Warehouse infrastructure

Abstract

A warehouse infrastructure item includes a controller and an RFID antenna. The controller is configured to: receive a motion detection signal from a sensor configured to detect movement in the vicinity of the warehouse infrastructure item; and provide a trigger signal when the motion detection signal indicates that movement is detected. The RFID antenna is configured to perform an RFID scan in response to the trigger signal to: transmit an RFID scan signal to excite one or more RFID tags in the vicinity of the RFID antenna; and providing RFID signaling representative of the one or more RFID tag signals received from the one or more RFID tags. The controller is further configured to: process the RFID signaling to determine one or more RFID tag identifiers associated with the RFID signaling; and transmit an output signal representative of the determined one or more RFID tag identifiers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to warehouse infrastructure items, and more particularly to warehouse infrastructure items including RFID antennas. Summary of the Invention

[0002] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a warehouse infrastructure item comprising:

[0003] A controller configured to:

[0004] Receive a motion detection signal from a sensor configured to detect movement near the warehouse infrastructure item; and

[0005] Provide a trigger signal when the motion detection signal indicates that movement has been detected;

[0006] An RFID antenna configured to perform an RFID scan in response to the trigger signal so as to:

[0007] Transmit an RFID scan signal to activate one or more RFID tags near the RFID antenna; and

[0008] Provide RFID signaling representing one or more RFID tag signals received from one or more RFID tags; and

[0009] Wherein the controller is configured to:

[0010] Process the RFID signaling to determine one or more RFID tag identifiers associated with the RFID signaling; and

[0011] Transmit an output signal representing the determined one or more RFID tag identifiers.

[0012] Advantageously, in terms of power consumption, such warehouse infrastructure items can operate in an efficient manner because the RFID antenna is controlled to perform an RFID scan when the RFID tags near the warehouse infrastructure item are most likely to change.

[0013] The controller may be configured to:

[0014] Process the determined one or more RFID tag identifiers associated with the RFID signaling to identify RFID tag identifiers associated with warehouse inventory; and

[0015] Transmit an output signal representing only the RFID tag identifiers identified as being associated with warehouse inventory.

[0016] The controller may be configured to:

[0017] Compare the one or more RFID tag identifiers so determined with one or more RFID tag identifiers determined based on an earlier RFID scan; and

[0018] Transmit an output signal representative of the RFID tag identifiers so determined only if one or more RFID tag identifiers determined based on the earlier RFID scan have changed.

[0019] The controller may be configured to delay providing the trigger signal to the RFID antenna until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after detection of movement.

[0020] The controller may be configured to provide the trigger signal to the RFID antenna after detected movement has stopped.

[0021] The warehouse infrastructure item may be a column, barrier, rack leg, column cap, door post, or shelf.

[0022] The warehouse infrastructure item may further include the sensor configured to detect movement in the vicinity of the warehouse infrastructure item.

[0023] The warehouse infrastructure item may be battery powered.

[0024] The controller may be further configured to:

[0025] Cause the RFID antenna to perform an RFID scan periodically or in response to a user-initiated trigger signal.

[0026] There is also provided an inventory monitoring system comprising:

[0027] A warehouse infrastructure item as disclosed herein, wherein the output signal transmitted by the warehouse infrastructure item includes an infrastructure identifier;

[0028] A server configured to:

[0029] Receive the output signal from the warehouse infrastructure item;

[0030] Determine the location of the warehouse infrastructure item based on the infrastructure identifier in the received output signal; and

[0031] Generate a map of the warehouse, the map including the determined location of the warehouse infrastructure item and a representation of the one or more RFID tag identifiers in the output signal.

[0032] The inventory monitoring system may further comprise:

[0033] One or more additional warehouse infrastructure items, wherein the output signal transmitted by each of the one or more additional warehouse infrastructure items includes an infrastructure identifier; and

[0034] wherein the server is configured to:

[0035] Also receive the output signal from the one or more additional warehouse infrastructure items;

[0036] Determine the location of each of the one or more additional warehouse infrastructure items based on the infrastructure identifier in the corresponding output signal;

[0037] For any RFID tag identifier represented by a plurality of the output signals, determine an inventory location for the RFID tag identifier by combining the determined locations of the warehouse infrastructure items providing the plurality of output signals; and

[0038] Generate a map of the warehouse such that it includes the determined inventory locations and the associated RFID tag identifiers.

