U.S. patent application number 15/403171 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-12 for wireless rfid-based hand sensory apparatus with contextual antenna selection.
This patent application is currently assigned to Motorola Mobility LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Motorola Mobility LLC. Invention is credited to Scott P. DeBates, Mary Khun Hor-Lao, Douglas Alfred Lautner, Jagatkumar V. Shah.
Application Number | 20180196978 15/403171 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62750248 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180196978 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DeBates; Scott P. ; et
al. |
July 12, 2018 |
Wireless RFID-Based Hand Sensory Apparatus with Contextual Antenna
Selection
Abstract
In aspects of a wireless RFID-based hand sensory apparatus with
contextual antenna selection, a wearable article is worn by a user
who moves items that each have an RFID tag. A tracking system
implemented in the wearable article includes a RFID reader designed
to interrogate the RFID tags and receive an identification response
from each of the RFID tags associated with the respective items.
The tracking system also includes an omnidirectional antenna usable
by the RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tags of a group of the
items, and includes a narrow beam antenna usable by the RFID reader
to interrogate the RFID tag of a selected item. The wearable
article can be a glove of a pair of gloves with the narrow beam
antenna implemented in the index finger of the glove, and the
narrow beam antenna is directional based on where the user points
the index finger.
Inventors: |
DeBates; Scott P.; (Crystal
Lake, IL) ; Shah; Jagatkumar V.; (Lake In The Hills,
IL) ; Hor-Lao; Mary Khun; (Chicago, IL) ;
Lautner; Douglas Alfred; (Round Lake, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Motorola Mobility LLC |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Motorola Mobility LLC
Chicago
IL
|
Family ID: |
62750248 |
Appl. No.: |
15/403171 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 7/10396 20130101;
G06K 7/10356 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06K 7/10 20060101
G06K007/10 |
Claims
1. A system, comprising: a wearable article worn by a user who
moves items, each of the items having a radio-frequency
identification (RFID) tag, and the wearable article is a glove; a
tracking system implemented in the wearable article, the tracking
system comprising: a RFID reader designed to interrogate the RFID
tags and receive an identification response from each of the RFID
tags associated with the respective items; an omnidirectional
antenna usable by the RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tags of a
group of the items; a narrow beam antenna usable by the RFID reader
to interrogate the RFID tag of a selected one of the items; and a
circuit to switch between the omnidirectional antenna and the
narrow beam antenna usable by the RFID reader, the circuit
activated by contact between two contact regions of the glove.
2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the wearable article
is the glove of a pair of gloves and the circuit is activated by
contact of a thumb of the glove to an index finger of the glove as
the two contact regions of the glove.
3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the narrow beam
antenna is implemented in the index finger of the glove, and the
narrow beam antenna is directional based on where the user points
the index finger of the glove.
4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein: the selected one of
the items is a package for delivery; and the tracking system
includes a processing system to execute tracking logic that
verifies the selected one of the items corresponds to an order for
the item based on the identification response to the RFID reader
from the RFID tag of the item.
5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the tracking logic
generates user feedback as verification that the selected one of
the items corresponds to the order for the item, the user feedback
including at least one of a visible verification, an audio
verification, or a haptic feedback verification that the item
corresponds to the order for the item.
6. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein: the group of items
are packages for delivery; and the tracking logic verifies that the
group of the items corresponds to an order for the group of the
items based on the identification responses to the RFID reader from
the respective RFID tags of the items.
7. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the tracking logic
initiates a switch of the RFID reader from using the
omnidirectional antenna to using the narrow beam antenna.
8. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the tracking logic
turns off the RFID reader and initiates an alternate RFID reader to
interrogate the RFID tags and receive an identification response
from each of the RFID tags associated with the respective items,
the alternate RFID reader implemented external to the tracking
system and the wearable article.
9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein: the tracking system
that is implemented in the wearable article includes a force sensor
to register a force on the selected one of the items; and the RFID
reader switches from use of the omnidirectional antenna to the
narrow beam antenna based on the force on the selected one of the
items.
10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein: the tracking system
that is implemented in the wearable article includes a motion
sensor to sense motion of the glove; and the RFID reader switches
from use of the omnidirectional antenna to the narrow beam antenna
based on the force on the selected one of the items and the motion
of the wearable article.
11. A method, comprising: initiating a radio-frequency
identification (RFID) reader in a wearable article to interrogate
RFID tags associated with items that are moved by a user, each of
the items having a RFID tag and movable with the wearable article
worn by the user who moves the items, the wearable article being a
glove; switching between an omnidirectional antenna usable by the
RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tags of a group of the items
and a narrow beam antenna usable by the RFID reader to interrogate
the RFID tag of a selected one of the items, said switching between
the omnidirectional antenna and the narrow beam antenna with a
circuit that is activated by contact between two contact regions of
the glove; and receiving an identification response from each of
the RFID tags associated with the respective items responsive to
the RFID reader interrogation using one of the omnidirectional
antenna or the narrow beam antenna.
12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the wearable article
is the glove of a pair of gloves and the circuit that is activated
by contact of a thumb of the glove to an index finger of the glove
as the two contact regions of the glove.
13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the narrow beam
antenna is implemented in the index finger of the glove, and the
narrow beam antenna is directional based on where the user points
the index finger of the glove.
14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the selected one of
the items is a package for delivery, and the method further
comprising: verifying that the selected one of the items
corresponds to an order for the item based on the identification
response to the RFID reader from the RFID tag of the item.
15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:
generating user feedback as verification that the selected one of
the items corresponds to the order for the item, the user feedback
including at least one of a visible verification, an audio
verification, or a haptic feedback verification that the item
corresponds to the order for the item.
16. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising: turning
off the RFID reader; and initiating an alternate RFID reader to
interrogate the RFID tags and receive an identification response
from each of the RFID tags associated with the respective items,
the alternate RFID reader implemented external to the wearable
article.
17. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:
registering a force on the selected one of the items with a force
sensor of a tracking system implemented in the wearable article
worn by the user; sensing motion of the wearable article with a
motion sensor of the tracking system; and switching the RFID reader
from using the omnidirectional antenna to using the narrow beam
antenna based on the force on the selected one of the items and the
motion of the wearable article.
18. A system, comprising: a wearable article worn by a user who
moves items, each of the items having a radio-frequency
identification (RFID) tag; a RFID reader designed to interrogate
the RFID tags and receive an identification response from each of
the RFID tags associated with the respective items; a tracking
system implemented in the wearable article, the tracking system
comprising: a force sensor to register a force on the selected one
of the items; and an antenna system usable by a RFID reader, the
antenna system including an omnidirectional antenna usable by the
RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tags of a group of the items,
and the antenna system including a narrow beam antenna usable by
the RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tag of a selected one of
the items, the RFID reader switching from use of the
omnidirectional antenna to the narrow beam antenna based on the
force on the selected one of the items.
19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the wearable article
is a glove of a pair of gloves and the tracking system implemented
in the glove comprises a circuit to switch from the omnidirectional
antenna to the narrow beam antenna usable by the RFID reader, the
circuit activated by contact of a thumb of the glove to an index
finger of the glove.
20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the narrow beam
antenna is implemented in the index finger of the glove, and the
narrow beam antenna is directional based on where the user points
the index finger of the glove.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The on-line shopping market is ever-expanding, primarily due
to the convenience afforded a shopper who can shop, order, pay for,
and have products delivered, all from a computing device in the
comfort of home. A downside to the on-line shopping market from a
customer standpoint is waiting for an ordered product to be
delivered, and hoping that the product ordered is actually the
product delivered. One of the challenges for product inventory,
handling, and distribution companies is guaranteeing that the
products pulled to fulfill a customer order are the correct
products as ordered, and before the products are shipped out to the
customer. Conventional product handling and distribution systems
rely on the warehouse staff pulling the correct, ordered products
from the warehouse shelves and then sending the ordered products to
others who pack and ship the products. If incorrect products are
not detected and ultimately shipped to the consumer, the results
are lost time and money for a distribution company and an
unsatisfactory user experience for the consumer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] Aspects of a wireless RFID-based hand sensory apparatus with
contextual antenna selection are described with reference to the
following Figures. The same numbers may be used throughout to
reference like features and components that are shown in the
Figures:
[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system in which aspects of a
wireless RFID-based hand sensory apparatus with contextual antenna
selection can be implemented.
[0004] FIG. 2 further illustrates an example system in which
aspects of a wireless RFID-based hand sensory apparatus with
contextual antenna selection can be implemented.
[0005] FIG. 3 illustrates example method(s) of a wireless
RFID-based hand sensory apparatus with contextual antenna selection
in accordance with techniques described herein.
[0006] FIG. 4 illustrates various components of an example device
that can implement aspects of a wireless RFID-based hand sensory
apparatus with contextual antenna selection.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0007] A wireless RFID-based hand sensory apparatus with contextual
antenna selection is described, and may be implemented as a
wearable article that is worn by a user who moves items and
objects. For example, wearable articles may be a pair of wireless,
sensor-based gloves with force and/or motion sensors integrated in
one or both of the gloves of the pair of gloves. The pair of gloves
are wearable by a user who pushes or grasps and moves items, or a
container of items, and a tracking system is implemented in at
least one glove of the pair of gloves. The pair of gloves
implemented as the wireless RFID-based hand sensory apparatus are
designed to be worn by a person who works as a package handler for
a package delivery company, such as in a package handling and
distribution facility. Although the RFID-based hand sensory
apparatus is described throughout as being implemented as the pair
of gloves, it should be noted that the techniques described herein
can be implemented for any form of a wearable article or apparatus
on the hand or foot of a user, such as a glove or gloves, and
exoskeleton system or apparatus, a bandage or other hand covering,
a ring worn by the user, a mechanism (e.g., a sticker) attachable
to the palm of a user's hand, a sock or other foot covering, a shoe
or boot insert, and/or for any other wearable article, attached
item, or mechanism that attaches to an appendage of a user.
[0008] The tracking system has an omnidirectional antenna usable by
the RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tags of a group of the
items, and also has a narrow beam antenna usable by the RFID reader
to interrogate the RFID tag of a selected one of the items. The
narrow beam antenna can be implemented in the index finger of one
of the gloves as the wearable article, and the narrow beam antenna
is directional based on where the user points the index finger of
the glove. A circuit is implemented to switch from the
omnidirectional antenna to the narrow beam antenna in the glove,
and the circuit can be activated by contact of a thumb and an index
finger of the glove. The pair of gloves implemented with the RFID
reader and dual antenna system provides a portable RFID reader that
can switch from wide scanning to a more narrow, focused scanning by
the user who wears the pair of gloves naturally pointing to an
item, or picking up and moving an item. This alleviates the problem
of using larger, wide scan RFID readers that are designed to scan a
large quantity of items over a broad range all at once,
particularly when a user wants to quickly identify only a single
item, or a small group of items.
[0009] The tracking system includes the force sensors in a wearable
article to register a force on an item, such as an individual item,
an object, a package that may contain an item or items, or a
container of one or more items. For example, various items may be
batched together in a container to fulfill a consumer products
order in a package handling and distribution facility. Each of the
items has a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag that uniquely
identifies one of the respective items. The force sensors in a
glove or pair of gloves implemented as the wearable article can
include a palm force sensor, or sensors, as well as finger force
sensors. The force sensors in a wearable article register a force
on an item, or on the container of items. The tracking system that
is implemented in the wearable article may also include a motion
sensor to sense motion of the wearable article. In implementations,
the tracking system includes a RFID reader integrated in the
wearable article and designed to interrogate the RFID tags and
receive an identification response from each of the RFID tags
associated with the respective items.
