Radio Frequency Identification Scanning with the Internet of Things

Abstract

To provide a system and a method for improving a consumer's shopping experience by notifying the consumer of whether a desired item is in stock in a specific retail place at a specific time by using inventory data.SOLUTION: In a system 300 managing an inventory by using radio frequency identification (RFID), a first user device 322a receives, a plurality of pieces of first RFID scan data for a first scan session, filters the plurality of first RFID scan data to determine a first set of filtered item identification codes (IIC), aggregates the plurality of first sets of filtered IICs to form a first set of IICs, generates a first message based on the first set of IICs, and transmits the first message to one or more back-end computing devices by using a first Internet of Things (IoT) topic.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to tracking inventory using radio frequency identification (RFID). [Background technology]

[0002] Consumers often check whether a particular item is in stock at a particular retail location before visiting. A manufacturer's ability to answer this question depends on the quality of its supply. They rely on accurate, up-to-date inventory data throughout the chain. If the product is out of date, consumers may have to navigate multiple retail locations to find the desired item. This negatively impacts the consumer experience. Data also has a negative impact on manufacturers' operations across their supply chain networks. . Summary of the Invention

[0003] This Summary presents in a simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is provided to guide you through the process. It identifies key features of the claimed subject matter. It is not intended to identify any particular feature or essential features of the invention, nor is it intended to identify any particular feature or essential features of the invention. It is not intended to be used alone as an aid in determining the scope of the subject matter of a claim. .

[0004] The technology described herein utilizes detailed, low-latency inventory data to identify specific items at specific retail locations. By notifying consumers whether a desired item is in stock at a specific time, improve your shopping experience. Such information is provided with a high degree of accuracy. Visit or call multiple retailers to determine if the desired item is in stock. This will reduce the inconvenience of having to inquire about whether the product is available.

[0005] For example, a consumer may be shopping for a new pair of shoes. Consumers may prefer to purchase products directly from a retailer (rather than online). If you are interested in a new style of shoe, you may want to see and try on the shoes before purchasing. Or, a consumer may be inspired by something they see in the course of their daily activities. Consumers may notice someone walking down the street wearing their favorite shoes, or see a sign on their way to work. They may see an advertisement or an ad in a magazine and immediately want to see the shoes in person. In any event, consumers can determine which local retailers are selling the desired color and size at a particular time. Want to know what style you have? The list of retailers can be found in mobile apps, e.g., mobile apps provided by shoe manufacturers. The mobile app may be communicated to the consumer through any number of additional operations, For example, you can reserve an item, schedule a pickup time, or contact another retailer. It can be easy to move to one of the places you are interested in while walking down the street or during your commute. In the enticed consumer example, the app will suggest nearby stores (either stores near your current location or Reserve your shoes at a store along your route to your destination and browse them without delay. and may provide the consumer with directions to the store so that they can potentially make a purchase.

[0006] This improved consumer experience is driven by detailed, low-latency inventory data. It concerns a specific item (e.g., style, color, size) in a specific location. It is detailed and reflects the inventory of a specific location in real time or near real time. The data is actually the inventory of a particular item at a particular location. It must be accurate so as not to falsely tell consumers that something is in stock when it is not.

[0007] To obtain detailed, up-to-date, and accurate inventory data, the exemplary system utilizes RFID technology and and utilizes aspects of the Internet of Things (IoT) architecture. enables faster and more frequent inventory counts across a network of retail locations, allowing for The inventory may provide a comprehensive picture of the inventory at a given point in time. This can be implemented at a high level by staff using RFID scanners at retail locations, The scanner is communicatively coupled to an employee device (e.g., a smartphone). Employees at retail locations utilize scanners to scan RFID tags. A scanning session can be initiated using tags attached to each item in the store. RFID scanners receive signals from many tags located within approximately 20 feet of the scanner. can be read quickly, making this task easy, especially when several employees are working together. This can be accomplished in a relatively short time. The employee device can receive scan data from the scanner. , can filter item identification codes from the large amount of data collected by the scanner; The code can then be bundled into a group message, which is then passed to the IoT protocol. One or more back-end servers (e.g., manufacturing companies) that perform inventory management functions using The location data may also be transmitted to a server controlled by the Company. as well as to reflect whether a particular inventory item is on the sales floor or in storage. Other employees may join the scanning session and Scan and identify item identification codes using scanner devices and employee devices The code can be bundled into a message that can be sent to the IoT Pro. This protocol is sent to the backend server as discussed in more detail below. The use of IoT protocols in context allows for multiple employee devices and multiple back-ends. This facilitates fast and efficient communication between the network and the server.

[0008] The backend server may coordinate the data received from the employee devices (e.g., multiple (excluding duplicate scans performed by employees) for each item during store inventory Item identification code data also allows for the collection of a comprehensive, up-to-date list of items on store shelves. To provide a user-friendly image of the wholesale, we provide the style, size, and Enhanced product information, such as color, can be added. The back-end server manages each employee's data. Share a comprehensive inventory list (which may include enhanced product information) back to the device, The results for each employee device are updated to reflect all of the scans performed by the employee. Communication between employee devices and back-end servers is almost real-time. This can occur in real time, so that employee devices can view updated shelf information during the scan session. Receive wholesale data continuously.

[0009] Using conventional technology, a complete inventory of just one store can take hundreds of man-hours. Therefore, it is unrealistic for a store to conduct inventory more than once or twice a year. Inventory data can be inaccurate due to product loss, theft, or calculation errors. In contrast, the techniques described here allow stores to perform a complete inventory in less than 10 work hours. This allows for weekly (or more frequent) inventory and inventory data Guaranteed to be up to date.

[0010] Detailed, up-to-date, and accurate inventory data collected using the exemplary methods described above can be used in a number of ways. Improve the consumer experience. For example, as in the scenario described at the beginning of this overview, The data can be used to determine whether a desired item is in stock at a particular retail location at a particular time. This can also be used to inform consumers that they are already at a particular retail location, improving their experience. For example, store employees can better serve customers if they have up-to-date and comprehensive inventory data. This allows employees to better assist customers by providing information on the availability of specific styles, sizes, and colors. It can quickly tell customers whether the item is on the sales floor or in the storage area. Wholesale data contains location-specific information (e.g., sales floor vs. storage), so that the items currently on display It may be determined that unsold product is in storage and corrective action may be taken.

[0011] The improved inventory data described herein is collected and maintained by the manufacturer. As a result, manufacturers are using the system not only to improve the customer experience as mentioned above, but also to improve the manufacturer's inventory management. Data can be used to improve management and operations overall. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] Aspects of the technology described in this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing environment suitable for implementing aspects of the technologies described herein. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary computing architecture suitable for implementing aspects of the technology described herein. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary computing architecture suitable for implementing aspects of the technology described herein. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary computing architecture suitable for implementing aspects of the technology described herein. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary method for conducting a team scan session in accordance with aspects of the technology described herein. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for communicating inventory information in accordance with aspects of the technology described herein. [Figure 7A] 1 illustrates an exemplary user interface that may be displayed by a user device in accordance with aspects of the techniques described herein. [Figure 7B] 1 illustrates an exemplary user interface that may be displayed by a user device in accordance with aspects of the techniques described herein. [Figure 8] 1 illustrates a series of exemplary interactions in a retail context in accordance with aspects of the techniques described herein. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing environment suitable for implementing aspects of the technologies described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The technology of this disclosure is described with specificity for the present invention to meet statutory requirements. The description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have may be implemented in other ways and in conjunction with other current or future technologies, performing different steps or It is contemplated that the method may include a combination of steps similar to those described herein. Furthermore, the terms "step" and / or "block" may refer to different steps in the method employed. Although it may be used in the present invention to imply elements, the order of the individual steps Unless and except where expressly stated, the term should not be construed to imply any particular order between the various steps disclosed. There is no.

[0014] The technology described here provides detailed, low-latency data throughout the supply chain network. Collect and maintain inventory data. Such data can improve the consumer shopping experience. to improve inventory management and overall operations throughout the supply chain It can be used.

