Industrial data capture system including a choke point portal and tracking software for radio frequency identification of cargo

A choke point portal incorporating a radio frequency identification (RFID) capture system for identifying and recording information parameters associated with cargo items, each of the cargo items including a radio frequency sensitive label capable of issuing a signal in response to sensing a radio frequency scan, said portal comprising:

• a first upwardly extending side and a second spaced apart and upwardly extending side;
• a top extending in crosswise and interconnecting fashion between upper end locations of said first and second sides and, in combination, defining a doorway through which may pass the cargo items;
• an RFID scanner unit mounted to said portal at a first selected location, a power supply communicating with said scanner unit, a serial port connection communicating said scanner unit with a remotely located and processor based operating system;
• and
• a plurality of antennas situated at respective locations along at least one of said upwardly extending sides and said top and for scanning a three dimensional space preceding said portal doorway, said antennas being in operative communication with said scanner and, upon instruction by said scanner, issuing the radio frequency scan, said antennas, following receipt of the response signal issued by a scanned label, communicating said signal to said scanner unit.

A software program embodying a computer code for use with a computer readable and writeable media for use with a radio frequency identification (RFID) capture system, said program comprising:

• a first subroutine for interfacing an RFID scanner with an inventory manifest compiled in a computer readable media;
• a second subroutine for incrementing readings of labels corresponding to a predetermined quantity of cargo;
• and
• a third subroutine for authorizing transport of said cargo upon reading a correct number of labels.