[0010] The tracking system also includes tracking logic that can
initiate switching the RFID reader from using the omnidirectional
antenna to using the narrow beam antenna. The tracking logic can
initiate the RFID reader switch from use of the omnidirectional
antenna to the narrow beam antenna based on the force on the
selected item when a force sensor registers a force on the selected
item. The force that is detected by the force sensors may correlate
to the force of a grasp or the force of a push on the item. The
RFID reader can also switch from use of the omnidirectional antenna
to the narrow beam antenna based on the force on the selected item
and based on the motion of the wearable article, as sensed by the
motion sensor in the wearable article. The tracking logic can also
turn off the RFID reader in the wearable article and initiate an
alternate RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tags for the
identification responses from each of the RFID tags associated with
the respective items, such as an alternate RFID reader implemented
external to the tracking system and the wearable article.
[0011] Further, for the pair of gloves, the tracking system can be
implemented in both of the gloves, and respective wireless radio
systems of the tracking systems are used to synchronize tracking
data between the tracking systems of the pair of gloves, and with
other devices. In aspects of a wireless RFID-based hand sensory
apparatus with contextual antenna selection, the items or container
of items that are handled by the user who wears the wearable
article may be packages for delivery, such as a batch of products
that have been ordered by a customer and are collected into a
single container for packaging and shipping to the customer. The
tracking logic can verify that an item, or group of items,
corresponds to an order for the item or group of items based on the
identification responses to the RFID reader from each of the RFID
tags associated with the respective items. The tracking logic can
also generate real-time user feedback as verification that an item
corresponds to the order for the item. In implementations, the user
feedback can be a visible verification (e.g., displayed on a
display device), an audio verification, or a haptic feedback
verification that the item corresponds to the order for the
item.
[0012] While features and concepts of a wireless RFID-based hand
sensory apparatus with contextual antenna selection can be
implemented in any number of different devices, systems,
environments, and/or configurations, aspects of a wireless
RFID-based hand sensory apparatus with contextual antenna selection
are described in the context of the following example devices,
systems, and methods.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 in which aspects of
a wireless RFID-based hand sensory apparatus with contextual
antenna selection can be implemented, such as a pair of wireless,
sensor-based gloves 102 as the wearable articles. As noted above,
although a wearable article implemented as a RFID-based hand
sensory apparatus is described throughout as a pair of gloves, the
techniques described herein can be implemented for any form of a
wearable article or apparatus on a hand or foot of a user. The
example system 100 includes the pair of gloves 102 that are a
right-hand glove 104 and a left-hand glove 106, as viewed from the
palm side of the gloves. The back 108 of the left-hand glove 106 is
also shown at 110 with the glove flipped over. The pair of gloves
102 are designed to be worn by a user who pushes or grasps and
moves items, such as person who works as a package handler for a
package delivery company in a package handling and distribution
facility.
[0014] As noted above, a tracking system 112 integrated with the
pair of gloves 102 can register a force applied to push or grasp
and pick up an item or a container of items, as well as detect
motion when a glove or the pair of gloves 102 move while the user
is holding the item or the container of items. The tracking system
112 can be implemented in one or both gloves of the pair of gloves
102. Although FIG. 1 generally illustrates the tracking system
implemented in the left-hand glove 106, the tracking system 112 may
be implemented in the right-hand glove 104, or implemented in both
of the gloves of the pair of gloves 102. Unless specifically
indicated, the term "glove" as used herein applies to either of the
right-hand glove 104, the left-hand glove 106, or both gloves of
the pair of gloves 102.
[0015] The tracking system 112 includes a force sensor 114, or
force sensors, integrated in the gloves 102 to register a force of
a push or grasp on an item or a container of items when a user
pushes or picks up and moves the item or the container. The force
sensors 114 in a glove can include a palm force sensor 116, or
sensors, as well as finger force sensors 118. For example, the
right-hand glove 104 is shown having two palm force sensors 116
integrated in the palm region 120 of the glove. Although the
right-hand glove 104 is shown having the two palm force sensors
116, a glove may be implemented with one palm force sensor 116 of
the tracking system 112, or with more than two palm force sensors.
In an implementation, a glove may include only a palm force sensor
116, or sensors, of the tracking system. The fingers 122 of the
right-hand glove 104 do not include finger force sensors in this
example.
[0016] The left-hand glove 106 is also shown having two palm force
sensors 116 integrated in the palm region 124 of the glove.
Additionally, the fingers 126 of the left-hand glove 106 include
the finger force sensors 118. As generally described herein, the
thumb of a glove is referred to collectively as one of the fingers
126 of the glove. Further, although all of the fingers 126 of the
left-hand glove 106 are shown having an integrated finger force
sensor 118, any number of the fingers 126 of the glove may or may
not include a finger force sensor.
[0017] In implementations, the tracking system 112 can also include
a motion sensor 128, or motion sensors, to sense motion of the
glove as the user picks up and moves an item, or a container of
items, while wearing the pair of gloves 102. The tracking system
112 may be implemented with one or various motion sensors 128, such
as a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and/or other types of motion
sensors to sense motion of the glove or in the pair of gloves 102
in which the tracking system 112 is integrated.
[0018] Generally, the tracking system 112 can be implemented with
computing and/or electronic device components such as a processing
system 130 (e.g., one or more processors), a memory 132, and any
number and combination of various components as further described
with reference to the example device shown in FIG. 4. Additionally,
the tracking system 112 includes a power source, such as a battery,
to power the various components of the tracking system.
