US 2026/0203709 A1Published application

System and method for managing inventory of bulky products stored on shelves with rfid tags

AssigneeWavemark, Inc.

InventorsAdriano C. APOSTOLICO, Leo KIEFER, Brent E. KOEPPEL, Gregory J. LYON, Andrew P. WOJTOWICZ

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Abstract

Disclosed herein are computer-implemented systems and methods for managing inventory of bulky products stored on a shelving system. The system includes an RFID antenna disposed at a designated location, and RFID reader to detect RFID tags disposed at the designated location, and transmit messages indicating the detections. The antenna is for communicating with RFID tags disposed proximate to the antenna. In one aspect, a pair of RFID tagged cards are inserted in a housing module affixed to the shelving system where bulky products are stored. When a predetermined quantity of the product is removed, an RFID tagged card associated with the product is placed at the designated location. The RFID reader transmits messages to a computing device indicating detections of tags. The computing device determines when the number of times read during a tag detection time period is at least two, and generates a message for replenishing the respective product.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for managing an inventory of bulky products stored on a shelving system, the apparatus comprising:

an RFID antenna disposed at a designated location on a shelving system suitable for storing the bulky products, the RFID antenna configured to communicate with RFID tags disposed proximate to the RFID antenna;
an RFID reader including the RFID antenna, the RFID reader configured to communicate with at least one computing device, the RFID reader configured to control the antenna to scan and detect RFID tags disposed at the designated location on the shelving system, and to transmit messages to the at least one computing device, the messages indicating detections of RFID tags;
and
a housing module affixed to a storage fixture of the shelving system on which bulky products are stored, the housing module being for storing a pair of RFID tagged cards, each RFID tagged card having a distinct respective RFID tag, the pair of RFID tagged cards in a same housing module being associated with a single bulky product, and a PAR level being established for the bulky product,
wherein the at least one computing device is configured to:
receive messages from the RFID reader indicating detections of RFID tags when the RFID tagged cards are placed at the designated location on the shelving system;
for each detected RFID tag, track a number of times the RFID tag is read during each tag detection time period, deduplicate received messages when applicable, and
when the number of times the RFID tag is read during the tag detection time period is at least two, generate a message for replenishing the bulky product associated with the RFID tagged card, wherein a quantity of the replenishment is based on the PAR level established for the bulky product.

5 more elements

A method for managing an inventory of bulky products stored on a shelving system suitable for storing the bulky products, the shelving system including an RFID antenna disposed adjacent a designated location and an RFID reader in communication with the RFID antenna and at least one computing device, the RFID reader configured to perform scans via the RFID antenna to detect RFID tags disposed at the designated location on the shelving system, the method comprising:

inserting a pair of RFID tagged cards in a housing module affixed to a storage fixture on which bulky products are stored, each RFID tagged card having a distinct respective RFID tag, the pair of RFID tagged cards in the housing module being associated with a single bulky product, and a PAR level being established for the bulky product;
when a predetermined quantity of the bulky product is removed from the shelving system, placing an RFID tagged card associated with the bulky product at the designated location on the shelving system, the predetermined quantity being a proportion based on the PAR level;
by the RFID reader, performing a scan to detect the RFID tag disposed at the designated location, and transmitting a message to the at least one computing device indicating detection of the RFID tag;
by the at least one computing device, receiving the message from the RFID reader indicating detection of the RFID tag placed at the designated location, tracking a number of times the RFID tag is read during each tag detection time period, deduplicating received messages for the detected RFID tag when applicable, when the number of times the detected RFID tag is read during the tag detection time period is at least two, generating a message for replenishing the bulky product associated with the RFID tagged card based on the PAR level;
and
transmitting the generated message for replenishment of the bulky product to an automated ordering system or staff.

3 more elements

A computer-implemented system is provided for managing inventory of bulky products stored on a shelving system, the shelving system including an RFID antenna disposed adjacent a designated location and an RFID reader in communication with the RFID antenna and at least one computing device, the RFID reader configured to perform scans via the RFID antenna to detect RFID tags disposed at the designated location on the shelving system, the computer-implemented system comprising:

at least one memory;
and
at least one hardware processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured, individually or in combination, to:
control the RFID reader to perform a scan to detect at least one RFID tag disposed at the designated location, wherein the at least one RFID tag is from a pair of RFID tagged cards stored in a housing module affixed to a storage fixture of the shelving system on which bulky products are stored, with each RFID tagged card having a distinct respective RFID tag, the pair of RFID tagged cards in the housing module being associated with a single bulky product, and a PAR level being established for the bulky product, wherein when a predetermined quantity of the bulky product is removed from the shelving system, an RFID tagged card associated with the bulky product is placed at the designated location on the shelving system, the predetermined quantity being a proportion based on the PAR level;
control the RFID reader to transmit a message to the at least one computing device indicating detection of the RFID tag;
by the at least one computing device, receive the message from the RFID reader indicating detection of the RFID tag placed at the designated location, track a number of times the RFID tag is read during each tag detection time period, deduplicate received messages for the detected RFID tag when applicable, when the number of times the detected RFID tag is read during the tag detection time period is at least two, generate a message for replenishing the bulky product associated with the RFID tagged card based on the PAR level;
and
transmit the generated message for replenishment of the bulky product to an automated ordering system or staff.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/446,485Filed 12 Jan 2026
Priority: 13 Jan 2025
Published: 16 Jul 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G06Q 10/08726
Using inventory planning: for replenishment processing, procedures, or recommendations using forecasting or optimisation
G06K 7/10297
Sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves: arrangements for handling protocols designed for…
G06K 19/0723
With integrated circuit chips: the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on…
G06Q 10/08
Administration; Management: logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management