Patent Application
20090146782
The subject innovation relates generally to identification of tagged objects, and more particularly to singulation of RFID tags based at least in part on a combined approach that relies on probing a unique identifier and an RFID tag associated with said entities.
Advances in communication technology as well as miniaturization trends of electronic devices have made it possible to access and manage large amounts of information wirelessly on the field. By utilizing smart labels such as radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags a wealth of information can be conveyed in a small electronic component that is associated with an object and it typically resides on, or within, the object. Among the typical objects labeled with RFID tags one can encounter consumer products, documents, containers with pharmaceutical drugs, and so on. Said component can be an active or passive radiofrequency identification tag, which can be probed in the field in order to retrieve information stored thereon. The active character is typically conferred to an RFID tag that is self-sufficient regarding power (at least for a finite time interval), whereas passive RFID tags are energized at the time of being probed by a device that collects the information stored in the tag.
Ever reducing tagging costs associated with RFID labels, driven primarily by advances in RFID technology and increases in market and business opportunities, have rendered RFID tags successful at identification of groups of like objects, such as pallets, lots, or bins, rather than for labeling of individually tagged, disparate objects. The reason for not having harnessed fully yet the versatility and convenience of smart RFID labeling is that conventional RFID label readers probe multiple tags simultaneously when retrieving information stored thereon. Thus, there is a need in the art for technically and commercially effective RFID singulation techniques, e.g. systems and methods to identify a single tagged entity among a multiple tagged objects.
The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of one or more aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention, nor to delineate the scope of the subject invention. Rather, the sole purpose of this summary is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented hereinafter.
Systems and methods are described herein that facilitate matching an item tag which can be a radiofrequency identification tag and is contained within an object identified through a unique item code, thereby identifying the specific object within a set of objects. Such identification is characterized as object singulation. According to an aspect, singulation relies at least in part on scanning a barcode that characterizes the item's unique identifier code, and cross-referencing specific information included in the barcode with data collected from multiple radiofrequency identification tags associated with the set of objects.
Scanning and data collection can be effected via a barcode scanner component and a radiofrequency identification reader/writer component, and cross-reference of the gathered data in the barcode and item tags can be accomplished through a dedicated component that parses through the available data and matches information in a specific field carried in the item tag with an object identifier(s) conveyed in the barcode. The specific information can also be employed to discriminate among bins containing multiple tagged objects prior to singulating a specific item. Data included in the singulated RFID tag can be displayed and manipulated, as well as communicated among various operators through a communication framework that includes wired and wireless communication networks. The communication framework also facilitates conveying the data to an application that produces actionable information in real time in connection with the singulated object. The actionable information can include data on (i) inventory and availability of a specific item, (ii) data on sale on specific locations, (iii) location in a distribution route, (iv) personnel involved in handling an object and clearance level associated required to handle the object, and so forth.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the invention. However, these aspects are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other aspects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The subject innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject invention. It may be evident, however, that the subject invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the subject invention.
As used in this application, the terms “component,” “system,” “module,” “framework,” “application,” and the like are intended to refer to: electromechanical, computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a server and the server can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. Also, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components can communicate via local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g. data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systems via the signal).
Moreover, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.
Systems and methods are described herein that facilitate matching an item tag which can be a radiofrequency identification tag and is contained within an object identified through a unique item code, thereby identifying the specific object within a set of objects. Such identification is characterized as object singulation. According to an aspect, singulation relies at least in part on scanning a barcode that characterizes the item's unique identifier code, and cross-referencing specific information included in the barcode with data collected from multiple radiofrequency identification tags associated with the set of objects. Data included in the singulated RFID tag can be displayed and manipulated, as well as communicated among various operators through a communication framework that includes wired and wireless communication networks. The communication framework also facilitates conveying the data to an application that produces actionable information in real time in connection with the singulated object. Next, aspects of the systems and methods associated with item singulation are discussed in detail.
