# US 2018/0324550 A1 · Pick and put location verification utilizing rf received signal strength

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- Number: US 2018/0324550 A1
- Document ID: US20180324550A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/585,844
- Filed: 2017-05-03
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-03
- Assignees: Intermec Corporation
- Applicants: Intermec, Inc.
- Inventors: Erik TODESCHINI; Mehul PATEL
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324550A1

## CPC

- H04W 4/025: {using location based information parameters}
- G01S 5/02521: {using a radio-map}
- G01S 5/0295: {Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals}
- G01S 5/14: Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 10/0877: {by inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting}
- H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds}
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
- G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
- H04L 2101/622: Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

An inventory tracking system includes a plurality of emitters that each emit a wireless signal and are placed at known locations relative to a plurality of storage areas in a warehouse, including a first storage area for storage of a specified item. The system further includes a mobile device that travels with a material handler. The mobile device: receives a first wireless signal from a first emitter that is one of the plurality of emitters; calculates a first distance between the material handler and the first emitter based on the first wireless signal; determines that the material handler is located at a stocking location for the first storage area based on the first distance and the known location of the first emitter; and sends a message indicating that the material handler is at the stocking location for the first storage area.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system, comprising:
a plurality of emitters that each emit a wireless signal and are placed at known locations relative to a plurality of storage areas where items are stored;
a mobile device comprising an antenna and being configured for:
receiving a first wireless signal from a first emitter of the plurality of emitters;
calculating a first distance between the mobile device and the first emitter based on the first wireless signal;
determining that the mobile device is located at a stocking location for a first storage area of the plurality of storage areas based on the first distance between the mobile device and the first emitter, the known location of the first emitter and a comparison of the calculated first distance with a threshold, wherein the threshold is configurable based on density of bins in the first storage area; and
sending a message indicating that the mobile device is at the stocking location for the first storage area in response to the determining that the mobile device is located at the stocking location.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device determines that a material handler is located at the stocking location for the first storage area when the first distance is below the threshold, and determines that the material handler is located at the stocking location for a predetermined period of time before sending the message.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device calculates the first distance based on a received strength of the first wireless signal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the mobile device calculates the first distance based on the following formula (1):
RSSI=−10*n*log(d)+A (1)
where: d is the distance, A is a calibrated transmission power, n is a signal propagation constant, and RSSI is the received strength of the first wireless signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device determines an identity of the first emitter based on the first wireless signal, and uses the identity to determine the known location of the first emitter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device instructs a material handler to go to the stocking location for the first storage area prior to receiving the first wireless signal.

### Claim 7

An inventory management system, comprising:
a plurality of emitters that each emit a wireless signal and are placed at known locations relative to a plurality of storage areas in a warehouse, including a first storage area for storage of a specified item;
a mobile device that travels with a material handler, the mobile device:
receiving a first wireless signal from a first emitter that is one of the plurality of emitters;
calculating a first distance between the material handler and the first emitter based on the first wireless signal;
determining that the material handler is located at a stocking location for the first storage area based on the first distance, the known location of the first emitter and a comparison of the calculated first distance with a threshold,
wherein the threshold is configurable based on density of bins in the first storage area; and
sending a message indicating that the material handler is at the stocking location for the first storage area.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile device determines that the material handler is located at the stocking location for the first storage area when the first distance is below the threshold, and determines that the material handler is located at the stocking location for a predetermined period of time before sending the message.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the mobile device receives a second wireless signal from a second emitter that is one of the plurality of emitters, calculates a second distance to the second emitter based on the second wireless signal, and uses the second distance and the known location of the second emitter to determine that the material handler is located at the stocking location for the first storage area.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device determines that the material handler is located at the stocking location for the first storage area using multilateration.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the mobile device receives a third wireless signal from a third emitter that is one of the plurality of emitters, calculates a third distance to the third emitter based on the third wireless signal, and uses the third distance and the known location of the third emitter to determine that the material handler is located at the stocking location for the first storage area.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device calculates the first distance based on a received strength of the first wireless signal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile device calculates the first distance based on the following formula (1):
RSSI=−10*n*log(d)+A (1)
where: d is the distance, A is a calibrated transmission power, n is a signal propagation constant, and RSSI is the received strength of the first wireless signal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device calculates the first distance based on a time of flight of the first wireless signal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile device determines an identity of the first emitter based on the first wireless signal, and uses the identity to determine the known location of the first emitter.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device determines the identity based on a MAC (media access control) address of the first emitter, obtained from the first wireless signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device determines the identity based on a beacon ID of the first emitter, obtained from the first wireless signal.

### Claim 18 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of emitters are Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) beacons.

### Claim 19 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the message includes an instruction to the material handler to remove a quantity of a specified item from the first storage area, or add a quantity of the specified item to the first storage area, the first storage area being for storage of the specified item.

### Claim 20

A mobile device:
comprising an antenna; and
a processor configured to:
receive, from the antenna, a first wireless signal from a first emitter of a plurality of emitters, each of the plurality of emitters emit a wireless signal and are placed at known locations relative to a plurality of storage areas where items are stored;
calculate a first distance between the mobile device and the first emitter based on the first wireless signal;
determine that the mobile device is located at a stocking location for a first storage area of the plurality of storage areas based on the first distance between the mobile device and the first emitter, the known location of the first emitter and a comparison of the calculated first distance with a threshold, wherein the threshold is configurable based on density of bins in the first storage area; and
send a message indicating that the mobile device is at the stocking location for the first storage area in response to the determining that the mobile device is located at the stocking location.