is
initiated, generally when the apparatus is powered on or the stored
power means is recharged or refueled. In 302, the apparatus is in a
power conserving state, waiting for the container door switch to
toggle it into inventory acquiring mode. In other embodiments a
motion sensor or timer circuit might trigger the acquisition of
inventory. In 303, once the apparatus has entered inventory
acquiring mode, it polls the RF tags attached to internal objects,
reads the RF tags' response signals, and stores the identification
values into the on-board memory means, such as EEPROM memory. In
304, the apparatus checks to see if additional tags are available
within the container for reading. If so, control returns to 303. If
not, then control proceeds to 305, where a test is made for whether
the interrogation period time interval has elapsed. If not, then
control is returned to 303. If so, then the apparatus ends internal
interrogator polling, returning to power conserving mode and ending
the inventorying cycle.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operating cycle
typical of remotely acquiring the inventory of the container. The
cycle begins in 401, generally after the inventorying cycle of FIG.
3. In 402, either the externally accessible RF tag sends a beacon
at preset intervals or waits for a signal from an external
interrogator, depending on the RF tag type or mode of operation. In
403, once a polling signal has been detected, the apparatus
performs a test to determine whether the container door is open. In
404, control returns to 403 if the door is open to prevent
transmission of erroneous inventory information. If the container
door is closed, control proceeds to 405, whereupon the apparatus
sends the inventory of the container's contents to the external
interrogator.
* * * * *