US 9,959,439 B1 · Activating a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to read an RFID tag

Abstract

Techniques for tracking a location of an item retainer are described. In an example, a computer system may receive one or more signals from one or more devices. At least one device may be located at a distance from a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. The RFID reader may be located at a space opening and may cover a read zone around the space opening. The signal(s) may indicate that a condition to activate the RFID reader is met. This condition may be associated with a state of the space opening or a proximity of an item retainer to the read zone. The computer system may activate the RFID reader based on the condition being met and may determine a progress of the item retainer through the space opening based on whether an RFID tag was read by the RFID reader while the RFID reader was activated.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader associated with an outbound door of a storage facility;
a door sensor associated with the outbound door;
a plurality of sensors located around the RFID reader;
and
a computer system configured to:
detect that the outbound door is in an open position based at least in part on a first signal from the door sensor;
detect that an item retainer has an outbound motion based at least in part on respective second signals from the plurality of sensors, the item retainer retaining items available from the storage facility and destined to a delivery vehicle through the outbound door;
activate the RFID reader based at least in part on the open position of the outbound door and the outbound motion of the item retainer, the RFID reader activated for a predetermined amount of time and configured to read an RFID tag attached with the item retainer based at least in part on being activated;
and
generate a log indicating a read of the RFID tag by the RFID reader.

7 more elements

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by a computer system, one or more signals from one or more devices, wherein:
the one or more devices comprise a first device and second device that are located in proximity of a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, the RFID reader associated with a space opening and covering a read zone around the space opening,
the one or more signals comprise a first signal from the first device and a second signal from the second device, the first signal indicating a state of the space opening, the second signal indicating a proximity of an item retainer to the read zone;
determining that a condition to activate the RFID reader is met based at least in part on the first signal and the second signal;
activating, by the computer system, the RFID reader based at least in part on the condition being met;
and
determining, by the computer system, a progress of the item retainer through the space opening based at least in part on whether an RFID tag was read by the RFID reader while the RFID reader was activated.

4 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, upon execution by a processor of a system, cause the system to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first signal from a first device located in proximity to a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, the RFID reader associated with a space opening and covering a read zone around the space opening, the first signal indicating a state of the space opening;
receiving a second signal from a second device located in proximity to the RFID reader, the second signal indicating a proximity of an item retainer to the read zone of the RFID reader;
determining that a condition to activate the RFID reader is met based at least in part on the first signal and the second signal;
activating the RFID reader based at least in part on the condition being met;
receiving a read event generated by the RFID reader based at least in part on the RFID reader being activated, the read event corresponding to a read of an RFID tag associated with the item retainer;
and
determining a progress of the item retainer through the space opening based at least in part on the read event.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Activating a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to read an RFID tag

Life of this patent

Activating a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to read an RFID tag

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20