[0015] An exemplary system utilizes RFID technology and aspects of IoT architecture to provide Such a system would allow for faster and more frequent inventory across a network of locations. In this system, an RFID tag can be linked to each inventory item (e.g., the tag can be The product is inspected by the manufacturer or another entity in the supply chain before it is shipped to a retail location. Employees can use handheld RFID scanning devices to scan The device may scan an FID tag, which is then passed to an employee-operated user device (e.g., The RFID tag requires strict directionality to be read. No need for a mobile device, so employees don't have to turn around to scan items. (e.g., an employee may need to access one item behind another item. (There is no need to move items.) Instead, employees are required to move items within a certain proximity of the scanner. It can quickly scan all items within a range (e.g., 20 feet). The scan data received from the FID tag is then processed by one or more back-end computing A system (e.g., a server controlled by a manufacturer that performs inventory control functions) ) the scan data may be filtered by the user device before being transmitted to It can be filtered at different levels of granularity to achieve different inventory results, for example In the first mode, businesses receive binary inventory information, i.e., whether a product is present or not. Using location information, it may be desirable to have the product item's presence in stock. Status (for example, whether the item is in storage) or display status (for example, Such a binary inventory state can be the same as whether the item is on display or not. In this case, the system will scan the previously scanned item for the same product type and in the same location. This can result in a large amount of information being filtered out, making the system provides communication between a user device and one or more back-end computing systems. In a second embodiment, the business may obtain complete inventory information. , i.e., we want to have a sense of how many identified items are present at a given location. In this application, the system obtains the same product type as the previously scanned item. The system does not exclude items, but it does exclude duplicate codes for the same item. This may ensure that the same identified item is not counted more than once.

[0016] Filtered and aggregated scan data is available through message query telemetry. One or more backends using IoT protocols such as MQTT This has many benefits. First, IoT protocols such as the QTT protocol are limited in low-bandwidth applications The system described herein provides such a protocol. benefit from the use of the protocol because it avoids the problems associated with bandwidth-intensive communications. This avoids the hassle and ensures smooth, fast and efficient processing and transmission of inventory data. Furthermore, based on the IoT protocol, the first IoT topic is the back-channel from the user device. Used for communication to end computing systems (e.g., "subscribed information") The second IoT topic can be transmitted from the back-end computing system to the user device. It can be used to communicate (e.g., "publish information") to the aggregated scan device. Sending the data to one IoT topic in the backend computing system especially when more than one user device is used to complete an inventory. ,complexity in communication between user devices and back-end computing systems; Furthermore, two different I / Os are used for the subscribe and publish information. Using IoT topics allows for the transfer of data from user devices to backend computing systems. To avoid confusion between information flowing in the stem and information flowing in the opposite direction.

[0017] The aggregated data transmitted to the back-end computing system is also scanned. Such information may include location information regarding the location of the item. Determine if the system is in the showroom or in the inventory / storage area. In another aspect, the location information may be used to determine where the item is located in the area. The location information of the scanned item can be used to determine if the item is The location of the user device at the time of scanning may be determined. The location may be entered manually (e.g., by a user through the user device's user interface). interaction with one or more components of the user device (e.g., GPS) S) or determined based on scanned location tags. Once the location of the user device is known, the general location of the item can be determined by the user device. The location of the item (for example, in a showroom or storage room) can be determined, or The precise location of the user may be determined based on information known by the user's device (e.g., the user device location, bearing lines, and RFID tag signal strength).

[0018] By transmitting scan data to one or more back-end computing systems The enriched product information is then distributed to the back-end computing system in a second IoT topics can be used to publish to user devices. By providing feedback to the user device used for Employees who use the system can see which items have been scanned and which items are yet to be scanned. You will be given near real-time information on what is happening and what is not happening.

[0019] To further reduce the time required to conduct an inventory, a team scan system is used. In such a system, a scanning session is initiated by a first user device. The creation of the scan session may be broadcast to the second user device. The second user device may then be allowed to participate in the scanning session. As part of the launch of the application, a first IoT topic is assigned to all scan data. and one or more back-end computing systems during the scan session. That is, when the first user device scans for the first identified RFID tag, After receiving the scan data, and the second user device scans the second identified RFID tag. After receiving the scan data, each of the first user device and the second user device 1 IoT topic is used to send the item identification code (IIC) corresponding to each scan. ) may be transmitted to one or more back-end computing systems. The inventory records are generated by one or more back-end computing systems. can be created and maintained on all user devices participating in a scan session. The user device can then communicate which items have been scanned and which items have been Visibility into whether the IIS session has not yet been scanned. An inventory list may be attached to the user data of each of the first and second employees. If any employee is not scanned in the first session, the RFI Scanning the D-tag provides a perceptible feed to the user according to the session inventory list. A prompt (e.g., an auditory or tactile cue) may be given to The IIC may be configured to receive a new IIC signal from the user of the user device. In this way, multiple employees may simultaneously contribute to the completion of one inventory session.

[0020] To provide the granularity of information desired by businesses and customers, each RFID tag For example, a business may designate each serialized product as If you want to track them individually, RFID tags can be used to identify items with SGTINs (Serialized Global Tunnel Numbers). Global Trade Identification Number (EP) Transmitting C (Electronic Product Code) to a scanning device In various aspects, a business may be able to obtain low-granularity information such as the inventory quantity of a particular type of product. If you want inventory data, RFID can be used to identify GTINs (Global Trade Identifiers). Product Identification Number (UPC) or Universal Product Code (UPC) For example, a business can use the GTIN to identify a quarterback. Customers may determine that a pair of shoulder pads is in stock (regardless of their condition). Any pair of such shoulder pads may be searched for and purchased by visiting a store based on known availability. Businesses can take complete inventories by using more granular information such as SGTINs. Yes, we have a pair of used quarterback shoulder pads in stock, but they are "boxed" In this example, the customer is only looking for pads in new condition. In either example, the shoulder pads It may be determined that inventory needs to be replenished. This provides customers with a more up-to-date and informed A shopping experience based on the supply chain is provided, and various entities in the supply chain are able to do so faster and more efficiently. This enables more informed logistics decisions.

[0021] Traditional solutions have a number of drawbacks. For example, traditionally, dealers have limited access to the Optical (e.g., 2D barcode tags) inventory systems are used to complete item inventories. Optical inventory systems require precise pointing between the reader and the optical tag. It is necessary (e.g. no opaque barrier can separate the reader and the optical tag). Scanning equipment must be clean, markings must be clear and clean, and scanning The containers should be placed in front of the items. (e.g. some inventory of items may be located behind customer facing items) In cases where the inventory is being carried out in a fully optically-based manner, employees are able to You need to move all the items so that no item is behind another. Because items must be scanned individually (often moved), optical-based Optical-based inventories therefore require a significant number of labor hours to complete. is only completed monthly, semi-annually, or annually depending on the number of items being inventoried. Additionally, team inventory allows team members to see which items have been previously scanned. Therefore, such optical-based inventories have high latency and can be inefficient if the This can hinder purchasing decisions and negatively impact the customer experience. Based on wholesale and subsequent point-of-sale (POS) transactions, items are It can convey information that a particular item is in stock at a retail location when it is not For example, a customer may be looking for a particular pair of running shoes in size 10. Based on the latent inventory and subsequent POS transactions, the inventory of one pair of shoes However, the dealer informed us that a pair of the shoes in question had been stolen a week earlier. A customer arrives at a store only to find that the pair of shoes they want is actually in stock. Discovering that something is wrong can be a negative experience.

[0022] The use of traditional RFID inventory systems has the disadvantage of being difficult to link to optical inventory systems. For example, RFID scanners do not require clear directionality. However, the use of RFID can result in increased problems. RFID uses a large number of RFID tags. Scanning can be done instantly, which can improve the efficiency of manual operations, but results in a large amount of To obtain the data, it is transmitted and processed by various computing systems. Furthermore, team inventory is a time-consuming process, and teammates often have to decide which RFID tags they like. This can be difficult because it is not possible to know whether the results are from a team scan or Whether this is the result of the flood of information generated by scanning multiple RFID tags, FID inventory systems can experience significant duplication and therefore inaccuracies. Although conventional RFID technology can facilitate human interaction, the associated computer interaction may still suffer from inefficiencies and high latency (e.g., significant amounts of data and high latency required for communication). Depending on the bandwidth), the data may be inaccurate.

[0023] Aspects of the technology described herein facilitate the collection and storage of detailed, low-latency inventory data. This solves the aforementioned problem. The delay in inventory data can be reduced in a number of ways. First, RFID technology is fast enough to scan all inventory items in a matter of hours. (as opposed to the hundreds of hours required using optical scanning techniques). The large amount of data provided by RFID tags is then used for back-end computing. Filter the specific data required for a particular inventory application before it is propagated to the system. This filtering can be communicated between the user device and the back-end system. This reduces the amount of data transmitted, thereby requiring less bandwidth and allowing for faster transmission. and, as mentioned above, the type and amount of data being transmitted. can be tailored to the specific inventory application, e.g., to evaluate "in stock / out" Only a small amount of data may be needed to assess the inventory, while each inventory item can be tracked individually. A large amount of data may be required to track the inventory. Only the amount of information required for the application is transmitted, thereby optimizing transmission efficiency.

