RFID point of sale and delivery method and system
View Patent ↗A method and system for providing point-of-sale and point-of-delivery and/or distribution of products in a restricted access unit near the customer. The method and system utilize products equipped with radio frequency tags and reduce the effects of energy sharing, shadowing, and nulls. In one embodiment, a plurality of RF tagged products are placed within a refrigerator, cabinet, or other micro-warehouse that has a door or opening that can detect access to the micro-warehouse. In one embodiment, one or more antennas are positioned within the door. Each antenna may have a transmission line of sight and be configured to emit a signal at predefined frequencies. Each antenna generates an electromagnetic field within the micro-warehouse. In one embodiment, the products are positioned in one or more bins, compartments, or similar devices located within the micro-warehouse such that at least two of the plurality of products are spaced a distance from each other to reduce energy sharing. The electromagnetic field is moved or altered within the micro-warehouse through the use of reflectors, devices that move the antennas, or other mechanisms.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a cabinet;
a detecting device configured to detect, using RFID, removal from an internal area of the cabinet of an object having an RFID tag; and
a sensor configured to sense whether a door of the cabinet is one of opened and closed, wherein RFID detection is performed in response to closing of the door;
wherein an XML message is automatically generated in response to detection by the detecting device of removal of the object from the area; and
wherein business logic decisions regarding the object are made in response to the XML message.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the XML message is sent to a server via a network connection.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the network connection is the Internet.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the network connection is wireless.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the business logic decisions are made by the server.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the business logic decisions include at least one of a transaction decision and a restocking decision.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cabinet is a temperature-controlled unit.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.
9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the detecting device is an RFID antenna.
10. An apparatus, comprising:
a cabinet;
a detecting device configured to detect, using RFID, removal from an interior area of the cabinet of an object having an RFID tag; and
a sensor configured to sense whether a door of the cabinet is one of opened and closed, wherein RFID detection is performed only in response to closing of the door;
wherein a markup language message is automatically generated in response to detection by the detecting device of removal of the object from the area; and
wherein business logic decisions regarding the object are made in response to the markup language message.
11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the markup language message is sent to a server via a network connection.
12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the network connection is the Internet.
13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the network connection is wireless.
14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the business logic decisions are made by the server.
15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the business logic decisions include at least one of a transaction decision and a restocking decision.
16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the cabinet is a temperature-controlled unit.
17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.
18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the detecting device is an RFID antenna.
19. A method for use with a cabinet, comprising:
sensing whether a door of the cabinet is one of opened and closed;
detecting, using RFID and only in response to a sensing that the door is closed, removal from an interior area of the cabinet of an object having an RFID tag;
generating an XML message automatically in response to the detecting removal of the object; and
making business logic decisions regarding the object in response to the XML message.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19 , further comprising sending the XML message to a server via a network connection.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the network connection is the Internet.
22. A method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the network connection is wireless.
23. A method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the business logic decisions are made by the server.
24. A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the business logic decisions include at least one of a transaction decision and a restocking decision.
25. A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the cabinet is a temperature-controlled unit.
26. A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.
27. A method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the detecting device is an RFID antenna.
28. A method for use with a cabinet, comprising:
sensing whether a door of the cabinet is one of opened and closed;
detecting, using RFID and only in response to a sensing that the door is closed, removal from an interior area of the cabinet of an object having an RFID tag;
generating a markup language message automatically in response to the detecting removal of the object; and
making business logic decisions regarding the object in response to the markup language message.
29. A method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the markup language message is sent to a server via a network connection.
30. A method as claimed in claim 29 , wherein the network connection is the Internet.
31. A method as claimed in claim 29 , wherein the network connection is wireless.
32. A method as claimed in claim 29 , wherein the business logic decisions are made by the server.
33. A method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the business logic decisions include at least one of a transaction decision and a restocking decision.
34. A method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the cabinet is a temperature-controlled unit.
35. A method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the sensor is proximity sensor.
36. A method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the detecting device is an RFID antenna.