[0019] Further, the tracking system 112 can include various,
different wireless radio systems 134, such as for Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth.TM., Mobile Broadband, LTE, Near Field Communication
(NFC), or any other wireless radio system or format for
communication via respective wireless networks (e.g., the wireless
network as described with reference to FIG. 2). Generally, the
tracking system 112 implements the wireless radio systems 134 that
each include a radio device, antenna 136, and chipset that is
implemented for cellular, wireless, and/or other network
communication with other devices, networks, and services. A
wireless radio system 134 can be configured to implement any
suitable communication protocol or standard.
[0020] The tracking system 112 includes tracking logic 138 that can
be implemented as a software application or module, such as
computer-executable software instructions that are executable with
a processor (e.g., with the processing system 130). Similarly, the
tracking system 112 may also include an operating system as a
software application. The tracking system 112 and/or the operating
system can be stored on computer-readable storage memory (e.g., the
memory 132), such as any suitable memory device or electronic data
storage implemented with the tracking system.
[0021] The tracking logic 138 receives force sensor inputs 140 from
the force sensor or sensors 114, and can receive motion sensor
inputs 142 from the motion sensor or sensors 128. The force sensor
inputs 140 and/or the motion sensor inputs 142 are an indication to
the tracking logic 138 that a user who is wearing the pair of
gloves 102 has picked up and is moving an item, or a container of
items. The lifting motion to pick up an item is determined by the
tracking logic 138 based on the force sensor inputs 140 and/or the
motion sensor inputs 142. The tracking logic 138 is implemented to
then initiate an RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tags of the
items based on the force of the grasp on the item or the container,
and based on the motion of the glove or pair of gloves 102. The
RFID reader interrogates the RFID tags of the items and receives an
identification response from each of the RFID tags associated with
the respective items (e.g., a unique identifier of each of the
interrogated items). The interrogation scanning of the RFID tags is
implemented to scan in close proximity (e.g., within one meter) so
as to receive the identification responses from only the item or
items in the container that has been picked up and is currently
being moved, while avoiding detection of other items in the area or
region.
[0022] The RFID reader that is initiated to interrogate the RFID
tags of the items can be implemented as a RFID reader 144 of the
tracking system 112 in at least one glove of the pair of gloves
102. In aspects of a wireless RFID-based hand sensory apparatus as
described herein, the tracking system 112 has a dual antenna system
146 with an omnidirectional antenna 148 usable by the RFID reader
144 to interrogate the RFID tags of a group of items, and also has
a narrow beam antenna 150 usable by the RFID reader 144 to
interrogate the RFID tag of a selected item. The narrow beam
antenna 150 can be implemented in the index finger 152 of one of
the gloves (e.g., as shown in the right-hand glove 104), and the
narrow beam antenna is directional based on where the user points
the index finger of the glove. An antenna switching circuit 154 is
implemented to switch from the omnidirectional antenna 148 to the
narrow beam antenna 150 in the glove, and the circuit 154 can be
activated with antenna switching circuit contacts 156, such as by
contact of a glove thumb 158 and the glove index finger 152 of the
right-hand glove 104.
[0023] The pair of gloves 102 implemented with the RFID reader 144
and dual antenna system 146 provides a portable RFID reader that
can switch from wide scanning to a more narrow, focused scanning by
the user who wears the pair of gloves 102, naturally pointing to an
item, or picking up and moving an item. This alleviates the problem
of using larger, wide scan RFID readers that are designed to scan a
large quantity of items over a broad range all at once,
particularly when a user wants to directionally scan to quickly
identify only a single item, or a small group of items.
[0024] The tracking system 112 also includes the tracking logic 138
that can initiate switching the RFID reader 144 from using the
omnidirectional antenna 148 to using the narrow beam antenna 150.
In implementations, the tracking logic 138 can initiate the RFID
reader 144 switching from use of the omnidirectional antenna 148 to
the narrow beam antenna 150 based on the force of the grasp on a
selected item when a force sensor 114 registers a force of the
grasp on the selected item. Similarly, the RFID reader 144 can also
switch from use of the omnidirectional antenna 148 to the narrow
beam antenna 150 based on the force of the grasp on the selected
item and based on the motion of the glove, as sensed by the motion
sensor 128 in the glove of the pair of gloves. The tracking logic
138 can also turn off the RFID reader 144 in the pair of gloves and
initiate an alternate RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tags for
the identification responses from each of the RFID tags associated
with the respective items, such as an alternate RFID reader
implemented external to the tracking system and the pair of
gloves.
[0025] Further, the tracking system 112 can include the wireless
radio system or systems 134 to communicate with an independent
device that is in communication with the tracking system 112 of the
at least one glove, and the RFID reader that interrogates the RFID
tags of the items is implemented in the independent device. The
RFID reader may be any wearable or other proximate device that is
closely associated with the user who is wearing the pair of gloves
102 and handling the items.
[0026] Additionally, as noted above, the tracking system 112 may be
implemented in both gloves of the pair of gloves 102, and the
wireless radio system 134 in each of the respective tracking
systems 112 for the right-hand glove 104 and the left-hand glove
106 can be utilized to synchronize package tracking data 160 and
the timing of data reporting between the tracking systems of the
pair of gloves (at 162). The package tracking data 160 can include
the unique package or item identifiers and any other tracking data
related to the identification of an item, a package, or a container
of items that a user picks up and moves while wearing the pair of
gloves 102. Further, as described with reference to FIG. 2, a
wireless radio system 134 of the tracking system 112 can
communicate the package tracking data 160 to another, independent
device that is in communication with the tracking system 112 of the
glove, or as implemented in both the left-hand and the right-hand
gloves of the pair of gloves 102.