[0024] The techniques described herein also utilize aspects of the IoT architecture to achieve high efficiency and As mentioned above, IoT protocols such as the MQTT protocol , an efficient means of conveying limited information in low bandwidth applications. All aggregated scan data collected by user devices is stored in the backend computer. Sending to one IoT topic for a computing system is especially useful for sending to multiple Streamline communication when user devices are participating in one scan session. It utilizes two different IoT topics for subscribing and publishing information. This involves the flow of information from user devices to back-end computing systems. To avoid confusion with information flowing in the opposite direction.

[0025] Aspects of the technology described herein also facilitate team inventory, thereby For example, IoT architecture allows multiple users to It is used to streamline communication between devices and back-end computing systems. In addition, the back-end computing system is used by multiple user devices. Reconcile the received data and return comprehensive inventory data to each user device, thereby User devices receive the latest data derived from data collected by all user devices. Ensures that the user device has an inventory of which items have not yet been scanned. This allows multiple users to receive near real-time feedback on whether the This makes it easier for employees to collaborate on inventory.

[0026] Additionally, the technology described here enables the collection of detailed, low-latency inventory data across the supply chain. not only provide collection and maintenance, but also provide such services to enhance the consumer shopping experience. As explained in the previous example, this data is provided by manufacturers and other An entity may request information about whether a desired item is in stock at a particular retail location at a particular time. Data also allows retailers to be faster and more efficient. to serve customers (e.g., specific styles, sizes, and (quickly tell customers if a color is in stock on the sales floor or in stock), which Improve the customer experience by, for example, transmitting inventory data to employee devices. Enhanced product data (e.g., store inventory) to provide a user-friendly picture of store inventory Detailed, low-latency inventory data can also be provided to manufacturers. enables the company to improve inventory management and operations overall, which ultimately results in better customer experience. It will improve the experience.

[0027] Accordingly, aspects of the technology described herein may be used to implement an RFID-based inventory tracking system. Improve the efficiency and accuracy of completing inventory by eliminating incorrect and / or duplicate data. This can be significantly increased by filtering the data. Multiple devices participating in a scan session communicate scan data using a common IoT topic. This can be achieved through the capabilities of the user device. The user of the user device can Product feedback can be provided and this feedback can be provided during the scanning session. Numerous improvements to inventory tracking are available, including low latency. This solution can satisfy the need to provide an extended inventory solution for businesses and and consumers.

[0028] Having briefly outlined aspects of the technology described herein, it is now possible to implement the technology in a variety of ways. An exemplary operating environment suitable for use in the present invention is described with reference to FIG. A block diagram illustrating an operating environment in which certain aspects of the present disclosure may be employed is provided. This and other arrangements described herein should be understood to be given by way of example only. Other organizations and elements (e.g., machines, interfaces, functions, sequences, and functions) functional groupings, etc.) may be used in addition to or in place of the organizations and elements thus shown. may be used instead, and some elements may be omitted entirely for clarity. Many of the elements described herein are functional entities that may be separate components or as a distributed component or in conjunction with other components, and in any suitable The present invention may be implemented in various combinations and locations. The various functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, firmware, and / or software. For example, some functions may be performed by instructions stored in a memory. It may be implemented by a processor that executes it.

[0029] The exemplary operating environment 100 includes, among other components not shown, a user device 102a and a number of user devices, such as user devices 102b-102n; a number of data sources, such as data source 104a and data sources 104b-104n; sensors 103a and 107, and a network 110. It should be understood that the illustrated operating environment 100 is an example of one suitable operating environment. Each of the components shown in FIG. 1 may be implemented, for example, in the computer system described in connection with FIG. The present invention may be implemented via any type of computing device, such as a computing device 900. Such components may communicate with each other via a network 110, A network can consist of, without limitation, one or more local area networks (LANs) and / or or a wide area network (WAN). Network 110 may be any of a variety of possible public and / or private networks. Any of the networks may include the Internet and / or cellular networks. It is equipped with a work area.

[0030] Any number of user devices, servers, and data sources may be included within the operating environment of this disclosure. It should be understood that the various components may be employed within a single system. For example, the server 106 may comprise a device or multiple devices in a distributed environment. The present invention may be provided via a plurality of devices arranged in a manner generally as described herein. In addition, other components not shown may also be included in the distributed environment. It is possible.

[0031] The user device 102a and the user devices 102b to 102n are The client device may be on the client side, while the server 106 may be on the operating environment 10 The server 106 may be located on the server side of the server 106. ... The user device 102a and the user device 102b may be connected to implement any combination of functions and features. It works in conjunction with the client-side software on devices 102b to 102n. This section of the operating environment 100 may include server-side software designed The examples are provided to illustrate an example environment, and for each implementation, the server 106 and the user device Any combination of devices 102b-102n need not remain separate entities.

[0032] The user device 102a and the user devices 102b-102n may be any type of user For example, in one aspect, Thus, the user devices 102a-102n may be configured to use the computer system described herein with respect to FIG. It can be any type of operating device. By way of example and not limitation, a user device The device may be a personal computer (PC), laptop computer, mobile or Mobile devices, smartphones, tablet computers, smartwatches, Able computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), MP3 players, global positioning systems GPS or other devices, video players, handheld communication devices, game devices devices or systems, entertainment systems, vehicle computer systems, Embedded system controllers, cameras, remote controls, barcode scanners, computers measuring equipment, electrical appliances, household electronic devices, workstations, or other devices exemplified in this way The present invention may be implemented as any combination of such devices or any other suitable devices.

[0033] Data source 104a and data source 104n are data sources and / or data The data system may include the operating environment 100 or the data system described in connection with FIG. To make data available to any of the various components of the system 200 described. The data source 104a and the data sources 104b to 104n are configured as follows. The user device 102a, the user devices 102b to 102n, and the server 106 may be separate or integrated into at least one of such components and / or In one embodiment, one or more of the data sources 104a-104n may be integrated. The sensor includes one or more user devices 102a and 102b. integrated into or on the service(s) 102a, 102b, or 102n or server 106 Can be linked.

[0034] The operating environment 100 includes a user device 222a, an IOT communication manager 230, a scan center session manager 240, analysis engine 250, update message generator 270, and the system described in FIG. 2, including components associated with customer devices 280. 1 and 2, which may be utilized to implement one or more components of the system 200. Referring now to Figure 2, a system suitable for implementing one embodiment, generally designated as system 200, is shown. A block diagram illustrating aspects of an exemplary computing system architecture is provided. System 200 is one of the preferred computing system architectures. Only one example of this is shown. Other arrangements and elements may be used in addition to the arrangements and elements shown. may be used in any or all of the following ways, and some elements may be omitted entirely for clarity. Further, with respect to the operating environment 100, many of the elements described herein may be functional entities. and that entity may be distributed as a separate or distributed component or in other Implemented in conjunction with components and in any suitable combination and location. Furthermore, although each element is described herein as a separate functional entity, it may be any one or more of the elements. The entity is located and / or executed by a shared processor that executes multiple processes. obtain.

[0035] The exemplary system 200 includes a user device 222a, an IoT communication manager 230, a skill Session Manager 240, Analysis Engine 250, Update Message Generator 2 70, and customer device 280, each of which is described in connection with FIG. 1. The computing device 900, or the user device described in connection with FIG. Any type or number of computers, such as computers 102a-102n or servers 106, For example, the user devices 222a to 222b may be implemented via a user device. n and customer device 280 each respond to one or more user devices 102a-102n. In this disclosure, the term "backend computing device(s)" may include any one or more IoT communication managers 230, scan session managers 24, Used to collectively refer to the 0, analysis engine 250, and update message generator 270 Thus, any one or more back-end computing devices may The storage device 2 may respond to the user devices 102a-102n or the server 106. 60 is a computer data store, database, cloud / distributed storage, or and the like, may correspond to one or more data sources, such as data source 104a In one embodiment, storage 260 or a portion thereof may be stored in a blockchain or other storage medium. The system may be implemented using a distributed ledger. a, IoT communication manager 230, scan session manager 240, analysis engine 250 and the update message generator 270 may be implemented on the same computing device. or may be part of a computing system. In other words, the As shown in Figure 2, each component is a single device that cooperates in a distributed environment. The user device 222a may include a device or multiple devices. 230, scan session manager 240, analysis engine 250, and update message Each of the page generators 270 may have one or more computing software programs running thereon. may include a wearable application, or app, that is associated with such a device. The components shown in Figure 2 are: Communicating over one or more networks, such as network 110 described with respect to FIG. For example, components may be connected via internet, cellular, or wired Wireless communication networks, private networks, virtual private networks (V PN), Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) networks, and any other network The lines in FIG. 2 may be connected via a line, or any combination of the foregoing. Although the above indicates that some components are interconnected so that they can communicate with each other, It is understood that the line is not limited. For example, the IoT communication manager 230 may The scan session manager 240 may be communicatively coupled to the scan session manager 240.

