RF point of sale and delivery method and system using communication with remote computer and having features to read a large number of RF tags
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 - 94 . (canceled)
95 . An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of antennae for performing RFID scanning, said antennae being movably mounted within a door of said apparatus, each antenna being mounted on a respective pivot; and
an antenna moving unit that is configured to automatically move said antennae using a respective plurality of electrical actuators so as change an electromagnetic field used for RFID scanning in such a manner that any nulls generated change position.
96 . An apparatus according to claim 95 , wherein said apparatus is a freezer.
97 . An apparatus according to claim 96 , wherein said antennae performs RFID scanning to detect an RFID tag positioned within said freezer.
98 . An apparatus according to claim 97 , wherein the RFID tag is positioned on a shelf within said freezer.
99 . An apparatus according to claim 97 , wherein the RFID tag is positioned in a drawer within said freezer.
100 . An apparatus comprising:
an RFID scanning unit mounted on a portion of said apparatus, said RFID scanning unit being configured to perform RFID scanning of an area within said apparatus,
wherein said RFID scanning unit comprises (a) a plurality of movable parts, and (b) means for automatically controlling motion of said movable parts using a respective plurality of electrical actuators so as change an electromagnetic field used for RFID scanning in such a manner that any nulls generated change position.
101 . An apparatus according to claim 100 , wherein said movable parts are RFID antennae.
102 . An apparatus according to claim 101 , wherein said antennae are mounted on a respective plurality of pivots.
103 . An apparatus according to claim 100 , wherein the area comprises a drawer of said apparatus.
104 . An apparatus according to claim 100 , wherein the area comprises a shelf of said apparatus.
105 . An apparatus according to claim 100 , wherein said apparatus is a freezer.
106 . A method comprising:
providing a plurality of movable parts in an RFID scanning apparatus; and
automatically controlling motion of the movable parts using a respective plurality of electrical actuators so as change an electromagnetic field used for RFID scanning in such a manner that any nulls generated change position.
107 . An apparatus comprising:
a first RFID antenna;
a second RFID antenna;
means for activating said first antenna and said second antenna at different times to perform RFID scanning; and
means for varying a frequency and power used for RFID scanning by said first antenna so that a field generated by said first antenna moves with respect to an area being scanned as a function of time.
108 . A method comprising:
providing plural RFID antennae;
activating a first antenna of the plural antennae and a second antenna of the plural antennae at different times to perform the RFID scanning; and
varying a frequency and power used for RFID scanning by the first antenna so that a field generated by the first antenna moves with respect to an area being scanned as a function of time.
109 . A method comprising:
performing plural RFID scans of an area and generating therefrom a result, wherein said step of generating therefrom a result comprises (a) determining the number of times that a list of tags occurs during the plural RFID scans, and (b) calculating the percentage of the plural RFID scans in which the list of tags occurs by dividing the number of scans in which the list of tags occurs by the number of scans of the plural RFID scans;
comparing the result to a predetermined integrity level;
selectively performing a subsequent RFID scan in accordance with the comparison; and
creating a superset of all tags read during a plurality of RFID scans.
110 . A method according to claim 109 , wherein said step of selectively performing a subsequent scan in accordance with the comparison is a step of selectively performing a subsequent scan in accordance with a determination that the result is less than the predetermined integrity level.
111 . A method according to claim 109 , further comprising repeating said step of selectively performing a subsequent scan in accordance with comparison of a result of the subsequent scan to the predetermined integrity level.
112 . An apparatus comprising:
means for performing plural RFID scans and obtaining a result, comprising means for (a) determining the number of times that a list of tags occurs during the plural RFID scans, and (b) calculating the percentage of the plural RFID scans in which the list of tags occurs by dividing the number of scans in which the list of tags occurs by the number of scans of the plural RFID scans;
means for comparing the result to a predetermined integrity level;
means for determining whether or not to perform a subsequent RFID scan in accordance with the comparison; and
means for creating a superset of all tags read during a plurality of RFID scans.