[0039] The server may be configured to:

[0040] Determine the inventory location for the RFID tag identifier by averaging the determined locations of the warehouse infrastructure items providing the plurality of output signals.

[0041] The server may be configured to:

[0042] Determine the inventory location for the RFID tag identifier by using a predetermined relationship between the inventory location and the determined locations of the warehouse infrastructure items providing the plurality of output signals.

[0043] The server may be configured to determine the inventory location as one of a plurality of predetermined candidate inventory locations representing storage areas in the warehouse.

[0044] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of scanning a warehouse, the method comprising:

[0045] Receiving a motion detection signal from a sensor configured to detect movement near a warehouse infrastructure item; and

[0046] Providing a trigger signal when the motion detection signal indicates that movement has been detected;

[0047] Performing RFID scanning in response to the trigger signal by:

[0048] Transmit an RFID scanning signal to activate one or more RFID tags near the RFID antenna; and

[0049] Provide RFID signaling representative of one or more RFID tag signals received from one or more RFID tags;

[0050] Process the RFID signaling to determine one or more RFID tag identifiers associated with the RFID signaling; and

[0051] Transmit an output signal representative of the determined one or more RFID tag identifiers.

[0052] This document may provide a computer program that, when run on a computer, configures the computer for any device, including the controllers, systems, or apparatuses disclosed herein, or performs any method disclosed herein. As a non-limiting example, the computer program may be a software implementation, and the computer may be considered any suitable hardware, including implementations in a digital signal processor, a microcontroller, and read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The software may be an assembler program.

[0053] The computer program may be provided on a computer-readable medium, which may be a physical computer-readable medium such as a disk or a memory device, or may be embodied as a transient signal. Such transient signals may be network downloads, including Internet downloads. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions may be provided, the computer-executable instructions causing the computing system to perform any method disclosed herein when executed by the computing system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] One or more embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0055] Figure 1 A plan view schematically showing a part of the interior of a warehouse is shown;

[0056] Figure 2 A region in the warehouse is shown where two warehouse infrastructure items according to the present disclosure are present;

[0057] Figure 3 Is shown in more detail Figure 2 a column, and three nearby inventory items; and

[0058] Figure 4 An example embodiment of an inventory monitoring system according to the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] It is difficult to track inventory in a warehouse, especially in a very large warehouse. Moreover, in some cases, containers (such as tote bags, boxes, or pallets) storing multiple inventory items may accumulate in certain areas of the warehouse, and it is difficult to identify that this is happening and where it is occurring.

[0060] Figure 1 A plan view schematically showing a part of the interior of a warehouse is a suitable environment in which the warehouse infrastructure items described herein can be used. Figure 1 Six shelf rows 101 are shown, with aisles 102 between each row 101. As Figure 1 shown, a forklift (FLT) 108 can travel along the aisle to retrieve inventory stored in different shelf rows 101. Each shelf row 101 has a plurality of shelf legs 103. The shelf legs 103 are vertical supports for supporting shelves or pallets. The shelf row 101 may also include beams (usually horizontal) and / or brackets (usually extending diagonally relative to the ground).

[0061] Figure 1 A part of the warehouse is shown designated as a walkway 104. The walkway 104 is spaced from the end aisle of the shelves by a barrier 105. In this example, the barrier 105 is shown as including a plurality of spaced columns 106, with a track 107 connecting most adjacent columns 106. A pedestrian entry point 109 is shown as a gap in the barrier through which pedestrians can walk between the walkway 104 and the part of the warehouse where the FLT 108 operates for movement.