[0036] The system 200 is linked to inventory tracking using RFID. The stem 200 may be implemented by a retailer, such as a shoe retailer. Many different sizes and colors available for display in various locations for potential customers. The retailer may have a stock of different types of shoes in the storeroom. This inventory is not readily available to potential customers until accessed by a dealer employee. As mentioned above, in one aspect, it is not possible for a retailer to select which shoes are displayed. In the second aspect, it is important for the dealer to know how many of each It is important for potential customers to know that the shoes are in stock. To avoid a trial-and-error approach, certain shoes are available at certain retail locations. It is important to know that there is a retail store in the area, which can attract potential customers to a brick-and-mortar retail location. Therefore, the system 200 provides a more efficient retail environment for the retailer. Provides an improved, low-latency inventory tracking system that facilitates flow and improves the shopping experience for customers Improve.

[0037] The system 200 may be said to include a user device 222a. 2a may correspond to a user device such as user device 102a of FIG. The user device 222a may be a smartphone, tablet, or laptop computer. It may be a mobile device, such as a computer, laptop, or the like, on which one or more applications are running. To start using the system 200, the user The device 222a may initiate the first scan session locally. The user device 222a may include one or more servers, such as a scan session manager 240. The back-end computing device receives the first scan session from the user device 222a. The user may indicate that they wish to have a first scan session initiated. either the user device 222a or one or more back-end computing devices Whether initiated by the first IoT topic, the scan session is created simultaneously. The subscribe message (user device) transmitted during the scan session messages from a device to one or more back-end computing devices and the second IoT topic is used to publish messages (to one or more backends) Messages from the computing component to the user device during the scanning session IoT Topic 1 is assigned to a different topic than IoT Topic 2. become.

[0038] The user device 222a may be coupled to a scanner 224a. In other embodiments, the user device 222a may be communicatively coupled to the scanner 224a; In this manner, the user device 222a may be physically coupled to the scanner 224a, The user device 222a and the scanner 224a may be one device. The server 224a can provide RFID scan data to the user device 222a. That is, the scanner 224a can propagate an RF signal, and this The signal is used to activate passive RFID tags, allowing RFID scans from them. In other embodiments, the scanner 224a is one or more RFID tag receivers configured to receive RFID scan data transmitted from the RFID tag; The scanner 224a may include one or more antennas, The antenna is connected to the scanner 224a via the read RFID tag. The scanner 224a can also be used to determine the line of sight of the RFID scanner. One or more antennas may be used to determine the signal strength of the data, which may be used to The scanner 224a or the user device 222a connects the scanner 224a to the read RF This can be used to estimate the distance between the ID tag. 200 may include one user device 222a and one scanner 224a, or multiple user devices 222a-222n and a number of scanners 224a-224n. Possible.

[0039] The user device 222a determines location information and transmits the location information to one or more backend computers. configured to associate information about an item transmitted to a computing device. In one aspect, the device location is obtained by the user interface of the user device 222. This can be determined manually by providing prompts or selectable options on the device. In an embodiment, the device location information may be provided by the user device 222a and / or the scanner. This may be determined automatically using a component or function of GP- is given by triangulation based on the S component or signals received from known locations In still other aspects, the location of the device is determined by using a location RFID tag. The location can be determined semi-automatically using the scanner 224a to scan The RFID tag is located at a location known to the system 200 or the user device 222a. The location information of the device can be of any degree of course or granularity. For example, a rough location could be a high level location such as storage versus showroom or warehouse versus in-transit. The finer or more detailed location can be "Nike Men's Basketball" Nike Men's Basketball Shoes" or " Women's Running Shoes It can be any more specific location.

[0040] Once the location of the device is determined, it is communicated to one or more servers, such as the IoT Communications Manager 230. back-end computing device to identify items based on RFID scan data In some embodiments, the location of the item may be communicated along with information identifying the item. The determination is based on any one or more relationships between the application RFID tag and the item RFID tag. The relationship may be locational, i.e., the scanner 224a may be connected to the user device 22 2a Location RFID tag is detected within a threshold proximity to an item RFID tag For example, a location RFID tag can communicate a relative heading of 0.19 degrees. and +10 degrees elevation angle, and the item RFID tag is detected as having a relative It can be detected as having an azimuth and an elevation angle of +12 degrees. A difference of 1 degree in azimuth and 2 degrees in elevation. If the difference is within a predetermined threshold, the item associated with the item RFID tag is Location can be determined by the location of the RFID tag. The relationship can be temporary. The location where the item RFID tag was scanned is the location where the RFID tag was scanned. The item RFID tag is assigned to the item if it is scanned within a certain time period. For example, a location RFID tag can be assigned to an item when the item RFID tag is scanned. The item may be scanned 4 seconds before being downloaded. Based on that amount of time below a predetermined threshold, the item The item associated with the RFID tag is the location associated with the RFID tag. The relationship may also be determined to be at least partially based on the location of the RFID tag. and the item RFID tag. The signal strength of each reply determines the location of the RFID tag and the item RFID tag is scanned by the scanner. 224a (the return signal strength is within a predetermined threshold, based on being within, say, 10% or 5dbm).

[0041] The user device 222a receives the RFID scan data provided by the scanner 224a. The data can be converted into a set of IICs, where the set of IICs can include one or more IICs. In this disclosure, RFID scan data is provided by one RFID tag. It may refer to any code, number, sequence, or the like that is configured to (from passive RFID tags responding to being activated by scanner 224a, or or from active RFID tags). Non-limiting examples of RFID scan data include GT IN(Global Trade Identification Number), S GTIN (Serialized GTIN), EPC (Electronic Pro IIC includes the IIC (Industry Code), or the like. Any code, number, sequence, or similar that reliably identifies a particular item Using the shoe retailer example, a unique IIC could be Air Jordan, size 10, or red, size In one example, the scanner 224a may correspond to an RFI The D-tag can be scanned to find the 12-digit GTIN sequence 123456654321 The scanner may receive a response from the RFID tag comprising RFID scan data comprising: The RFID scan data may be transmitted to the user device 222a. The user device 222a then uses the RFID scan data to perform a filtering operation. It can be implemented.

[0042] The user device 222a may use different filters depending on the type of inventory operation being performed. As previously mentioned, the inventory system 200 may perform, for example, a binary inventory. It can be used to perform a complete inventory. In this case, the system 200 attempts to determine how many of a particular item are present in a particular location. A complete inventory is required to determine how many of the same specific IICs are available in the storeroom. This information can be particularly valuable when making ordering / purchasing decisions. When used to perform a binary inventory, the system 200 Binary inventory is a system that only cares about knowing whether a system exists in a particular location. It can be beneficial for stores to use showroom space efficiently. Retailers don't want multiple copies of the same item taking up limited space in the showroom. Binary inventory also allows you to determine whether a particular item is in stock at a retail location. This can be useful for customers trying to determine whether they are purchasing that particular item. This can help you decide whether or not to visit the retail location to make a purchase.

[0043] When the system 200 is used to perform a full inventory operation, the user device 222 a) de-duplicating the received first plurality of RFID scan data to generate an RFID scan Deduplication (also known as deduplication) is a process that allows a single RFID Used to prevent tags from being counted twice. In embodiments where a complete inventory is desired ,The RFID tag associated with each individual item is used to identify the item using unique RFID scan data. To do this, each item's RFID tag should , should be configured to provide sufficient detail. Return SGTIN or EPC when queried via NER 224a This can be achieved by configuring each item with an RFID tag. 24a allows only the first RFID scan data to be sent to the user device once per scan session. 222a to provide deduplication filtering, where the first RFID scan data is linked to the first item RFID tag, e.g., scanner If scanner 224a propagates a query once per second, the number of queries from scanner 224a will be Matching is highly likely to trigger multiple replies from the first item RFID tag (e.g. For example, a first item RFID tag may be detected by the transmitting antenna(s) of the scanner 224a and and / or before it is no longer within the propagation pattern of the receiving antenna(s). By deduplication of the scanned data, the first item RFID tag receives a reply from the tag. Instead of being counted once each time it is received by scanner 224a, it is counted only once. In another embodiment, the scanner 224a counts all RFID scans received. The first RFID scan data may be transmitted to the user device 222a (i.e., the first RFID scan data). The data may be transmitted to the user device 222a multiple times in one scan session. In one such aspect, the user device 222a is communicated in the same manner as described above. Deduplication of RFID scan data may be performed.