113 . A storage container comprising:
an RFID scanning unit that is configured to perform an RFID scan of a space within said storage container,
wherein said storage container has a non-flat reflective surface disposed on an interior wall of said storage container,
wherein the non-flat reflective surface comprises a sawtooth pattern, and
wherein the non-flat reflective surface is positioned on an interior wall of said storage container opposite to a side of said storage container where an RFID antenna is positioned.
114 . A storage container according to claim 113 , wherein the non-flat reflective surface is on a member attached to the interior wall of said storage container.
115 . A storage container according to claim 114 , wherein said storage container is a refrigerated enclosure.
116 . A storage container according to claim 114 , wherein said storage container is a freezer.
117 . An apparatus comprising:
means for performing an RFID scan of a space within said apparatus,
wherein said apparatus has a non-flat reflective surface disposed on an interior wall of said apparatus,
wherein the non-flat reflective surface comprises a sawtooth pattern, and
wherein the non-flat reflective surface is positioned on an interior wall of said apparatus opposite to a side of said apparatus where an RFID antenna is positioned.
118 . A method according to claim 109 , wherein the list of tags is a majority list, being defined as a list of tags that makes up the result of each of a majority of the plural RFID scans.
119 . A method according to claim 109 , further comprising:
determining an inventory in accordance with the RFID scanning; and
controlling access to the area of a user in accordance with an authentication procedure.
120 . A method according to claim 119 , wherein the authentication procedure comprises reading a RFID badge of the user.
121 . A method according to claim 119 , wherein the authentication procedure comprises reading a fingerprint of the user.
122 . A method according to claim 119 , wherein the authentication procedure comprises one of (a) reading a RFID badge of the user and (b) reading a fingerprint of the user.
123 . A method according to claim 122 , further comprising:
automatically reordering an object so as to cause restocking of the same to the area, in accordance with (a) the inventory determined by said inventory determining step and (b) a predetermined business rule,
wherein the area is the interior of a refrigerated cabinet,
wherein said access controlling step controls access of the user to the access-controlled area by controlling a lock of a door of the refrigerated cabinet.
124 . A method according to claim 123 , wherein the inventory is an inventory of any biological products stored in the access-controlled area, each such product having a passive RFID tag and being selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, an assay, and a cloning vector,
wherein the inventory is determined in accordance with a differential comparison between two RFID scanning operations,
wherein the lock is an electric actuated lock comprising a solenoid,
wherein the refrigerated cabinet comprises sensing means for sensing opening and closing of the door of the refrigerated cabinet by sensing output of a proximity sensor,
wherein an RFID antenna used for RFID scanning is mounted in the refrigerated cabinet, and
wherein the lock is further controlled in accordance with the temperature within the refrigerated cabinet.
125 . A method according to claim 124 , further comprising a step of cloaking a tag during an RFID scan.
126 . A method according to claim 124 , further comprising determining a read time for a RFID scan.
127 . A method according to claim 124 , further comprising a step of altering the position of nulls in an electromagnetic field used for the RFID scanning.
128 . A method according to claim 124 , further comprising a step of using an RFID read time curve to determine a condition in the area.
129 . An apparatus comprising:
an antenna for performing RFID scanning, said antenna being movably mounted on the apparatus; and
an antenna moving unit that is configured to automatically move said antenna using an electrical actuator so as change an electromagnetic field used for RFID scanning in such a manner that a null that is generated change position.
130 . An apparatus comprising:
an RFID scanning unit mounted on a portion of said apparatus, said RFID scanning unit being configured to perform RFID scanning of an area within said apparatus,
wherein said RFID scanning unit comprises (a) a movable part and (b) means for automatically controlling motion of said movable part using an electrical actuator so as change an electromagnetic field used for RFID scanning in such a manner that a null that is generated changes position.
131 . A method comprising:
providing a movable part in an RFID scanning apparatus; and
automatically controlling motion of the movable part using an electrical actuator so as change an electromagnetic field used for RFID scanning in such a manner that a null that is generated changes position.
132 . A method according to claim 109 , wherein the tags are spaced approximately one-half of the RFID wavelength apart.
133 . A method according to claim 109 , wherein the tags are spaced approximately 3-6 cm apart.