[0062] Each of the column 106, the barrier 105, the shelf leg 103, and the shelf row 101 is an example of a warehouse infrastructure item according to the present disclosure. Additionally, one or more of the following may also be considered warehouse infrastructure items: column caps (i.e., caps on columns), doorposts, shelves, and any other barriers or dividers between different areas in the warehouse (including barriers between different inventory storage areas).

[0063] Figure 2 An area in the warehouse is shown where there are two warehouse infrastructure items according to the present disclosure. In this example, the warehouse infrastructure items are a first column 210 and a second column 211. As will be discussed below, particularly with reference to Figure 3, the first column 210 and the second column 211 include a controller and an RFID antenna. The controller and the RFID antenna can be positioned at any desired location relative to their respective columns 210, 211. In an example where the controller and the RFID antenna are positioned in the cap portion of the columns 210, 211 (in some embodiments, the cap portion can be provided to the columns 210, 211 as a separate component so that it can be assembled onto the columns), the warehouse infrastructure item including the controller and the RFID antenna can be regarded as a column cap.

[0064] As will be discussed in detail below with reference to Figure 3 the RFID antennas of the first column 210 and the second column 211 emit RFID scan signals 212, 213 to activate one or more RFID tags 214 near the RFID antennas. In this example, the RFID tags 214 are associated with inventory items 215 in the warehouse. Each RFID tag 214 can be associated with a single inventory item 215, or it can be associated with a container storing multiple inventory items, such as a handbag, a box, or a pallet.

[0065] Figure 3 is shown in more detail Figure 2 the column 310, and three nearby inventory items 315. Each inventory item 315 has an associated RFID tag 314.

[0066] As indicated above, the column 310 includes a controller 316 and an RFID antenna 319. In this example, the column 310 also has a transmitter 321 and a sensor 317 for detecting movement near the column 310.

[0067] The controller 316 is configured to receive a motion detection signal 318 from the sensor 317. As a non-limiting example, the sensor 317 can be implemented as a vibration sensor, a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, a pressure sensor (for example, the pressure sensor can be implemented on a shelf storing inventory), or any other type of sensor that can detect movement near the column 310. As will be understood from the following description, such detected movement can be regarded as an indication that the inventory 315 near the column 310 may have moved.

[0068] When the motion detection signal 318 indicates that movement has been detected, the controller 316 provides a trigger signal 322 to the RFID antenna 319. Then, the RFID antenna performs an RFID scan in response to the trigger signal 322. The RFID scan includes the RFID antenna 319 emitting an RFID scan signal ( Figure 3(not shown in order not to obscure other features of the drawing), so as to stimulate one or more RFID tags 314 near the RFID antenna 319. As is known in the art, any RFID tag 314 stimulated by the RFID scanning signal will emit an RFID tag signal 323 in response to the stimulation. In this example, the RFID tag 314 is passive, which is advantageous because there is no need to provide a battery for the inventory 315, and thus there is no need to regularly charge or replace any such battery. In addition, the RFID tag 314 in this example is a ultra-high frequency (UHF) tag.

[0069] The RFID antenna 319 then provides RFID signaling 320, which represents one or more RFID tag signals 323 received from one or more RFID tags 314 after being stimulated by the RFID scanning signal.

[0070] The controller 316 processes the RFID signaling 320 to determine one or more RFID tag identifiers associated with the RFID signaling 323, and emits an output signal 324 representing the determined one or more RFID tag identifiers. In this example, the column 310 includes a transmitter 321 for transmitting the output signal 324 to a remote device such as a server.

[0071] Advantageously, in terms of power consumption, Figure 3 the column 310 can operate in an efficient manner because the RFID antenna 319 is controlled such that RFID scanning is performed when the RFID tags 314 near the column 310 (and thus the inventory 315 also changes) are most likely to change. For example, the sensor 317 can detect when the FLT is near the column 310 because it is removing inventory 315 from or adding inventory 315 to the storage compartment near the column 310, and in response, RFID scanning can be performed to check if any inventory has been moved.