[0027] In aspects of a wireless RFID-based hand sensory apparatus
with contextual antenna selection, the items or container of items
that are handled by the user who wears the pair of gloves 102 may
be packages for delivery, such as a batch of products that have
been ordered by a customer and are collected into a single
container for packaging and shipping to the customer. The tracking
logic 138 can verify that an item, or group of items, corresponds
to an order for the item or group of items based on the
identification responses to the RFID reader 144 from each of the
RFID tags associated with the respective items. The tracking logic
138 can also generate real-time user feedback as verification that
an item corresponds to the order for the item. In implementations,
the user feedback can be a visible verification (e.g., displayed on
a display device, or a light indication), an audio verification, or
a haptic feedback verification that the item corresponds to the
order for the item.
[0028] FIG. 2 further illustrates an example system 200 for a
wireless RFID-based hand sensory apparatus with contextual antenna
selection as described with reference to the pair of wireless,
sensor-based gloves shown in FIG. 1. As noted above, a user can
wear the pair of gloves 102 (i.e., the right-hand glove 104 and the
left-hand glove 106 as wearable articles) while handling and moving
items 202 (e.g., packages, products, objects, etc.), or a container
204 of items 206, in a package handling and distribution facility.
The tracking system 112 that is integrated in the right-hand glove
104, the left-hand glove 106, or in both gloves of the pair of
gloves 102 includes the wireless radio system 134, which can
communicate (at 208) the package tracking data 160 to another
device 210 that is in communication with the tracking system 112 of
the glove or pair of gloves.
[0029] In implementations, the device 210 may be any type of mobile
phone, tablet device, computing device (e.g., portable and desktop
computers), consumer electronic device, or other type of computing
and electronic device that is implemented to communicate, via a
network 212 (e.g., a Wi-Fi network) with the tracking system 112
that is integrated in the glove or gloves 102. The device 210 can
be implemented with various components, such as an integrated
display device 214, and with any number and combination of various
components as further described with reference to the example
device shown in FIG. 4.
[0030] The package tracking data 160 that is communicated to the
device 210 can include the unique item identifiers 216 of the items
(e.g., a unique identifier of each of the interrogated items) as
received in the identification response from each of the RFID tags
218 associated with the respective items 202. An RFID reader, such
as the RFID reader 144 of the tracking system 112 in at least one
glove of the pair of gloves 102, can be used to interrogate the
RFID tag 218 of each of the items 202 using the omnidirectional
antenna 148, or the items 206 in the container 204 using the narrow
beam antenna 150 to directionally scan just one item or the group
of items 206. An RFID tag memory 220 in each respective RFID tag
218 can store a unique item identifier 216 for each respective one
of the items 202, or for each of the items 206 in the container
204.
[0031] The device 210 can include a package tracking system 222
(e.g., a software application) to track the packages (e.g., the
items 202, or the items 206 in the container 204) in a package
handling and distribution facility as the user picks up and moves
the packages while wearing the pair of gloves 102. The package
tracking system 222 at the device 210 can receive the package
tracking data 160 from the tracking system 112 of the pair of
gloves 102, and verify that an item 202, or group of items 206
(e.g., packages for delivery to a customer), corresponds to a
consumer order for the item or group of items based on the
identification responses to an RFID reader from each of the RFID
tags 218 associated with the respective items 202, 206.
[0032] The device 210 can also receive user feedback 224 from the
tracking system 112 of the pair of gloves 102. The tracking logic
138 can generate the user feedback 224 in real-time as verification
that an item corresponds to the order for the item. The user
feedback 224 can be communicated to the device 210 as any type of
audio or visual feedback, such as for display on the integrated
display device 214 to indicate that all of the identified items
correspond to the consumer order for the items before they are
shipped to the customer.
[0033] As noted above, an RFID reader that is initiated to
interrogate the RFID tags 218 of each of the items 202, 206 can be
implemented as the RFID reader 144 of the tracking system 112 in at
least one glove of the pair of gloves 102. Further, the tracking
system 112 can communicate with the independent device 210, which
can implement an RFID reader 228 that interrogates the RFID tags
218 of the items 202, or the items 206 in the container 204.
Generally, the RFID reader may be any wearable or other proximate
device 230 that is closely associated with the user who is wearing
the pair of gloves 102 and handling the items so that the
interrogation scanning of the RFID tags 218 is in close proximity,
and the identification responses are received from only the item
202 or the items 206 in the container 204 that has been picked up
and is currently being moved, while avoiding detection of other
items in the area or region.
[0034] The RFID tag 218 is implemented with each item 202, 206 for
two-way wireless communication with the RFID readers, such as the
RFID reader 144 (also referred to as a RFID interrogator) that
interrogates the RFID tag 218 for the unique item identifier 216
that is stored in the RFID tag memory 220. Generally, RFID tags 218
are small electronic tags or labels that can be programmed with
data and other information. The RFID reader 144 can transmit an
interrogation signal as a broadcast message requesting RFID tags
that are in range to return the data and information that the RFID
tags have stored. The RFID tags 218 can then wirelessly communicate
the data and information to the RFID reader via a radio frequency
(RF) communication channel, which the RFID reader 144 receives as
RFID tag information.
[0035] An RFID tag 218 can include a RFID antenna 232, and a
transmitter and receiver (or may be implemented as a transceiver)
for two-way communication with an RFID reader. In response to
receipt of an interrogation signal, an ASIC/CPU module of the RFID
tag 218 formulates a response that may include data (e.g., the item
identifier 216) from the RFID tag, and the response is wirelessly
transmitted to the RFID reader. The response signals from a RFID
tag 218 can be communicated using low frequency (LF), high
frequency (HF), or ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio waves. The RFID
tag memory 220 (e.g., non-volatile memory) can be accessed by an
RFID reader via a radio frequency (RF) interface 234 of the RFID
tag 218.