In an aspect, can present operational diagnosis of instruments that a technician is probing and desires to singulate in order conduct repairs. Additionally, display component 135 can facilitate an operator to place a call utilizing voice over internet protocol (VOIP) for on-the-field technical support, to send a message (based on short message service (SMS) or an instant message (IM) service), as well as other forms of electronic communication such as email. Applications that provide such functionality accessed through display component 135 can reside in application component 170. Below, further aspects of display component are discussed.
Data storage 145 can also be employed as a data cache when performing additional item tag singulation acts (see below). Data contained in a singulated item tag can include environmental data measured by the tag at the time of singulation or prior to singulation, such as temperature, pressure, humidity. This data can be acquired by each item tag associated with an item (e.g., item 1652).
Singulation component 110 can be (i) compact or (ii) disjoint. In case (i), components such as barcode scanner component 115, RFID R/W component 125, display component 135, cross reference component 155, and data storage (e.g., data storage 145), that comprise singulation component 110 can be housed in a single physical element. The physical element can integrate multiple parts, e.g. solid state integrated circuits, power sources, detectors, transponders and transceivers for radiofrequency communication, and so on, or it can be a miniaturized (all-solid-state) monolithic element comprising devices, detectors, and power and light sources; depending on design power sources that supply power to bar scanner component 115, RFID R/W component 125, or display component 135, can be batteries or fuel cells, wherein batteries can be complemented or replaced with solar cells which can be embodied in high-efficiency thin-films solar cells or quantum-dot based solar cells. Light sources that can be employed in barcode scanner component 115 can include quantum-dot based lasers or solid-state light emitting diodes. A compact singulation component 110 can be portable, being either tethered or wireless (see below).
In case (ii), components that comprise singulation component 110 are distributed; for instance, barcode scanner component 115 can be based in part on a laser reader embodied in a multi-mirror laser scanner or a pen/wand light reader, a charge-coupled device in a photosensitive element (imager) (e.g., a “CCD camera”), or a set of visible-infrared (vis-IR) cameras distributed in an environment containing a set(s) of items; RFID R/W component 125 can be in a separate location; and display component 135, data storage 145 and cross reference component 155 can be in another location. Cameras can be connected to a wide area network (WAN) such as the internet and can be controlled remotely from a control center in a plant, distribution/dispatch center, an operator's residence, and so forth. It should be appreciated that control of the cameras provide a degree of controlling environmental aspects such as storage and packaging of the set of items that is interrogated with a singulation component 110. Display component 135 can reside in a control center that controls cameras that are part of a barcode scanner component 115. Moreover, display component 135 can be mobile, wireless or tethered, and placed on a disparate location with respect to barcode scanner component 115 and RFID R/W component 125. In an aspect, display component 135 can be attached to a vehicle embedded in a vehicular navigation system, it can embodied in the screen of a mobile computer, a mobile phone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).
Application component 170 can receive data from singulation component 110 via FL 168FL, and convey data to said component through a reverse link RL 168RL. Data is processed according to one or more applications (not shown) that can reside in said application component 170. As an example, application component 170 can be embodied in a server computer that manages a data warehouse application. Such data warehouse application can be access by different corporate and operation layers in an enterprise; for instance, (i) management can access near real-time data of sales, with access to location information which can be contained in an item tag (e.g., item tag J in item 165J), marketing can access store profile information associated with a singulated item at the time of check out, (iii) logistics can access inventory information or storage information and plan distribution routes, or modify distribution routes on near real-time; (iv) service can access operation condition of a singulated component and perform remote maintenance, which can entail conveying data through reverse link 168RL to singulation component 110. It is noted that application can provide multiple functionalities to singulation component 110, such as email, instant messaging, short message service, VOIP, and the like.
