Applications for radio frequency identification systems

A method of using a portable RFID device, comprising the steps of:

• (a) inputting an algorithm to the device that describes an ordered set of items;
• (b) scanning a plurality of items having RFID elements to obtain information from those elements;
• and
• (c) comparing a description of the items obtained using the information obtained from the RFID elements to the algorithm to determine whether the scanned items are in the algorithm order.

A method of using a portable RFID device to associate a certain item bearing an RFID element with a location having a group of items each also bearing an RFID element, comprising the steps of:

• (a) scanning the RFID element associated with the item;
• (b) scanning the RFID elements of at least one additional item within the group of items;
• and
• (c) determining whether the certain item belongs with the group of items.

A method of using a portable RFID device, comprising the steps of:

• (a) obtaining an item having an RFID element associated therewith;
• (b) using the portable RFID device to interrogate the RFID element and obtain information therefrom;
• and
• (c) having a user input information to the RFID device as to that item.

A method of using an RFID device, comprising the steps of:

• (a) interrogating a group of items each bearing an RFID tag;
• (b) providing to the RFID device information identifying a certain class of items;
• and
• (c) receiving in real time from the RFID device information identifying items that are not within the certain class of items.

A method of using an RFID device with items of interest that bear an RFID tag, comprising the steps of:

• (a) interrogating a tagged item with the RFID device;
• (b) entering information into the RFID device describing the location of the item of interest;
• and
• (c) collecting in a database the information entered in step (b) regarding the item that was interrogated, wherein the database is separate from the RFID device, and the information is transferred to that database.