Association of item identifiers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9818083-B1
Application number	US-201615069789-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2016
Priority date	Dec 17, 2014
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A reader system and an imaging device are provided. The reader system is configured to read a tag attached to an item at a location relative to a barcode. The barcode is associated with the item. Once the reader system identifies the tag, the imaging device uses the placement of the tag and/or features of the tag to identify and read the barcode. The imaging device may also identify the tag. Once the barcode is identified, the barcode and the tag are associated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. One or more computer-readable storage devices for storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more computer systems, configure the one or more computer systems to perform operations comprising:
instructing a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader system to read a tag comprising a visible identifier, the tag attached to an item at a position relative to an item identifier, the item identifier associated with the item, the visible identifier distinct from the item identifier;
identifying tag information associated with the tag based at least in part on the reading;
initiating an imaging device configured to capture at least one image of at least a portion of the item;
receiving the at least one image captured by the imaging device;
identifying the visible identifier of the tag in the at least one image captured by the imaging device;
identifying, based at least in part on information about the position of the tag in the at least one image, the item identifier associated with the item; and
associating the item identifier and the tag.

2. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 1 , wherein the tag is a first tag, the tag information is first tag information, the visible identifier is a first visible identifier, the item identifier is a first item identifier, the item is a first item, and the position is a first position, and wherein the operations further comprise:
identifying second tag information associated with a second tag based at least in part on the reading, the second tag comprising a second visible identifier, the second tag attached to a second item at a second position relative to a second item identifier, the second item identifier associated with the second item;
identifying the second visible identifier of the second tag in the at least one image, the second visible identifier associated with the second tag information and being distinct from the first visible identifier;
identifying, based at least in part on information about the second position of the second tag in the at least one image, the second item identifier associated with the second item; and
associating the second item identifier and the second tag.

3. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 1 , wherein the visible identifier comprises an antenna portion of the tag visible to the imaging device.

4. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 1 , wherein identifying the item identifier associated with the item comprises:
aligning, based at least in part on the identified visible identifier of the tag, the at least one image; and
after aligning, reading the item identifier from the at least one image.

5. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
instructing a reader system to read a tag comprising a visible identifier, the tag attached to an item;
identifying a tag identifier associated with the tag based at least in part on the reading;
receiving at least one image including the item and captured by an imaging device;
identifying the visible identifier of the tag in the at least one image;
identifying, within or adjacent to the visible identifier of the tag in the at least one image, an item identifier associated with the item, the item identifier distinct from the visible identifier; and
storing an association corresponding to the item identifier and the tag identifier.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the tag comprises an interior portion and an exterior portion, and the tag is attached to the item such that the item identifier is located within the interior portion.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the visible identifier comprises an antenna portion of the tag that is visible to the imaging device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the antenna portion of the tag comprises an antenna arranged in a unique pattern.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the visible identifier comprises an alphanumeric tag number of the tag that is visible to the imaging device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the tag comprises an opaque perimeter including the visible identifier, and a translucent interior within the opaque perimeter, and wherein the tag is attached to the item such that the translucent interior is positioned over the item identifier and the item identifier is disposed within the opaque perimeter of the tag.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the visible identifier comprises at least one of a shape, an edge, a corner, a pattern, an alphanumeric identifier, a symbol or a color that is associated with the tag identifier and is distinct from other visible identifiers of other tags.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the item is a first item, the tag is a first tag, the visible identifier is a first visible identifier, the item identifier is a first item identifier, and the tag identifier is a first tag identifier, the method further comprising
identifying a second tag identifier associated with a second tag attached to a second item, the second tag comprising a second visible identifier that is distinct from the first visible identifier, and wherein the at least one image includes at least the first visible identifier and the second visible identifier; and
identifying the second visible identifier of the second tag in the at least one image.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the imaging device captures the at least one image comprising the item identifier after the imaging device uses the visible identifier of the tag to identify a location of the item identifier within a reading environment.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:
after identifying the item identifier, identifying item information associated with the item; and
providing at least a portion of the item information for presentation at a user device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the item identifier comprises a first barcode and a second barcode, and the at least one image includes the first barcode, the second barcode, and a portion of the item, each of the first barcode and the second barcode associated with the item, and wherein the method further comprises comparing the portion of the item represented in the at least one image with other images of items to determine which of the first barcode and the second barcode to associate with the tag identifier.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the at least one image includes a depiction of the item, and wherein the association further comprises the visible identifier, the tag identifier, and the at least one image including the item.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the at least one image includes a depiction of the item, and the method further comprises verifying the item identifier based at least in part on the depiction of the item in the at least one image.

18. A system, comprising:
an imaging device;
a reader system comprising a reader and an antenna; and
an item management service in communication with at least the reader and the imaging device, the item management service comprising a processor configured to:
receive an indication that a tag has been read by the reader system, the tag having a visible identifier and being attached to an item;
in response to receiving the indication, instruct the imaging device to capture at least one image including the item;

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Lauka Wesley Scott
• Russell Ryan Scott

Classifications

• G06K19/07703

  the interface being visual · CPC title

• G06Q10/087 Primary

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

• G06K7/10237

  the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag · CPC title