[0036] The network 212 generally represents any type of
communication and data network, and any of the server and devices,
as well as the tracking system 112 described herein, can
communicate via the network 212 (or combination of networks), such
as for data communication between the device 210 and the tracking
system 112 that is integrated in one or both gloves of the pair of
gloves 102. The network 212 can be implemented to include wired
and/or wireless network. The network can also be implemented using
any type of network topology and/or communication protocol, and can
be represented or otherwise implemented as a combination of two or
more networks, to include cellular networks, IP-based networks,
and/or the Internet. The network 212 may also include mobile
operator networks that are managed by a network provider of a
cellular network, a mobile network operator, and/or other network
operators, such as a communication service provider, mobile phone
provider, and/or Internet service provider.
[0037] Example method 300 is described with reference to FIG. 3 in
accordance with implementations of a wireless RFID-based hand
sensory apparatus with contextual antenna selection. Generally, any
services, components, modules, methods, and/or operations described
herein can be implemented using software, firmware, hardware (e.g.,
fixed logic circuitry), manual processing, or any combination
thereof. Some operations of the example methods may be described in
the general context of executable instructions stored on
computer-readable storage memory that is local and/or remote to a
computer processing system, and implementations can include
software applications, programs, functions, and the like.
Alternatively or in addition, any of the functionality described
herein can be performed, at least in part, by one or more hardware
logic components, such as, and without limitation,
Field-programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Application-specific
Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Application-specific Standard Products
(ASSPs), System-on-a-chip systems (SoCs), Complex Programmable
Logic Devices (CPLDs), and the like.
[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates example method(s) 300 of a wireless
RFID-based hand sensory apparatus with contextual antenna selection
as described herein, and the method is generally described with
reference to the tracking system implemented in a wearable article.
The order in which the method is described is not intended to be
construed as a limitation, and any number or combination of the
described method operations can be performed in any order to
perform a method, or an alternate method.
[0039] At 302, a force on a selected item is registered with a
force sensor of a tracking system implemented in a wearable
article, where the selected item has a radio-frequency
identification (RFID) tag. For example, the tracking system 112
includes the force sensor 114, or force sensors, integrated in the
pair of gloves 102 (e.g., wearable articles) to register a force of
the grasp on an item 202 or a container 204 of the items 206 when a
user picks up and moves the item or the container. The force is
registered with a force sensor 114 of the tracking system 112 that
is implemented in at least one glove of a pair of gloves 102 that
are wearable by the user.
[0040] At 304, motion of the wearable article is sensed with a
motion sensor of a tracking system. For example, the tracking
system 112 also includes the motion sensor 128, or motion sensors,
to sense motion of the glove or gloves 102 as the user picks up and
moves an item 202, or the container 204 of the items 206, while
wearing the pair of gloves.
[0041] At 306, a RFID reader in the wearable article is initiated
to interrogate the RFID tags associated with items that are movable
by a user who moves the items. For example, the tracking logic 138
implemented in the tracking system 112 receives the force sensor
inputs 140 from the force sensor or sensors 114, and receives the
motion sensor inputs 142 from the motion sensor or sensors 128. The
force sensor inputs 140 and the motion sensor inputs 142 are an
indication to the tracking logic 138 that a user who is wearing the
pair of gloves 102 has picked up and is moving an item 202, or is
moving the container 204 of the items 206. The tracking logic 138
initiates an RFID reader 144 of the tracking system 112 to
interrogate the RFID tags 218 of the items 202 using the
omnidirectional antenna 148, or to interrogate the RFID tags 218 of
the items 206 based on the force of the grasp on the item or the
container, and based on the motion of the glove or pair of gloves
102. Alternatively, the tracking logic 138 can turn off the RFID
reader 144 in the pair of gloves 102 and initiate an alternate RFID
reader 228 to interrogate the RFID tags 218, where the alternate
RFID reader is implemented external to the pair of gloves.
[0042] At 308, the RFID reader is switched from using the
omnidirectional antenna to using the narrow beam antenna based on
the force on the selected one of the items and the motion of the
wearable article. For example, the dual antenna system 146 is
switched between the omnidirectional antenna 148 that is usable by
the RFID reader 144 to interrogate the RFID tags 218 of a group of
the items 202 and the narrow beam antenna 150 usable by the RFID
reader 144 to interrogate the RFID tag 218 of a selected item, or
small group of items. In implementations, the narrow beam antenna
150 is implemented in the glove index finger 152 of the right-hand
glove 104 of the pair of gloves 102, and the narrow beam antenna is
directional based on where the user points the index finger of the
glove. The antenna switching circuit 154 switches from the
omnidirectional antenna 148 to the narrow beam antenna 150 in the
glove, and the circuit 154 can be activated with the antenna
switching circuit contacts 156, such as by contact of the glove
thumb 158 and the glove index finger 152 of the glove 104.
[0043] At 310, an identification response is received from each of
the RFID tags associated with the respective items responsive to
the RFID reader interrogation of the RFID tags using one of the
omnidirectional antenna or the narrow beam antenna. For example,
the RFID reader 144 of the tracking system 112 that interrogates
the RFID tags 218 of the items 202, 206 receives an identification
response from each of the RFID tags 218 associated with the
respective items (e.g., as the unique item identifier 216 of each
of the interrogated items). In implementations, the RFID reader 144
interrogates the RFID tags 218 of the items 202 using the
omnidirectional antenna 148, and the RFID reader 144 interrogates
the RFID tags 218 of the items 206 using the narrow beam antenna
150 when the user picks up and moves the container 204 while
wearing the pair of gloves 102.
[0044] At 312, a selected one of the items is verified as
corresponding to an order for the item based on the identification
response to the RFID reader from the RFID tag of the selected item.
For example, the items 202 or the container 204 of the items 206
that are handled by the user who wears the pair of gloves 102 may
be packages for delivery, such as a batch of products that have
been ordered by a customer and are collected into the single
container 204 for packaging and shipping to the customer. The
tracking logic 138 verifies that an item, or the group of items,
corresponds to an order for the item or group of items based on the
identification responses to the RFID reader 144 from each of the
RFID tags 218 associated with the respective items 202, 206.