In addition, example Navigation Toolbar 350 provides with a Transfer/Receive Data 365 tool which provides for conveying data in a singulated item tag to an application component (e.g., component 170), as well as receiving data from said application component. It should be appreciated that data can also be received from a disparate singulation component or substantially any portable or stationary device that can be connected to the singulation component associated with the display component that renders display 300. Moreover, data can also be received from another singulated item tag (see above), or it can be received from the singulated tag via a measurement component that can reside in the tag and measures properties of the tag's environment (see above). Conveying or receiving data can be accomplished trough a data transfer port that can be based on wireless technology, such as infrared communications, or wired technology, e.g. a serial port connected to a data source or sink. Moreover, example Navigation Toolbar 350 includes a Select Application 375 icon that allows a user to determine a specific target application, for example in application component 170, which is to employ the singulated data. Such application can be one of multiple applications as discussed above. Furthermore, example Navigation Toolbar 350 can provide access to a database that can be located remotely, for example in an application component 170, or in a disparate network location. Data existing in said database can be employed within Edit Data 355 to alter data existing in the singulated item tag. Further yet, example Navigation Toolbar 350 can provide access to communication capabilities (IM, SMS, VOIP, etc.) via a Communication Access layer 388, which can enable peer-to-peer communications among operators of disparate singulation components.
In one aspect, input component 390 can be embedded within display area 310, as it can be the case when input of data, information requests, and navigation commands is achieved via a touch-screen—hardware, software, and firmware associated with a touch-screen mode of inputting information can comprise input component 390. In another aspect, input component can include a keyboard, which can include navigation keys and other special keys. In yet another aspect, input component can correspond to hardware, software embedded in a computer-readable medium (e.g., stored in a memory in singulation component 110 or in a device including singulation component 110, or firmware, for entering information or requests for information through voice commands. In a further aspect, input component 390 can include a biometric input sub-component that can introduce a security feature to the input component. For example, in circumstances that controlled substances are being manipulated (e.g., transported, shelved, replenished, and so on), only authorized personal can have access to the features accessible through navigator toolbar 350. Moreover, in scenarios in which items probed contain classified data, e.g., weapons, biological agents, toxic substances, radioactive fuel, etc., biometrics verification can ensure that personnel access data and available features compatible with the personnel member level of clearance.
The following example illustrates, but not limits, directed binning. Consider an office that maintains a paper trail (e.g. documents) of cases it handles, such an office can be a medical doctor's office, a law firm, or the like. Files containing documents associated with respective case can be kept and maintained in bins according to case starting date, to client identification, to doctor or attorney responsible for the case, etc.; the files are tagged with an RFID tag, which can be active or passive, and with a barcode reflecting a unique identifiers or reference identifiers albeit not unique. In such scenario, directed binning can operate in the following manner. A person/operator enters a datum (e.g., reference data 410, which can be a case number) in a singulation component (e.g., component 110, which can be a compact or disjointed singulation component); for instance, the datum (e.g., a patient condition, or address, or credit card number; or a case identifying code) can be conveyed wirelessly from a computer that the operator has access to. In the case the singulation component is compact, operator can read multiple bins of files (which, for example, can embody bins 4201-420N), and thus identify a file bin (which can embody bin K 420K) containing the specific datum. Once the file bin has been identified, the operator scans barcodes in the direct bin, in that instance cross-reference component 155 in the singulation component identifies a unique identifier that can be associated with the available datum and singulates the file, or item tag that belongs to it, notifying the operator in a display component 135. It should be appreciated that component 155 can accomplish such an association by parsing available data.