[0044] When the system 200 is used to perform a binary inventory operation, the user device 222a In addition to implementing deduplication, it also reduces the number of similar RFID tags from different items. You can filter RFID scan data by excluding ID scan data. In one embodiment, the second item RFID scan data is The second item correlated to the D scan data is the first item RFID scan data. If it is determined that the first item in the list has the same item IIC as the first item in the list, it may be excluded. An item code can only be counted once, no matter how many copies are scanned. Item RFID tags can also display GTIN, SGTIN, EPC, SKU, UPC, or For example, a binary inventory scan session can be configured to include the same. In the video, user device 222a is wearing a red pair of size 10 Nike Air Jordans. The first RFID scan data for a black pair of size 10 Nike Air Jordans In this example, the merchant may receive a second RFID scan for Dan. The desired granularity for the IIC may be specified as manufacturer, model, and size. Thus, the user device 222a may receive a red pair of Air Jordans and a black pair of Air Jordans. , it can be determined that Air Jordan has the same IIC, and the user device 222a can ID scan data could be excluded, and at least one pair of size 10 Nike Air Jordans This results in the dealer being given information that the product is in a specific location.

[0045] In addition to filtering the RFID scan data, the user device 222a also functions as an aggregator. Upon receiving the first IIC for the first item, the user device 222 a may determine a product identifier corresponding to the first IIC. For example, the IIC may be a code, sequence, The IIC may be a unique identifier or a numeric value, and the user device 222a may determine that the IIC is equal to the product name. (For example, IIC 1234554321 is size 10, Nike Air Jordan The user device 222a then receives the product identifier and the first IIC. The first message may include a first I / O address, and the second message may include a first I / O address, and the second message may include a first I / O address, and the third message may include a second I / O address, and the fourth message may include a first I / O address, and the fourth message may include a second ... first I / O address, and the fourth message may include a second I / O It can be communicated to one or more backend servers using oT topics.

[0046] Following filtering of multiple received RFID scan data or Following the filtering and aggregation, the user device 222a receives a first group of one or more IICs. communicating a first message to one or more backend computing devices, the first message comprising: The first message may arrive some time after the previous message or some time after the second message. Since the first message may be sent before the last IIC, the first message may comprise multiple IICs. The first message is filtered by the user device 222a. Once a message is generated, it is sent to the first IoT device according to an IoT protocol such as MQTT. The topic may be used to send to the IoT Communication Manager 230.

[0047] The IoT Communications Manager 230 may communicate the first message to the Analysis Engine 250. The analysis engine 250 may comprise one or more functional components, which may include: Receive and / or generate scan item lists and submit scan item lists to inventory reports Compare with code 262 and adjust the scan item list and inventory record 262 , updating inventory record 262. In some embodiments, inventory record 262 includes one or more It can be a record, which can be in one or more sessions and / or in one or more locations. In one embodiment, the analysis engine receives the a first set of IICs and a first user device or a second user device; a second set of IICs may be combined to create a scan item list; This second user device is participating in the scan session. The first user device transmits a first IIC of the first set of IICs, and the second user device transmits a second IIC of the second set of IICs. If the second IIC of the IC is transmitted, the analysis engine 250 creates a scan item list. The analysis engine 250 also obtains a list of the first and second IICs. To create a list of items, use the IICs from the first group and / or the IICs from the second group. For example, the first user device may perform an operation to filter / deduplicate the IIC of the first user device. transmits a first IIC of the first set of IICs, and a second user device also transmits a second IIC of the second set of IICs. (This is a first IIC from the first user device to one or more backends. Before the first IIC is transmitted to the computing device and / or the inventory record Before the code is transmitted to a second user device having the first IIC, the first IIC is (This may occur if the device is identified.) In another embodiment, the analysis engine 250 , according to one or more rules 268 accessed on storage 260, Apply filters to the first group of IICs and / or the second group of IICs to target specific information (For example, it may be desirable to only carry out an inventory of basketball-related products.) In an optional embodiment, the scan item list is then stored in storage 26 0. As previously mentioned, in one embodiment, At least some portion of storage 260 will be implemented on a distributed ledger such as a blockchain. Thus, inventory records 262 may be stored in a distributed ledger, which may be It may comprise a public or private blockchain system. The IIC list is transmitted to one or more back-end computing devices. If you have just the first group, the scan item list will be a new inventory record 262. The inventory records 262 may be used to create one or more back-end computers. The behavior of the filtered and / or aggregated IIC communicated to the computing device The table in Figure 2 shows the analysis by comparing the scanned item list with the inventory records 262. The engine 250 can identify the IIC transmitted for the first time during a scan session and reconcile the two. The inventory record 262 may be updated.

[0048] The analytics engine 250 may additionally or alternatively generate one or more comparative inventory reports. The analytics engine 250 may compare a first inventory at a first location with a second inventory at a second location. Retrieve inventory records 262 from one or more storage 260 locations for comparison. The comparison inventory report is used to compare the results of subsequent actions. The data may be stored in storage 260 for access and / or stored on a user device 222a, etc. For example, the first inventory may be performed during a first scanning session. A scan session can be conducted where the scan session is specific to a storeroom / storage / back of store. A separate second inventory may be performed in a second scanning session, where The options are showroom / exhibition area / storefront specific. The comparative inventory report is This report can be generated using a first and second count, and is available for Identify items that are not on display (i.e., available in the back) but are not available in store The comparative inventory report is communicated to a user device, such as user device 222a. or a notification can be provided to a user device, the notification being based on the comparative inventory report. , specifically identifying a list of one or more items that should be stocked in the store.

[0049] When an inventory record 262 is created or updated by the analytics engine 250, an update message is sent. The message generator 270 communicates with the IoT communication manager 230 during the scan session. 262. Enrich and / or modify inventory records 262 via The update message generator 270 may transmit the enhanced component to the device. This component may include additional item information 266 obtained from storage 260. By adding an inventory record 262 with The feedback provided to the service(s) may be enriched, e.g., by the reinforcement component. The inventory record 262 may obtain item information 266 specific to the item. The code is the image, description, or item name and other information about the item beyond the IIC. If the update message generator 270 implements an enhancement function, the enhancement item System information is sent to the user of the scan session via the Message Generator component. The enhanced item information component is not utilized. In this case, the update message generator 270 may send the message according to an IoT protocol such as MQTT. , via the IoT Communication Manager 230 using the second IoT topic, the inventory record 262 to the user device(s) of the scan session. For example, The user device and the second user device each perform an inventory scan in the same first session. In a team scan session, IoT communication manager 230 Each entry in the inventory record 262 may be associated with a first user device or a second user device. The entire inventory record, regardless of whether it originates from a second IoT topic, can be stored in a to each of the first user device and the second user device using the

[0050] User device 222a and any other user devices that participated in the scan session receives the inventory record 262 and scans this record during the scanning session and / or Utilize this during subsequent scanning sessions, including any filtering operations discussed herein. Performing filtering (e.g., new RFID scan data and / or new I Compare the IC to the inventory record 262 to determine whether a particular item / IIC is new or previously (determine whether the user device 222a is being scanned). The first user device may be said to be a first user device, and the second user device 222n may be said to be a second user device. The second user device 222n may participate in the same manner as described above with respect to the user device 222a. In addition to performing the above function, a second set of I / O is generated from the second plurality of RFID scan data. Identifying the IC and filtering the second plurality of RFID scan data to identify the first user device. previously scanned by the user device and communicated to the second user device in inventory record 262. For example, the second user device may be configured to filter out any IIC that is received. , by one or more back-end computing devices, The same user in scan sessions processed by different user devices The first IIC identifies the RFID based on the RFID scan data previously processed by the device. The second user device may be notified that the second set of IICs is different from the first IIC. Upon identifying that the second user device comprises the first IIC and / or the first II Ignore (i.e., exclude, include) a portion of the second plurality of RFID scan data corresponding to C. In some embodiments, the user device 222a may: If the RFID scan data is new compared to inventory record 262, i.e., IIC The user device 222a determines that the information should not be ignored / filtered as described above. If so, the user device 222a may provide significant feedback to the user associated with the device. Feedback can be auditory (e.g., beeps), visual (e.g., new skills), or the scanned IIC is displayed in the user interface), tactile (e.g., vibration) In this way, the user performing the inventory can Scan for new RFID tags, or if all RFID tags have already been transmitted. and added to the inventory record 262.