[0045] At 314, user feedback is generated as verification that the
selected one of the items corresponds to the order for the item,
the user feedback including at least one of a visible verification,
an audio verification, or a haptic feedback verification that the
item corresponds to the order for the item. For example, the
tracking logic 138 generates and initiates the user feedback 224
that is communicated to the device 210 as any type of audio or
visual feedback, such as for display on the integrated display
device 214 of the device 210 to indicate that an identified item
corresponds to the consumer order for the item before it is shipped
to the customer.
[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates various components of an example device
400 in which aspects of a wireless RFID-based hand sensory
apparatus with contextual antenna selection can be implemented. The
example device 400 can be implemented as any of the devices
described with reference to the previous FIGS. 1-3, such as any
type of client device, mobile phone, tablet, computing,
communication, entertainment, gaming, media playback, and/or other
type of electronic device, to include the tracking system 112
implemented as a "device" that is integrated in a wearable article,
such as one or both of the gloves of the pair of gloves 102. For
example, the tracking system 112 and the device 210 shown in FIGS.
1 and 2 may be implemented as the example device 400.
[0047] The device 400 includes communication transceivers 402 that
enable wired and/or wireless communication of device data 404 with
other devices, such as tracking data, package tracking data, and
information related to package handling activity as described with
reference to FIGS. 1-3. Additionally, the device data can include
any type of audio, video, and/or image data. Example transceivers
include wireless personal area network (WPAN) radios compliant with
various IEEE 802.15 (Bluetooth.TM.) standards, wireless local area
network (WLAN) radios compliant with any of the various IEEE 802.11
(WiFi.TM.) standards, wireless wide area network (WWAN) radios for
cellular phone communication, wireless metropolitan area network
(WMAN) radios compliant with various IEEE 802.15 (WiMAX.TM.)
standards, and wired local area network (LAN) Ethernet transceivers
for network data communication.
[0048] The device 400 may also include one or more data input ports
406 via which any type of data, media content, and/or inputs can be
received, such as user-selectable inputs to the device, messages,
music, television content, recorded content, and any other type of
audio, video, and/or image data received from any content and/or
data source. The data input ports may include USB ports, coaxial
cable ports, and other serial or parallel connectors (including
internal connectors) for flash memory, DVDs, CDs, and the like.
These data input ports may be used to couple the device to any type
of components, peripherals, or accessories such as microphones
and/or cameras.
[0049] The device 400 includes a processing system 408 of one or
more processors (e.g., any of microprocessors, controllers, and the
like) and/or a processor and memory system implemented as a
system-on-chip (SoC) that processes computer-executable
instructions. The processor system may be implemented at least
partially in hardware, which can include components of an
integrated circuit or on-chip system, an application-specific
integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA),
a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and other
implementations in silicon and/or other hardware. Alternatively or
in addition, the device can be implemented with any one or
combination of software, hardware, firmware, or fixed logic
circuitry that is implemented in connection with processing and
control circuits, which are generally identified at 410. The device
400 may further include any type of a system bus or other data and
command transfer system that couples the various components within
the device. A system bus can include any one or combination of
different bus structures and architectures, as well as control and
data lines.
[0050] The device 400 also includes computer-readable storage
memory 412 (e.g., memory devices) that enable data storage, such as
data storage devices that can be accessed by a computing device,
and that provide persistent storage of data and executable
instructions (e.g., software applications, programs, functions, and
the like). Examples of the computer-readable storage memory 412
include volatile memory and non-volatile memory, fixed and
removable media devices, and any suitable memory device or
electronic data storage that maintains data for computing device
access. The computer-readable storage memory can include various
implementations of random access memory (RAM), read-only memory
(ROM), flash memory, and other types of storage media in various
memory device configurations. The device 400 may also include a
mass storage media device.
[0051] The computer-readable storage memory 412 provides data
storage mechanisms to store the device data 404, other types of
information and/or data, and various device applications 414 (e.g.,
software applications). For example, an operating system 416 can be
maintained as software instructions with a memory device and
executed by the processing system 408. The device applications may
also include a device manager, such as any form of a control
application, software application, signal-processing and control
module, code that is native to a particular device, a hardware
abstraction layer for a particular device, and so on. In this
example, the device 400 includes tracking logic 418 that implements
aspects of a wireless RFID-based hand sensory apparatus with
contextual antenna selection, and may be implemented with hardware
components and/or in software, such as when the device 400 is
implemented as the tracking system 112 described with reference to
FIGS. 1-3. An example of the tracking logic 418 is the tracking
logic 138 that is implemented as an application or component in the
tracking system 112.
[0052] The device 400 can also include a radio-frequency
identification (RFID) reader 420, as well as force sensors 422 and
motion sensors 424. The device 400 can also include one or more
power sources 426, such as when the device is implemented as a
mobile device (e.g., the tracking system 112 that is integrated
into one or both of the gloves of the pair of gloves 102). The
power sources may include a charging and/or power system, and can
be implemented as a flexible strip battery, a rechargeable battery,
a charged super-capacitor, and/or any other type of active or
passive power source.
[0053] The device 400 also includes an audio and/or video
processing system 428 that generates audio data for an audio system
430 and/or generates display data for a display system 432. The
audio system and/or the display system may include any devices that
process, display, and/or otherwise render audio, video, display,
and/or image data. Display data and audio signals can be
communicated to an audio component and/or to a display component
via an RF (radio frequency) link, S-video link, HDMI
(high-definition multimedia interface), composite video link,
component video link, DVI (digital video interface), analog audio
connection, or other similar communication link, such as media data
port 434. In implementations, the audio system and/or the display
system are integrated components of the example device.
Alternatively, the audio system and/or the display system are
external, peripheral components to the example device.
