Virtual shielding system and method for inventory tracking
An inventory monitoring system and process for monitoring inventory is shown and described herein. The system and process includes an RFID reader configured to collect or receive product code data, location data, and secondary metric data of inventory RFID tags relative to that of other RFID tags or markers for determining the location of the inventory from such data. From the information obtained from the RFID tags, the location of inventory in an environment can be determined.
1 . A method for tracking an item comprising:
(a) operating an RFID reader to obtain electronic product code data from an inventory item via an RFID reader;
(b) operating an RFID reader to:
(i) obtain location data from a product RFID tag associated with the inventory item;
(ii) obtain read count and/or phase data from the product RFID tag associated with the inventory item;
(iii) obtain read count and/or phase data from a reference RFID tag, the reference RFID tag positioned away from the product RFID tag;
(c) running an algorithm on a computer to determine a location of the inventory item from the location data from the product RFID tag obtained in (b) (i), the read count and/or phase data from the product RFID tag obtained in (b) (ii), and the read count and/or phase data from the reference RFID tag obtained in (b) (iii); and
(d) running an algorithm on a computer to determine a location of the inventory item from the electronic product code data obtained in (a) and the location of the inventory item from (c).
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference RFID tag is positioned at a fixed location.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference RFID tag is positioned on a physical partition.
4 . The method of claim 1 comprising the reference RFID tag is provided by a plurality of reference RFID tags.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of reference RFID tags define a virtual boundary, and the inventory item can be positioned inside or outside of the virtual boundary.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader conducts the operation of step (c) and/or (d).
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader communicates the data obtained in (a) and (b) to an external location, the external device comprising the computer to run the algorithm in (c) and/or (d).
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the external location is selected from a server or a cloud computing processor.
9 . The method of claim 1 , comprising communicating the location data obtained in (d) to an inventory management system.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location data is received signal strength indication data.
11 . A method for tracking an item comprising:
(a) operating an RFID reader to obtain electronic product code data from an inventory item via an RFID reader;
(i) the RFID reader having a localization tag;
(b) operating an RFID reader to:
(i) obtain location data from a product RFID tag associated with the inventory item;
(ii) obtain read count and/or phase data from the product RFID tag associated with the inventory item;
(c) running an algorithm on a computer to determine the location of the reader based from data from the localization tag, and,
(d) running an algorithm on a computer to determine the location offset from the inventory item to the RFID reader.
12 . The method of claim 11 comprising a plurality of anchors each with a defined position, each anchor configured to communicate the position of the anchor to a server, where the anchors are arranged such that they define a virtual boundary.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the inventory item is positioned within the virtual boundary, and step (b) comprises obtaining location data, read count data, and/or phase data from the product RFID tag located within the virtual boundary.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the server processes the RFID measurements from the RFID tag associated with the inventory item, and the measurements from the localization tag and generates position information of the RFID tag associated with the inventory item.
15 . The method of claim 14 comprising providing the position information of the RFID associated with the inventory item to an inventory management system.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the location data is received signal strength indication data.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the localization tag is selected from an RFID tag, WiFi tag, low energy Bluetooth tag, or ultra wideband tag.