[0051] In some embodiments, the system 200 further comprises at least one customer device 280. The customer device 280 may be associated with a potential or actual customer, who may Determine whether a particular item is available (i.e., on display or in stock) at a particular location In one embodiment, customer device 280 may wish to store In another embodiment, the customer data The device queries Storage 260 to determine whether a particular item is available at a particular location. In response, storage 260 may query inventory records 262 to determine A search can be made for a specific item and the corresponding inventory results can be returned. Location information can be communicated to customer devices 280 at the customer level; for example, location information can be used to direct the customer to desired items. is available at Shoe World, located at 123 Main Street. Location information may indicate whether the desired item is on display or in stock (for purchase). (useful when customers want to interact with a display of items before making a decision) or available in stock at shelf location A21, bay 2, street 5. Regardless of the granularity of the location information provided to the customer device, has been given improved low latency inventory status, which can encourage customers This can improve the customer experience. An example is shown in Figure 8, where a potential customer uses a mobile device (For example, customer device 280) to purchase a specific item (red, Nike Air Jordan Dan, size 10) can be seen determining where he can get it. The device can be accessed from the storage 260 using an app, such as an app from the manufacturer or retailer. Query any one or more components of the system 200, such as inventory records 262. You can match it to determine if a particular item is in a particular location or the closest location available. In an example, the mobile device may determine whether a particular item is available at a local retail location S You can receive instructions on which products are available at Hoe World and use the manufacturer app. Corresponding instructions may be displayed to the user via the device's user interface. Customers can visit Shoe World locations with confidence in improved, low-latency inventory information, Ability to view / purchase specific items as described. Improved low latency inventory information. This can significantly improve the customer experience and convert prospects into actual customers.

[0052] To implement the RFID tracking method as illustrated by the examples and preceding discussion. In this way, various components can be utilized to improve upon traditional inventory control activities. In addition to the exemplary architecture of FIG. 2, FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary computing architecture. 1 illustrates the architecture in which the components are as previously discussed in connection with the previous figures. The components may be similar to some of the components listed above.

[0053] First, exemplary aspects of a system that implements RFID tracking are illustrated in the exemplary architecture of FIG. The system 300 will be described in relation to a grouping architecture. It can be understood that the system includes a store group 320, an RFID money Jidocloud 330, RFID Service Group 340, Store Inventory Service Group 350, Product Information Services Group 360, Analytics Cloud Group 370, and Events The term "group" can be used to refer to a group of subscription services. Although they are called "groups," each "group" consists of a computing device and a module. A computing device with a a collection of modules of a computer operating device, or any combination thereof. In one aspect, group members may participate in a cloud Internet of Things (IoT) architecture. Cloud architecture that performs client or server functions within the architecture as appropriate. As an IoT architecture, for example, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud entity within the cloud. b Services IoT services or Google Cloud IoT included It is possible.

[0054] The store group 320 may correspond to, for example, a physical retail location, and the first user device 322a through N-th user device 322n, Each of the user devices 322 in FIG. The term "store" used in the phrase "store group" is a restricted It is not intended to be limiting and should not be construed as a substitute for the user or manufacturer employed by the manufacturer. Users who have contracted with businesses, dealers selling items, and employees or contractors of dealers any of them, or any other third parties and their employees or A store group 320 may be understood to include any of the subscribers. 2. The scanners 324a-324n may include scanners 324a-324n, where each scanner corresponds to scanner 2 of FIG. In various embodiments, the user device further comprises any one or more of the features of 322a communicates with the scan session component 346 to To create a scan session, the scan The session component 346 is an event subscription computing communicates with the device 382 to initiate a scan session and includes a first Assign a second IoT topic to the IoT topic and publish the information. At , the message broker in the managed cloud service 330 is MQTT Clients that support the WebSocket protocol and use MQTT The client also uses the WebSocket protocol. The key simply contains Store#\SessionID\. Event Subscription The event stream 384 is an event subscription computing device 382 Receives session start information from the Store Inventory Service Group 350 and starts the replenishment component. This is accomplished through one or more back-end computing devices, such as a The information is communicated to the user device 322a.

[0055] When a scan session is initiated, the user device 322a is As discussed with respect to scanner 222a and scanner 224a, first scanner 324a The user device may receive the first plurality of RFID scan data from the Any one or more filtering or aggregation functions may be performed as described, and the first The user device 32 may generate a first message comprising one or more IICs of the group. 2a) according to IoT protocols such as MQTT and using the first IoT topic , the first message may be communicated to the publish topic component 332. The topic component 332 sends the first message to the business rules engine 336 , which, when active, may communicate the Any one or more back-end filtering processes, such as the one provided by For example, if you have a specific business interest (e.g., a college basketball tournament) To specifically determine product counts that may be particularly relevant to the The inventory is limited to a specific topic (e.g., men's, basketball). In such an example, product indications associated with a particular category may be displayed on the scanner. In one particular embodiment, the back-up instruction may be processed in the back-up session, and instructions for other products may be ignored. The customer service can provide a taxonomy of GTINs or a list of GTINs of interest. The service may receive a category description within a subset of the taxonomy or tied to a product category. Consider such GTINs in your list of active and transmitting backends Refine IIC or non-advertising received from the Publish Topic Component 332 The business rules engine 336 processes all IICs, both active and in transit. Store a group of IICs or analyze this group of IICs Cloud Group 3 70 and RFID Service Group 340 Scan Gateway Component 34 The data from the business rules engine 336 may also be communicated directly to one or more of the store For example, the data stream may be , Kinesis Streams or Kafka Streams.

[0056] The scan gateway component 342 provides instant feedback to the user device ( Can be provided to 322a-322n (multiple possible) or linked to one IIC in the IIC group The item information is further received from one or more storage components 362a to 362n. In a first embodiment, the scan gateway component 342 is Any one or more features or components of the analysis engine 250 may be described. As described above, the scan item list can be determined and the scan item list can be compared to the current inventory. The adjusted inventory record may be compared and an adjusted inventory record may be created. The message can be transmitted to the pick component 334, which can communicate with the MQTT protocol According to the second IoT topic, adjust inventory records to store group 3. 20 user devices 322a-322n. Alternatively, the scan gateway component 342 may Alternatively, a group of IICs may be transmitted to the enhanced scan data component 344, which The data component may be implemented as discussed with respect to update message generator 270 of FIG. As shown above, the item information and the IIC can be combined to create the enhanced item information. The item information is sent to the store group 320 or any of the stores within it using a second IoT topic. The information may be transmitted to one or more user devices 322a-322n of any one of the devices 322a-322n, or may be transmitted in a non-IoT format. In the report message, the Store Inventory Service Group 350 report component The report is communicated to the store inventory service's reporting component 352 via the obtain.

[0057] The analytics cloud group 370 may store inventory reports and analyze such stored inventory. Access to the reports may be provided to devices external to the system 300. For example, An office may wish to perform an inventory analysis on a particular item. The inventory records stored in 74 can be queried and relevant information identified and shared with external parties. The information may be transmitted to the device.

[0058] Although the various groups of system 300 are shown separately, any one or more of the groups or Its components are remote from any other group or its components. It should be noted that in one embodiment, R FID Managed Cloud Services 330 is a service provided by Amazon Web Services Components, devices, and / or modules such as those provided by the IoT This could be a vendor-provided group of tools.

[0059] Turning now to FIG. 4, a system configured to perform RFID tracking in accordance with present aspects is shown. An exemplary architecture for system 400 is shown. System 400 is similar to the network of FIG. 3. The network 410 includes one or more features of the network 210. One or more components or functions of the embedded cloud service (or group) 330 The RFID cloud service group 430 with the RFID cloud service group 430 of FIG. A reinforced component having one or more components or features in loop 340 440, any one or more features in the store inventory service group 350 of FIG. Inventory server component 450, in product information service group 360 of FIG. Product information component 4 comprising any one or more components or features of 60, any one or more components or features in the analysis group 370 of FIG. 3 , the analysis component 470 comprising one or more of the business rule engines 336 of FIG. The business rules engine component 436 with the features and the events of FIG. Any one or more components or may comprise an event subscription component 480 that comprises the feature.

[0060] The system 400 includes a first user device 422a and a second user device 422b, etc. The first user device 42 may further include a plurality of user devices 422a to 422n. Each user device, such as 4a, includes a processor 425, input sensors 426, a display 427, and scan link 428, where user device 422a The system may further include a team scan app (i.e., application) 423. The TeamScan app 423 uses one or more dynamic frameworks or licenses. For example, iOS devices are developed using a dependency manager that comes with a library. , the Cocoapod dependency manager for the Swift development language can be adopted. As a result, Android devices may adopt the Kotlin programming language. The processor 425 may be implemented using the claimed technology, such as the resources described with respect to the system 200 of FIG. The input sensor 426 provides the processing resources to implement the features of the A request to start a scan session, a request to join an existing scan session, or The input sensor 4 may provide a means for receiving information from a user, such as entering location information. 26 includes a microphone for voice input, a virtual keyboard for receiving text-based input, and The display 427 may include a touch screen for receiving touch input. Such information may be transmitted from the scanner 422a to the user. Information about items, enhanced item information, or new RFID scan data can be sent to your mobile device. may include an audible, visual, or tactile indication that the message has been transmitted to the device 422a. The scan link 428 is a bridge or a link that connects the scanners 424a to 424n. For example, the first user device 422a may be connected to the first scanner 424a. A second user device 422b may be connected to a second scanner 424b. In some embodiments, the scan link 428 may comprise a wired connection, such as a USB connection; In various aspects, the scan link may be an NFC, Bluetooth, or cellular connection, or or the like, may be wireless, via, etc.

