Filtering inventory objects using images in an RFID system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9213960-B2
Application number	US-201414276556-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2014
Priority date	Jun 27, 2013
Publication date	Dec 15, 2015
Grant date	Dec 15, 2015

Abstract

A method for filtering scanned objects displayed on a reader is provided. The reader may scan one or more transponders, and obtain, from a database, an image for each scanned transponder. Each transponder may be associated with an object (e.g., an item of retail inventory). The obtained image for each object may be presented on an interface, and a selection of an object category may be received using the obtained images. A determination may be made as to which objects are associated with the selected object category. A display screen may display data associated with only the objects associated with the selected object category.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
transmitting an interrogation signal via an RFID reader;
receiving a signal from one or more transponders, each of which being associated with an object;
identifying a category for each object associated with each of the one or more transponders from which the reader received a signal;
obtaining, from a database, an image for each object category;
displaying each image for each type of object on a user interface of the RFID reader;
receiving a selection from a user of one of the each image via the user interface;
identifying the one or more transponders associated with objects associated with the selected object category; and
presenting, via a presenting device, data associated with the identified one or more transponders.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more transponders are associated with objects disposed on a fixture.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the database is stored locally on reading terminal.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the scanning of the one or more transponders is performed by scanning radio frequency identification (RFID) tags affixed to each object.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the user selects the image presented on the interface.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the images and categories are pre-stored on the database in database entries associated with each object.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the scanning the transponders occurs after the receiving the selection of the object category.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising obtaining an identifier for each scanned transponder, wherein the obtaining the image comprises querying the database with each identifier received from a scanned transponder so that the obtained images are obtained using the transponder identifiers.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a display, a keyboard, or voice recognition.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the presenting device comprises at least one of voice activation device or a head's up display that presents data without requiring a user to look away from the user's usual viewpoint.

11. An RFID reader configured to:
present an image on an interface of a reader, the image being associated with a category and an object;
receive a selection of the category via the interface from a user;
scan, using the reader, a transponder in an area where the transponder is associated with the object;
determine a category associated with the transponder; and
display the transponder on a display screen of the reader only in response to determining that the transponder is associated with the selected category.

12. The RFID reader of claim 11 , further comprising obtaining the image from a database, wherein the database comprises a database entry comprising an indication of the image associated with the category, the category associated with the object, and data identifying the object.

13. The RFID reader of claim 11 , wherein the receiving the scanning occurs in response to the receiving the selection of the category.

14. The RFID reader of claim 11 , further comprising sending a report of the displayed scanned objects.

15. The RFID reader of claim 11 , further comprising:
obtaining an identifier of the scanned transponder, and
obtaining the image comprises querying the database with each identifier received from a scanned transponder so that the obtained images are obtained using the transponder identifiers.

16. The RFID reader of claim 11 , wherein the image is presented along with other images from a database to provide to the user for selection.

17. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to:
transmit a radio frequency (RF) interrogation signal;
receive at least one RF response signal from at one or more transponders in response to the interrogation signal, wherein each of the one or more transponders is associated with an item;
identify a type of item associated with each of the one or more transponders from which the RFID reader received the at least one RF response signal;
obtain an image for each type of item identified by the RFID reader;
present a user with the image for each type of item identified via a user interface;
receive a selection of an image for a type of item from the user; and
display data associated with each of the one or more transponders associated with the type of item of the image selected by the user.

Assignees

• Hand Held Prod Inc

Inventors

• Vargas Joseph
• Plocher Tom
• Putrevu Sriharsha
• Wang Ynjiun

Classifications

• G06K17/0022 Primary

  arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device ("transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L) · CPC title

• G06K7/10386 Primary

  the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader · CPC title

• G06F16/532

  Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying · CPC title

• G06K7/10366

  the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications · CPC title

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title