[0072] In some instances, the controller 316 can delay providing the trigger signal 322 to the RFID antenna 319 until a predetermined period of time has passed after the detection of movement. This can complete any inventory movement operations before performing RFID scanning, and thus the minimum number (power consumption) of RFID scans required to detect inventory changes can be performed. In another instance, the controller 316 can provide the trigger signal 322 to the RFID antenna 319 after the detected movement has stopped. Similarly, such instances can increase the likelihood that RFID scanning will detect a change in the inventory 315 and reduce the likelihood that RFID scanning is performed prematurely.

[0073] The above-described energy-saving implementation of column 310 advantageously enables column 310 to be powered by a battery and remain operational for a relatively long period of time between battery replacement or recharging. In a warehouse environment, this is a highly significant benefit as each warehouse infrastructure item may not have direct access to mains power, and / or may need to be moved or replaced without the worry of altering the wiring.

[0074] In one implementation, the controller 316 determines the presence of the RFID tag signal 323 in the RFID signaling 320 only when the signal strength of the RFID tag signal 323 is greater than a threshold. An example of how signal strength can be represented is the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the received RFID tag signal 323. In this way, weak RFID tag signals 323 (which may be too far away to be considered near column 310) can be excluded from further processing and omitted from the output signal 324.

[0075] In some instances, the controller 316 can process one or more RFID tag identifiers determined to be associated with the RFID signaling 320 to identify the RFID tag identifiers associated with the warehouse inventory 315. For example, the controller 316 can access a lookup table or database in a computer memory that stores a list of RFID tag identifiers associated with the warehouse inventory 315. Such a lookup table or database can also include RFID tag identifiers not related to the inventory; for example, it can be associated with infrastructure items or clothing items such as PPE (personal protective equipment). The controller 316 can then transmit an output signal 324 representing only the RFID tag identifiers identified as being associated with the warehouse inventory 315.

[0076] This implementation represents an effective way to determine the location of the inventory 315 in the warehouse (which may be the location of handbags, pallets, and boxes carrying the inventory, depending on how the RFID tags 314 are used). Depending on Figure 3 the location of column 310 in Figure 3 and any other warehouse infrastructure item having the same function as column 310 in

[0077] In some instances, the controller 316 can compare the one or more RFID tag identifiers determined with one or more RFID tag identifiers determined based on an earlier RFID scan (in some instances, the immediately preceding RFID scan). In this way, the controller 316 can determine whether the RFID tag identifiers near the post 310 have changed. The change can be the appearance of a new RFID tag identifier and / or the disappearance of an RFID tag identifier. Then, the controller 316 can transmit the output signal 324 representative of the determined RFID tag identifiers only if the one or more RFID tag identifiers determined based on the earlier RFID scan have changed. In some embodiments, the output signal 324 can represent only the change in the one or more RFID tag identifiers determined. In another instance, the controller 316 can transmit the output signal 324 representative of the determined one or more RFID tag identifiers only if the RFID tag identifiers determined in the current RFID scan differ from the RFID tag identifiers determined in the previous RFID scan by at least a minimum amount (e.g., there are at least a threshold number of different RFID tag identifiers returned by the scan, where the threshold number can be 1, 2, 3, or more). In this way, once a certain degree of movement has occurred; for example, at least 3 boxes have moved, the controller 316 will send only updated information (e.g., send to a server). This is advantageous if the RFID antenna 319 is scanning an area where goods are moving very frequently and is applicable to applications that are more interested in how many items (such as handbags, boxes, etc.) are stationary, because sending updates that are not required for a particular application does not consume battery power. Such embodiments can represent yet another energy-saving process performed by the controller 316, because the output signal is not transmitted if the output signal 324 does not represent any new information or the new information is not sufficient to warrant the transmission of the output signal. If the post 310 is battery-powered, this further helps to extend its battery life.

[0078] In some instances, the functionality of one or more of the warehouse infrastructure items disclosed herein can also be extended by the controller 316, or alternatively, cause the RFID antenna 319 to perform RFID scans periodically or in response to a user-initiated trigger signal. In this way, the RFID antenna 319 can provide RFID signaling 320 as needed or at least at a minimum time interval between successive RFID scans.