An initial, configuration stage for an item can comprise a barcode initialization and an RFID setup 510. It is noted that barcode initialization can be conducted in a centralized location (e.g., a distribution center, an enterprise headquarters), or it can be performed in the field by printing a barcode (e.g., item code J associated with item 165J) using a high resolution printer and a barcode printing application. It should be appreciated that a printer, portable or otherwise, as well as the printing application can be a part of singulation component 110, or application component 170. The item's stage A 515 can include displacement within a specific geographic area (e.g., a state, a province, a country, as well as the interior of a manufacturing plant, an assembly line, a sorting facility, and so forth) and can culminate with singulation and data manipulation 520 in the manner described supra. Data is conveyed, received, or a combination thereof, via 508FL and 508RL. For example, displacement involved in stage A 515 can originate is transportation of a manufactured item from a production plant to a wholesale distribution center, or from a storage center in a Customs facility to a first planned stop in an exportation/commercialization route.
Subsequently, said item is involved in a stage B 525 that, similarly to stage A 515, culminates in a singulation and data manipulation 520. Collected data (e.g. through a singulation component 110) can be conveyed through FL 508FL, and data manipulation can result in data reception via RL 508RL. It is noted that stage B 525 can be a programmed continuation of stage B as a part of, for example, a distribution route of items, or stage B 525 can be associated with carrier transfer during a delivery route—e.g. at stage A 515 the item is loaded in a transportation vehicle that carries the item from a sorting facility to a carrier (e.g., plane, train, bus, and the like) hub, whereas stage B 525 can correspond to the item transfer from one carrier embodiment (e.g., train) to a second transportation means (e.g., plane). Stages A and B can be followed by a stage C which similarly to said previous stages can culminate in a singulation and data manipulation 520 with ensuing data transfer effected via links 508FL and 508RL. Following the example described supra, stage C can be a final transportation leg in a delivery route, such as truck delivery. It is noted that in stage A 515, stage B 525, and stage C 535, information related to arrival times, handlers, geographic area, time-dependent environmental parameters (such as temperature, pressure, mechanical tress, which involves deformation of the item including its housing or casing) to which the item has been submitted during a specific stage, can be entered into an item tag (e.g. item tag N associated with item 165N) and retrieved through an application. It is noted that during each state (e.g. transportation data can be conveyed to the item's tag via wireless links, for example links 509FL and 509RL).
In view of the example systems presented and described above, methodologies that may be implemented in accordance with the disclosed subject matter, will be better appreciated with reference to the flowcharts of
Compact handheld singulation component 900 includes a housing 910 which can be constructed from a high strength plastic, metal, or any other suitable material. Singulation component 900 is wireless and portable and includes a display component 915 that renders data collected from barcode unique identifiers, e.g., item code 2, and item tags (e.g. item tags 1-N). Additionally, display 915 presents an operation with functions to display and manipulate data, communicate the data to another operator, device, or location, as well as other information relating to ordinary operation of a typical wireless, handheld device. It should be appreciated that the various functions that can be accessed through display component 915 can be executed, via a processor, by singulation component 900. In an aspect, the display 915 can provide for a touch screen interface that can employ capacitive, resistive touch, infrared, surface acoustic wave, or grounded acoustic wave technology.
An input component embodied in a keypad 970, which can employ a varying surface and a raised grip protrusion 945 to facilitate utilization of the handheld singulation component 900 in the field—e.g., during transportation of object bins such as 4201-420M. In particular, the raised grip protrusion 945 facilitates holding singulation component 900 in a secure position. The keypad 970 can include a top cover and a bottom cover that can be over molded around a common boundary. In an aspect, the top cover and the bottom cover can sandwich a plurality of associated keypad components (e.g., flex members, electroluminous panel, a silicone membrane with a plurality of keys thereupon printed circuit boards, LEDs, and the like). The common boundary can be formed by a surface area and/or line perimeter common to the top cover and the bottom cover, (e.g. a contact surface between top and bottom cover, a surface encapsulating the keypad components, edges of the stacked components and the like.) Typically, materials employed for fabricating the keypad's 970 top cover and bottom cover can include various types of polycarbonates, thermoset plastics, thermoformed plastic, and typically material that are capable of over molding to provide a suitable bondage between the top cover and the bottom cover. Moreover, the top cover can be fabricated with a transparent quality to provide for visual notification by illuminating a certain color or brightness on the keypad surface, when for example a particular key has been actuated. An audio herald, alone or in combination with visual indicia can be employed for indicating an operator that a particular item (e.g., item 165J) has been singulated.
