Dynamic RFID-based input devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9996167-B2
Application number	US-201414524638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2014
Priority date	Oct 27, 2014
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

A dynamic RFID-based input device may include an input surface and an input station. The input surface may include a plurality of RFID transmitting devices provided on at least one flexible layer, and the input station may include one or more RFID receiving devices, e.g., antennas and/or readers, provided in communication with a computing system or network. A worker may contact one or more portions of the input surface, and thereby cause one or more of the RFID transmitting devices to transmit one or more RFID signals including information, data, commands or instructions to be provided to the RFID receiving devices. Audible, visible or haptic feedback may be provided to the worker in response to the transmission of the one or more RFID signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A workstation comprising:
an input station having a working surface;
an RFID reading system having a plurality of RFID antennas provided on the working surface; and
a computing device having a processor,
wherein the computing device is in communication with the RFID reading system, and
wherein the computing device is configured to at least:
determine that a portable input pad associated with a worker is placed on the working surface, wherein the portable input pad comprises at least one flexible layer and a plurality of manually activated RFID tags, and wherein each of the plurality of manually activated RFID tags comprises a circuit configured to be closed by bioelectricity;
identify the worker associated with the portable input pad;
in response to identifying the worker associated with the portable input pad, configure an application operating on the computing device for the worker;
receive information regarding a plurality of RFID signals transmitted by at least some of the plurality of manually activated RFID tags to at least one of the plurality of RFID antennas, wherein each of the RFID signals is transmitted in response to contact with a portion of the at least one flexible layer associated with one of the manually activated RFID tags by the worker;
identify at least one action associated with the plurality of RFID signals based at least in part on the information regarding at least the plurality of RFID signals; and
cause the at least one action to be executed by the application.

2. The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to at least:
receive information regarding at least one RFID signal transmitted by an RFID transmitting device associated with the worker to at least one of the plurality of RFID antennas,
wherein the worker is identified based at least in part on the information regarding the at least one RFID signal.

3. The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is further configured to at least:
in response to identifying the worker associated with the portable input pad,
identify at least a preference of the worker; and

wherein the application operating on the computing device is configured for the worker based at least in part on the preference of the worker.

4. The workstation of claim 1 , further comprising at least one feedback device,
wherein the computing device is further configured to at least:
provide feedback to the worker in response to at least one of the plurality of RFID signals by the at least one feedback device,
wherein the at least one feedback device comprises at least one of a haptic vibrating element, an audio speaker or an LED light.

5. The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the portable input pad comprises a top flexible layer joined to a bottom flexible layer,
wherein the plurality of manually activated RFID tags are disposed between the top flexible layer and the bottom flexible layer,
wherein the top flexible layer comprises a plurality of contact points provided thereon,
wherein each of the plurality of contact points is associated with at least one of the manually activated RFID tags,
wherein each of the contact points is provided above one of the plurality of RFID antennas when the bottom flexible layer is placed on the working surface, and
wherein each of the plurality of RFID signals is transmitted in response to human contact with one of the contact points.

6. A method comprising:
automatically recognizing a first portable input surface associated with a first worker by at least one computer processor, wherein the first portable input surface comprises at least one layer and a plurality of manually activated RFID transmitting devices disposed in association with the at least one layer, and wherein each of the plurality of manually activated RFID transmitting devices comprises a circuit configured to be closed by bioelectricity;
in response to automatically recognizing the first portable input surface associated with the first worker,
selecting one of a plurality of configurations for one of a first input station or a computer application associated with the first input station, wherein the first input station comprises at least one RFID receiving device;

receiving information regarding a first RFID signal transmitted from at least one of the plurality of manually activated RFID transmitting devices of the first portable input surface to the first input station;
interpreting the information regarding the first RFID signal in accordance with the selected configuration by the at least one computer processor;
associating the interpreted information regarding the first RFID signal with at least one of the first worker or the first portable input surface by the at least one computer processor; and
storing at least some of the interpreted information regarding the first RFID signal in at least one data store.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
identifying at least one action associated with the first RFID signal by the at least one computer processor based at least in part on the interpreted information regarding the first RFID signal; and
executing the at least one action by the at least one computer processor.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining an identity of the first worker by the at least one computer processor.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the identity of the first worker further comprises:
receiving information regarding a second RFID signal transmitted from an automatic RFID device associated with the first worker, wherein the identity of the first worker is determined based at least in part on the second RFID signal,
wherein the one of the plurality of configurations for the one of the first input station or the computer application is selected based at least in part on the first RFID signal and the identity of the first worker.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein selecting the one of the plurality of configurations comprises:
in response to automatically recognizing the first portable input surface associated with the first worker,
determining a preference of the first worker by the at least one computer processor,

wherein the preference is at least one of a handedness or a language of the first worker, and
wherein the one of the plurality of configurations is selected based at least in part on the preference of the first worker.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
automatically recognizing a second portable input surface associated with a second worker by the at least one computer processor, wherein the second portable input surface comprises at least one layer and a plurality of manually activated RFID transmitting devices disposed in association with the at least one layer;
receiving information regarding a second RFID signal transmitted from at least one of the plurality of manually active RFID transmitting devices of the second portable input surface to the first input station;
associating the information regarding the second RFID signal with the at least one of the second worker or the second portable input surface by the at least one computer processor; and
determining at least one of an identity of the second worker, a preference of the second worker, a qualification of the second worker or a permission of the second worker by the at least one computer processor,
wherein the one of the plurality of configuration is selected based at least in part on the at least one of the identity of the second worker, the preference of the second worker, the qualification of the second worker or the permission of the second worker.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Russell Ryan Scott
• Lauka Wesley Scott
• Zerlina Fransisca Vina

Classifications

• G06K19/00

  Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings · CPC title

• G06F3/0202 Primary

  Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device · CPC title

• G06K7/00

  Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, {e.g. for reading patterns} (methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion G06K1/00; pattern recognition G06F18/00; arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding G06V10/00; character recognition, recognising digital ink or document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00) · CPC title

• G06Q10/00

  Administration; Management · CPC title

• G06K19/0672

  with resonating marks · CPC title