[0079] In yet another example, once movement has been detected and the RFID antenna 319 has performed an RFID scan, the controller 316 can wait for a minimum time period to expire and then provide another trigger signal 322 to the RFID antenna 319 (even if the sensor 317 detects movement during this time period). In this way, a minimum wait time is implemented between successive RFID scans. Advantageously, this can reduce the number of transmitted output signals and can conserve battery power. This can be particularly useful in applications where inventory is of more interest than the flow / movement of inventory.

[0080] Figure 4 An example embodiment of an inventory monitoring system in accordance with the present disclosure is shown. The inventory monitoring system includes a server 425, and one or more warehouse infrastructure items (in this example, at least two posts 410, 411).

[0081] Figure 4 An area of a warehouse is shown, in which eight posts and seven barriers between the posts are included, which define a storage area for inventory in the warehouse. RFID scan signals 412, 413 are shown Figure 4 as being emitted from two of the posts 410, 411. However, it will be understood that any other post and / or any barrier can also include an RFID scanner such that it can also emit RFID scan signals in the same manner as described above with respect to Figure 3 and can thus also generate an output signal representing one or more RFID tag identifiers associated with nearby inventory 415. In this example, each of the output signals includes an infrastructure identifier, which is a unique identifier of the warehouse infrastructure item 410, 411 that provided the output signal.

[0082] As will now be described, the server 425 can process the output signals received from the plurality of warehouse infrastructure items 410, 411 (in this example, received via a network such as the Internet 426) to generate a map of the warehouse that includes the inventory locations associated with the detected RFID tags.

[0083] The server 425 receives output signals from one or more of the warehouse infrastructure items 410, 411 and can determine the location of the warehouse infrastructure item associated with each output signal based on the infrastructure identifier in the corresponding output signal. In some examples, this can involve the server 425 using a lookup table or database to determine the coordinates of the infrastructure items 410, 410 using the infrastructure identifier.

[0084] Then, the server 425 can generate a map of the warehouse, the map including the determined locations of each of the warehouse infrastructure items 410, 411, and a representation of the one or more RFID tag identifiers in the output signals associated with each warehouse infrastructure item 41, 411. The representation of the one or more RFID tag identifiers can be provided in any convenient manner. For example, the name of the inventory type associated with the RFID tag identifier can be displayed along with a count of the quantity of inventory detected by a single warehouse infrastructure item 410, 411.

[0085] In some applications, the RFID tag identifier can be represented by output signals received from multiple warehouse infrastructure items. This is schematically indicated in Figure 4 where it can be seen that some (if not all) of the inventory 415 is exposed to both the RFID scan signal 412 from the first post 410 and the RFID scan information 413 from the second post 411. In such a case, the server 425 can determine the inventory location of the RFID tag identifier by combining the determined locations of the warehouse infrastructure items 410, 411 that provided output signals including the same RFID tag identifier. Subsequently, the server 425 can generate a map of the warehouse such that it includes the determined inventory location and a representation of the associated RFID tag identifier.

[0086] In one embodiment, the server 425 can determine the inventory location for the RFID tag identifier by averaging the determined locations of the warehouse infrastructure items that provided the multiple output signals. In this way, the inventory location can be determined as the midpoint between the warehouse infrastructure items that detected the RFID tag associated with the inventory.

[0087] In another embodiment, the server 425 can determine the inventory location for the RFID tag identifier by using a predetermined relationship between the inventory location and the determined locations of the warehouse infrastructure items that provided the multiple output signals. For example, the server 425 can access a computer memory storing the association between known warehouse storage areas and the associated warehouse infrastructure items in the vicinity of the warehouse storage areas. In this way, the server 425 can determine the inventory location as one of a plurality of predetermined candidate inventory locations representing the warehouse storage areas in the warehouse.