[0054] Although aspects of a wireless RFID-based hand sensory
apparatus with contextual antenna selection have been described in
language specific to features and/or methods, the subject of the
appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features
or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are
disclosed as example implementations of a wireless RFID-based hand
sensory apparatus with contextual antenna selection, and other
equivalent features and methods are intended to be within the scope
of the appended claims. Further, various different embodiments are
described and it is to be appreciated that each described
embodiment can be implemented independently or in connection with
one or more other described embodiments. Additional aspects of the
techniques, features, and/or methods discussed herein relate to one
or more of the following embodiments.
[0055] A system comprising: a wearable article worn by a user who
moves items, each of the items having a radio-frequency
identification (RFID) tag; a tracking system implemented in the
wearable article, the tracking system comprising: a RFID reader
designed to interrogate the RFID tags and receive an identification
response from each of the RFID tags associated with the respective
items; an omnidirectional antenna usable by the RFID reader to
interrogate the RFID tags of a group of the items; and a narrow
beam antenna usable by the RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tag
of a selected one of the items.
[0056] Alternatively or in addition to the above described system,
any one or combination of: The wearable article is a glove of a
pair of gloves and the tracking system implemented in the glove
comprises a circuit to switch from the omnidirectional antenna to
the narrow beam antenna usable by the RFID reader, the circuit
activated by contact of a thumb of the glove to an index finger of
the glove. The narrow beam antenna is implemented in the index
finger of the glove, and the narrow beam antenna is directional
based on where the user points the index finger of the glove. The
selected one of the items is a package for delivery; and the
tracking system includes a processing system to execute tracking
logic that verifies the selected one of the items corresponds to an
order for the item based on the identification response to the RFID
reader from the RFID tag of the item. The tracking logic generates
user feedback as verification that the selected one of the items
corresponds to the order for the item, the user feedback including
at least one of a visible verification, an audio verification, or a
haptic feedback verification that the item corresponds to the order
for the item. The group of items are packages for delivery; and the
tracking logic verifies that the group of the items corresponds to
an order for the group of the items based on the identification
responses to the RFID reader from the respective RFID tags of the
items. The tracking logic initiates a switch of the RFID reader
from using the omnidirectional antenna to using the narrow beam
antenna. The tracking logic turns off the RFID reader and initiates
an alternate RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tags and receive
an identification response from each of the RFID tags associated
with the respective items, the alternate RFID reader implemented
external to the tracking system and the wearable article. The
tracking system that is implemented in the wearable article
includes a force sensor to register a force on the selected one of
the items; and the RFID reader switches from use of the
omnidirectional antenna to the narrow beam antenna based on the
force on the selected one of the items. The tracking system that is
implemented in the wearable article includes a motion sensor to
sense motion of the glove; and the RFID reader switches from use of
the omnidirectional antenna to the narrow beam antenna based on the
force on the selected one of the items and the motion of the
wearable article.
[0057] A method comprising: initiating a radio-frequency
identification (RFID) reader in a wearable article to interrogate
RFID tags associated with items that are moved by a user, each of
the items having a RFID tag and movable with the wearable article
worn by the user who moves the items; switching between an
omnidirectional antenna usable by the RFID reader to interrogate
the RFID tags of a group of the items and a narrow beam antenna
usable by the RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tag of a selected
one of the items; and receiving an identification response from
each of the RFID tags associated with the respective items
responsive to the RFID reader interrogation using one of the
omnidirectional antenna or the narrow beam antenna.
[0058] Alternatively or in addition to the above described method,
any one or combination of: The wearable article is a glove of a
pair of gloves, and switching between the omnidirectional antenna
and the narrow beam antenna with a circuit that is activated by
contact of a thumb of the glove to an index finger of the glove.
The narrow beam antenna is implemented in the index finger of the
glove, and the narrow beam antenna is directional based on where
the user points the index finger of the glove. The selected one of
the items is a package for delivery, and the method further
comprising verifying that the selected one of the items corresponds
to an order for the item based on the identification response to
the RFID reader from the RFID tag of the item. The method further
comprising generating user feedback as verification that the
selected one of the items corresponds to the order for the item,
the user feedback including at least one of a visible verification,
an audio verification, or a haptic feedback verification that the
item corresponds to the order for the item. The method further
comprising turning off the RFID reader; and initiating an alternate
RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tags and receive an
identification response from each of the RFID tags associated with
the respective items, the alternate RFID reader implemented
external to the wearable article. The method further comprising
registering a force on the selected one of the items with a force
sensor of a tracking system implemented in the wearable article
worn by the user; sensing motion of the wearable article with a
motion sensor of the tracking system; and switching the RFID reader
from using the omnidirectional antenna to using the narrow beam
antenna based on the force on the selected one of the items and the
motion of the wearable article.
[0059] A system comprising: a wearable article worn by a user who
moves items, each of the items having a radio-frequency
identification (RFID) tag; a RFID reader designed to interrogate
the RFID tags and receive an identification response from each of
the RFID tags associated with the respective items; a tracking
system implemented in the wearable article, the tracking system
comprising: a force sensor to register a force on the selected one
of the items; and an antenna system usable by a RFID reader, the
antenna system including an omnidirectional antenna usable by the
RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tags of a group of the items,
and the antenna system including a narrow beam antenna usable by
the RFID reader to interrogate the RFID tag of a selected one of
the items, the RFID reader switching from use of the
omnidirectional antenna to the narrow beam antenna based on the
force on the selected one of the items.
[0060] Alternatively or in addition to the above described system,
any one or combination of: The wearable article is a glove of a
pair of gloves and the tracking system implemented in the glove
comprises a circuit to switch from the omnidirectional antenna to
the narrow beam antenna usable by the RFID reader, the circuit
activated by contact of a thumb of the glove to an index finger of
the glove. The narrow beam antenna is implemented in the index
finger of the glove, and the narrow beam antenna is directional
based on where the user points the index finger of the glove.
* * * * *