The compact handheld singulation component 900 can also include a magnetic strip reader 940 or other data capture mechanism (e.g. a signature and/or biometric capture pad; not shown) such as an infrared wireless interface, USB ports, COM ports, and so on.
Turning now to
A memory 1010 tied to the processor 1005 is also included in the handheld terminal 1000 and serves to store program code executed by the processor 1005 for carrying out operating functions of the handheld terminal and/or mobile companion 1000 as described herein. The memory 1010 also serves as a storage medium for temporarily storing information such as user defined functions and the like. The memory 1010 is adapted to store a complete set of the information to be displayed. According to one aspect, the memory 1010 has sufficient capacity to store multiple sets of information, and the processor 1005 could include a program for alternating or cycling between various sets of display information.
A display 1015 is coupled to the processor 1005 via a display driver system 1019. The display 1015 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, or a monolithic, thin-film based electrochromic display. Display 1015 functions to display data or other information (e.g., Navigation Toolbar 350) relating to specific aspects of operation described herein, e.g. with respect to a singulation component such as component 110, as well as ordinary operation of a handheld terminal 1000. For example, the display 1015 may display suggested configurations, which is displayed to the operator and may be transmitted over a communication links (e.g., links 238FL and 238RL).
Additionally, the display 1015 may display a variety of functions that control the execution of the handheld terminal 1000. The display 1015 is capable of displaying both alphanumeric and graphical characters. Power is provided to the processor 1005 and other components forming the handheld terminal and/or mobile companion 1000 by at least one battery 1020. In the event that the battery(s) 1020 fails or becomes disconnected from handheld terminal 1000, a supplemental power source 1029 can be employed to provide power to the processor 1005. For example, a thin-film solar-cell panel can embody such supplemental power source 1029, such thin-film can coat a portion of the surface of the device. The handheld terminal 1000 can enter a minimum current draw of sleep mode upon detection of a battery failure.
The handheld terminal 1000 includes a communication subsystem 1025 that includes a data communication port 1027, which is employed to interface the processor 1005 with the network via the host computer. The handheld terminal 1000 also optionally includes an RF section 1090 connected to the processor 1005. The RF section 1090 includes an RF receiver 1095, which can receive RF transmissions from the network for example via RL 168RL or 238FL and a set of antennas 10911-1091K, and demodulate the signal to obtain digital information modulated therein. The RF section 1090 also includes an RF transmitter 1096 for transmitting information to a computer on the network, for example, in response to an operator input at a operator input device 1050 (e.g., keypad, touch screen) or the completion of a transaction. Peripheral devices, such as a printer 1055, signature/biometrics pad 1060, magnetic strip reader 1065, and data capture device 1092 can also be coupled to the handheld terminal 1000 through the processor 1005. The handheld terminal 1000 can also include a tamper resistant grid 1031 to provide for secure payment transactions. If the handheld terminal is employed as payment terminal, it can be loaded with a special operating system. Moreover, if the handheld terminal 1000 is employed as a general purpose terminal, it can be loaded with a general purpose operating system.
Various aspects or features described herein may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, computer-readable media can include but are not limited to magnetic storage devices (e.g. hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips, etc.), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., EPROM, card, stick, key drive, etc.). Additionally, various storage media described herein can represent one or more devices and/or other computer-readable media for storing information. The term “computer-readable medium” can include, without being limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and/or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to certain illustrated aspects, it will be appreciated that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (assemblies, devices, circuits, systems, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (e.g. that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure, which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary aspects of the invention.
In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes”, “including”, “has”, “having”, and variants thereof are used in either the detailed description or the claims, these terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising”.