Claims

1. A warehouse infrastructure item, comprising: A controller, the controller being configured to: receiving a motion detection signal from a sensor configured to detect movement proximate the warehouse infrastructure item; and providing a trigger signal when the motion detection signal indicates that movement is detected; an RFID antenna configured to perform an RFID scan in response to the trigger signal to: transmitting an RFID scanning signal to excite one or more RFID tags in the vicinity of the RFID antenna; and providing RFID signaling representative of one or more RFID tag signals received from one or more RFID tags; and The controller is configured to: processing the RFID signaling to determine one or more RFID tag identifiers associated with the RFID signaling; and An output signal representative of the determined one or more RFID tag identifiers is transmitted.

2. The warehouse infrastructure item according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: processing the determined one or more RFID tag identifiers associated with the RFID signaling to identify RFID tag identifiers associated with warehouse inventory; and An output signal representative of only the RFID tag identifier identified as being associated with warehouse inventory is emitted.

3. A warehouse infrastructure item according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to: comparing the determined one or more RFID tag identifiers to one or more RFID tag identifiers determined from an earlier RFID scan; and Output signals representative of the determined RFID tag identifiers are transmitted only if one or more RFID tag identifiers determined from the earlier RFID scan have changed.

4. A warehouse infrastructure item according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is configured to defer providing the trigger signal to the RFID antenna until a predetermined time period has elapsed after motion is detected.

5. A warehouse infrastructure item according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controller is configured to provide the trigger signal to the RFID antenna after the detected movement has ceased.

6. A warehouse infrastructure item according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the warehouse infrastructure item is a column, a barrier, a shelf leg, a column cap, a door post or a shelf.

7. A warehouse infrastructure item according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the sensor being configured to detect movement in the vicinity of the warehouse infrastructure item.

8. A warehouse infrastructure item according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the warehouse infrastructure item is battery powered.

9. A warehouse infrastructure item according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is further configured to: The RFID antenna is caused to perform an RFID scan periodically or in response to a user initiated trigger signal.

10. An inventory monitoring system comprising: A warehouse infrastructure item according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the output signal transmitted by the warehouse infrastructure item comprises an infrastructure identifier; A server, wherein the server is configured to: receiving said output signal from said warehouse infrastructure item; determining a location of the warehouse infrastructure item based on the infrastructure identifier in the received output signal; and A map of the warehouse is generated, the map including the determined locations of the warehouse infrastructure items and representations of the one or more RFID tag identifiers in the output signals.

11. The inventory monitoring system of claim 10, further comprising: one or more further warehouse infrastructure items according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the output signal emitted by each of the one or more further warehouse infrastructure items comprises an infrastructure identifier; and The server is configured to: receiving said output signal also from said one or more further warehouse infrastructure items; determining a location of each of the one or more additional warehouse infrastructure items based on the infrastructure identifier in the respective output signal; for any RFID tag identifier represented by a plurality of said output signals, determining an inventory location for said RFID tag identifier by combining the determined locations of said warehouse infrastructure items providing said plurality of output signals; and A map of the warehouse is generated such that it includes the determined inventory locations and associated RFID tag identifiers.

12. The inventory monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the server is configured to: The inventory location for the RFID tag identifier is determined by averaging the determined locations of the warehouse infrastructure items providing the plurality of output signals.

13. The inventory monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the server is configured to: The inventory location for the RFID tag identifier is determined by using a predetermined relationship between the inventory location and the determined location of the warehouse infrastructure item providing the plurality of output signals.

14. The inventory monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the server is configured to determine the inventory location as one of a plurality of predetermined candidate inventory locations representing inventory storage areas in the warehouse.

15. A method for scanning a warehouse, the method comprising: receiving a motion detection signal from a sensor configured to detect movement proximate to an item of warehouse infrastructure; and providing a trigger signal when the motion detection signal indicates that movement is detected; RFID scanning is performed in response to the trigger signal by: transmitting an RFID scanning signal to excite one or more RFID tags in the vicinity of the RFID antenna; as well as providing RFID signaling representative of one or more RFID tag signals received from one or more RFID tags; processing the RFID signaling to determine one or more RFID tag identifiers associated with the RFID signaling; as well as An output signal representative of the determined one or more RFID tag identifiers is transmitted.

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