[0061] The TeamScan app 423 implements the RFID tracking procedure currently described. In particular, the present invention may comprise one or more components, features, or modules for The HomeScan app 423 may have a mode selector, where the new selector allows you to: Do you wish to start a scan session or join an existing scan session? What type of inventory you want to perform (e.g., binary inventory) The team scan app 423 can scan locations. A selector may be provided, which allows for manual selection of the location via prompts or input. The team scan app 423 may also include scan filters and bundlers. The filter may filter the received scan data, and the bundler may For example, the aggregation operations described herein may be performed with respect to user device 222a of FIG. The messaging component sends a message comprising one or more first groups of IICs. and communicates the message to one or more back-end computing devices. In one embodiment, the messaging component may provide a means for In one embodiment, the messaging component implements the features of the Web Stream WebSocket client operation. Team Scan App The security module of Li423 provides authentication and authorization services and accounting services, as well as It may provide encryption services specifically to messaging components, so that intercepted messages The message can be protected from being understood by unintended recipients. In one aspect, the authentication, authorization, and accounting library is implemented in the security module. Provides Jot. The security module may provide Jot to an MQTT topic, An MQTT topic can have a custom authorizer associated with it. The bda server can validate Jot, a call on an MQTT topic.

[0062] Now turning to Figure 5, the steps to implement the TeamScan feature described here are: A flowchart illustrating a method 500 is provided. The method 500 is a method for connecting a plurality of user devices. The method 50 includes an interaction between the server 580, the management server 580, and the inventory server 590. As used herein, the first user device 522a, the second user device 522 b, and / or third user device 522c may be any one or more of the user devices 522a, 522b, 522c, 522d, 522e, 522f, 522g, 522h, 522i, 522j, 522m ... The device 222a may comprise any one or more components or features of the device 222a. The management server 580 may be any one or more of the back-end servers discussed with respect to the system 200 of FIG. Any one or more components or components described with the hand computing device Specifically, the management server 580 may include the scan session manager 584 of FIG. It can be a controller 240.

[0063] The first step 530 of the method 500 is to communicate the first user device 52 to the management server 580. 2a, in which the first user device 522a initiates a teams scan session. In response to the first step 530, the management server 580 creating a scan session 532 and a first user when the session is created; The device 522a may then respond by transmitting the The management server 580 then manages the second user device 522b and the third user device 522 c) Each of the users can be notified that a team scan session has been created. The user device 522b transmits a request to join the session to the management server 580. In response, the administrator may join the team scan session in step 538. The management server 580 accepts the second user device's join request in step 540. The third user device 522c may respond by sending a request to the management server 580. The third user may then request to join the team scan session in step 542. In response to user device 522c, management server 580, in step 544, At this point, the first user device 522 may accept the join request from the first user device 522. a, the second user device 522b, and the third user device 522c are all Participate in a team scan session.

[0064] In step 546, the first user device 522a receives an initial report of RFID scan data. The management server 580 then transmits the first The RFID scan data report is forwarded to the inventory server 590. In step 550, The contents of the initial report are provided to the management server 580 by the inventory server 590, and In steps 552, 554, and 556, the contents of the first report are transmitted to a third user device 522c, The second user device 522b and the first user device 522a are each provided with can be done.

[0065] In some embodiments, the content of the initial report is for a particular team scan session. 2. The user devices 222a-222n of the system 200 of FIG. The first report will include any one or more facets of the feedback given to After receiving the content, and although not shown in FIG. 5, the first user device 522a, the second user any one of the first user device 522b, the second user device 522c, and / or the third user device 522b. The above is to send the additional RFID scan data to the management server 580 and the inventory server 590. In response to additionally received RFID scan data, the inventory server may The server 590 performs the analysis in the manner described with respect to the analysis engine 250 of the system 200 of FIG. Wholesale records may be prepared.

[0066] In one embodiment, the inventory server 590 may use a database such as the Aurora relational database. The database is used to aggregate data, e.g., in binary format. The product ID list of the store is aggregated into the first list, and the product ID list of the store is aggregated into the second list. The database performs a difference calculation between the first list and the second list to obtain the store list. The resulting list of product IDs that are not in the store but are in the back of the store is The data obtained will form part of a comparative report, enriched with product description information for each product. .

[0067] In steps 558, 560, 562, and 564, the comparison report is sent to inventory server 590. to the management server 580, and then to the first user device 522a, the second user device The first user device 522b and the third user device 522c are then transmitted to each of the first and second user devices 522a and 522b. A user device 522a, a second user device 522b, and a third user device 52 Each of 2c is obtained from any one or more of the other user devices. Any RFID scan data can be reported.

[0068] Turning now to FIG. 6, a method 600 for implementing RFID tracking as described herein is provided. The method 600 includes a scanner 624a, a user device 622a, an event sub-device, and a a scripting component 680, a business engine component 636, and a a product information component 660; a product analysis component 670; 0 and the inventory component 650. Scanner 624a may be any one or more components or functions of scanner 224a of FIG. User device 622a may have any of the features of user device 222a in FIG. Event Subscription Component 680 is part of the event subscription service group 380 in FIG. The Business Engine component may include any one or more of the following components or features: Component 636 may be any one or more components of business rule engine 336 in FIG. The enhanced component 640 may have the RFID server component or feature of FIG. The components or features may be any one or more of the components or features in the service group 340. The analytics component 670 may be any one or more of the analytics cloud groups 370 of FIG. The product information component 660 may have the following components or features: Any one or more components or features in the product information service group 360 Finally, the inventory component 650 may include the store inventory service group of FIG. It may have any one or more of the components or features in group 350.

[0069] In a first step 602, a user device 622a scans into an enrichment component 640. In response, the enrichment component 640 may request the initiation of a conversation session. In step 604, in communication with the event subscription component 680, Scan session request valid If so, the event subscription component 680 performs a scan The scan session can be created and the inventory component can be informed that a scan session has been created. In response, the inventory component 650 may communicate the status to the inventory component 650 in step 608. The scan session may be communicated to the user device 622a that a scan session has been created. Once the session is created, the scanner 624a performs an RFID scan The user device 622a may provide the data to the first user device 622a. One or more filtering and / or aggregation functions may be performed, and in step 612, The first group of IICs will use the first IoT topic according to the IoT protocol, such as The first message may be communicated to the business engine component 636. The analysis engine component 636 processes the first group of IICs into the analysis component 614. The data may be passed to the component 670 and to the reinforcement component 640 in step 616. The IIC identification component 640, in step 617, identifies a particular item from the first group of IICs. The identified item may be communicated to the product information component 660. After the selected items are passed to product information component 660, product information component 6 60 may communicate the enhanced item information to the inventory component 650. The agent 650 may combine the enhanced item information with the inventory record and generate the first item in step 619. 2IoT topics are used to send such information to the business engine component 636 In step 620, the business engine component 636 may transmit the second IoT transaction. The feed is generated by sending the inventory record to the user device 622a using a pick. Complete the back loop.

[0070] Turning now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the user interface of an exemplary user device 722 A display of a first user interface 710 is provided. With reference to FIG. 7A, the first user interface 710 is , which shows what may be displayed to the user if no scan session is currently in progress. The first user interface 710 is a screen for displaying the linked device, such as a scanner, on the user device. The user interface 71 includes an indication 718 that the device 722 has been paired with the device 722. 7 further comprises an indication to start a new session 712. By interacting with the start new session option 712, the system 200 of FIG. The first user device 222a and the scan session manager 240 are described below. You may be prompted to request a scan session or initiate a scan on your own, as described in The first user interface 710 is instructed to start a scanning session. A prompt 716 for entering a location may also be provided. As discussed herein, location information may be Manually in response to a prompt or field display, such as prompt 716 Turning now to Figure 7B, a second user interface 720 is provided. where the second user interface 720 is currently If a creation is detected in progress in response to a different user device, it will be displayed. Therefore, the second user interface 720 can be used to Any one or more of the first user interfaces 710 with additional instructions in prompt 714 The user device 722 may include the above features. 714 to one or more back-end computing devices. to indicate that the user device 722 wishes to join a scan session already in progress. This can be communicated.

