Radio frequency identification systems applications
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsSharon R. Garber, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Mitchell B. Grunes, Richard H. Jackson, Gerald L. Karel, John M. Kruse, Richard W. Lindahl, James E. Nash, Chester Piotrowski, John D. Yorkovich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to the use of RFID systems for use with items of interest having RFID tags, such as in a library. The invention has particular applicability to determining the location, order, and other information regarding such items.
Claims16
A method of using an RFID device, comprising the steps of:
- (a) interrogating an item having an RFID element associated therewith;
- (b) inputting information to the device to describe a location;
- (c) determining whether the interrogated item belongs at the location;
- and
- (d) providing an appropriate signal.
A method of using a handheld REID device for reading information from an RFID element, comprising the steps of interrogating the RFID tags associated with each of a group of items, detecting where within the group of items a desired item should be placed, and providing an indication to the user of that location.
A method of using an RFID device for identifying and locating items having an RFID element associated therewith, comprising:
- (a) providing information to the RFID device identifying a cart;
- (b) interrogating the items with the RFID device by passing the cart through a tunnel to determine the identity of the items;
- and
- (c) associating the items with the cart.
A method of locating an item of interest associated with an RFID element among a larger group of items each associated with an RFID element, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a card having an RFID element;
- (b) transmitting information related to an item of interest to the card and storing that information in the RFID element;
- (c) positioning RFID card readers at positions near the item of interest;
- (d) interrogating the RFID card with the RFID card reader;
- and
- (e) providing an indication of the location of the item of interest relative to the location of the RFID card reader.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.