[0071] Turning now to FIG. 8, an exemplary series of interactions 800 in a retail setting is illustrated. Such interaction may include various components and / or Various methods of the above may be implemented.

[0072] While the subject technology is often described in relation to businesses, retailers, and consumers, It is understood that such scenarios are merely examples. It can be applied to any context in which an entity may track multiple different physical assets. The technology will be able to know what physical assets are present and absent. This can be applied to any number of other scenarios where it is desirable to have one R FID tags can be linked to multiple baggage claim tags to ensure all required baggage is loaded into the cargo hold. Therefore, it can be determined whether the baggage has been collected or sent to the correct baggage claim area. The present technique provides a solution to a similar problem beyond the context of inventory. The technology will help RFID tagging by improving the efficiency and accuracy of completing inventory-like procedures. This can be used to provide improved low latency tracking of physical assets connected to a network.

[0073] While various embodiments have been described, exemplary components suitable for implementing aspects of the disclosure herein are provided. The computing environment is described with reference to FIG. are provided and are generally referred to as computing devices 900. Device 900 is merely one example of a suitable computing environment and is not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified. It is not intended to suggest any limitations as to the scope of use or functionality of the embodiments. The computing device 900 may include any one or combination of the components shown. Nor should it be construed as having any dependency or requirement regarding matching.

[0074] Aspects of the disclosure may be used in a personal data assistant, smartphone, tablet PC, or other program modules that run on computers or other machines, such as handheld devices Contains computer-usable or computer-executable instructions, such as a module It may be described in the general context of computer code or machine usable instructions. routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and the like. A program module contains code that performs a specific task. or implements a particular abstract data type. chairs, home appliances, general-purpose computers, and more specialized computing devices. Aspects of the disclosure may also be practiced in a variety of system configurations, including distributed computing. It may also be practiced in computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices. The devices are linked through a communications network. In the environment, the program modules may be stored locally and / or locally on the computer, including on memory storage devices. The computer storage medium may be located in both the local and remote computer storage media.

[0075] With reference to FIG. 9, a computing device 900 includes a bus 910, which is The following devices are directly or indirectly connected: memory 912, one or more processors 914 , one or more presentation components 916, one or more input / output (I / O) ports port 918, one or more I / O components 920, and an exemplary power supply 922. 10 may be one or more buses (address bus, data bus, or a combination thereof). The various blocks in Figure 9 are shown using lines for clarity. However, in reality, such blocks do not necessarily exist in reality. Represents a component, such as a display device, which is an I / O component. Any presentation component can be considered. The processor also includes a memory. The inventors recognize that this is the nature of the art and the diagram in FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary computing device, which device may be adapted to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. "Workstation," "Server," "Server" and "Servers" may be used in connection with the above. No distinction is made between categories such as "laptops," "handheld devices," etc. all within the scope of Figure 9 and in relation to "computing devices" It is intended.

[0076] Computing device 900 typically includes a variety of computer-readable media. The computer readable medium may be any available medium; volatile and non-volatile media that can be accessed by the computing device 900, This may include both removable and non-removable media. By way of example, the present invention may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media may include, but is not limited to, computer-readable instructions, data structures, Any method or means for storage of information, such as structure, program modules, or other data Media implemented in technology, both volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable Computer storage media includes RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash, memory or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disk (DVD ) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device, which may be used to store desired information, and any other media that can be accessed by computing device 900. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, the signals themselves. Communication media typically includes computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and the like. , or other data in a data modulated signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism. and includes any information delivery medium. The term "data modulated signal" refers to a signal that encodes information. means a signal having one or more characteristics set or changed in a manner that Examples of applications include wired media, such as a wired network or direct wired connection, and audio. wireless media, including, but not limited to, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above may also be used in computer readable It should be included within the scope of the media.

[0077] Memory 912 may include computer storage in the form of volatile and / or non-volatile memory. The memory may be removable, non-removable, or a combination thereof. Exemplary hardware devices include solid state memory, hard drives, , optical disk drives, etc. Computing device 900 may include one or more The processor 914 may include a memory 912 or an I / O component. It reads data from various entities such as the presentation component ( Presentation data (or data sets) 916 represent data instructions to a user or other device. Examples of computer components include display devices, speakers, and printing components. These may include a power button, a vibration component, and the like.

[0078] I / O ports 918 allow computing device 900 to communicate with I / O components 92 0, some of its ports are built-in Exemplary components include microphones, joysticks, gamepads, This includes telephoto dishes, scanners, printers, wireless devices, etc. The / O component 920 may provide a natural user interface (NUI). This interface can be implemented using air gestures, voice, or user generated Process other physiological inputs. In some applications, the inputs are The NUI supports voice recognition, touch and stylus recognition. Face recognition, biometric recognition, both on-screen and near-screen gesture recognition, AirJet ture, head and eye tracking, and computing device 900 Any combination of the above, touch recognition coupled with display may be implemented. The gesture detection and recognition device 900 may include a stereoscopic camera system or other suitable device. depth cameras, infrared camera systems, RGB camera systems, and combinations of these Additionally, the computing device 900 may be equipped with an accelerometer or The device may be equipped with an accelerometer or gyroscope, which allows for the detection of movement. The output of the scope is provided to a display of the computing device 900 to It can render an augmented reality or virtual reality-like experience.

[0079] Some embodiments of the computing device 900 may include one or more wireless 924 (or similar wireless communication component). The computing device 900 transmits and receives geographic or wireless communications. , a wireless terminal suitable for receiving communications and various wireless networks The computing device 900 may be a code division multiple access Code Division Multiple Access ("CDMA"), Global System for Mobile Communications ("GSM"), or Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) wireless protocols, such as Time Division Multiple Access ("TDMA"), and others. Wireless communication may be short-range, long-range, or short-range. It can be a combination of both long-distance and long-range wireless communication connections. When we talk about type connections, we're not talking about the spatial relationship between two devices. Rather, short-distance and long-distance generally represent different categories or types of connections (i.e., platforms). A short-range connection is a device (such as This may include, but is not limited to, Wi-Fi® connectivity to a mobile hotspot This Wi-Fi connection may include, but is not limited to, a WLAN connection that uses the 802.11 protocol. providing access to a wireless communications network; A Bluetooth connection to a device is a second example of a short-range connection, or near-field communication connection. Examples of long-distance connections include CDMA, GPRS, GCM, TDMA, and 802. This may include, but is not limited to, connections using one or more of 16 protocols.

[0080] The preceding discussion may be practically applied to any one or more of various non-limiting use case examples. In the first use case, a potential customer can find out where they can purchase a particular item. or may wish to know if the item is on display. The user interface of the mobile device allows the user to view the relevant inventory and location information. Information can be captured and used to display to potential customers. Low latency inventory and location This information may convert a prospect into a customer and / or improve the prospect's shopping experience.

[0081] In another use case, a particular item may be needed in large quantities and inventory may be taken at multiple locations. Updates are required to determine whether additional inventory should be planned in advance of the need. In one embodiment, a basketball tournament may be expected to take place in the next few weeks. 50,000 regular-sized basketballs are needed to meet tournament demand. Retailers near the tournament site will be required to provide a number of basketballs. A special enquiry may be made to determine if the product is available there. In this case, any one or more of the area's retailers will be required to stock basketball products to meet anticipated demand. In yet another use case, the techniques described herein may be used to The trick is to see if a particular item is in stock and if it is on display in the showroom. For example, warehouse inventory may be conducted at least Showroom inventory shows one pair of Swan shoes in stock, and Air Force One is currently No display of Air Force One may be shown, and Air Force One may be viewed by potential customers, and / or At least one pair of Air Force 1s will be released from storage to the showroom for purchase. This may indicate that you should move.

[0082] In another use case, a dealership may perform an inventory of its showroom and / or storage facilities. This means that certain items, such as size 10 Air Zoom shoes, may be in low stock. The dealer may determine that the technology described herein is Using the improved low latency system provided by Additional shoes are available in advance (when stock is low) for faster or seamless purchase. ) or reflexively (out of stock).

[0083] The following sections provide exemplary embodiments of the concepts contemplated by the present invention. Any one of these provisions may be combined in a multiplicity of dependent manner to provide for one or more of the other provisions. Furthermore, any dependent clause (a clause that is expressly dependent on a previous clause) Combinations may be combined while remaining within the scope of the aspects contemplated in this disclosure. The following provisions are examples and are not limiting.

[0084] Article 1. A system for managing inventory using radio frequency identification (RFID) The system includes a first user device, the first user device performing a first scan session. receiving a first plurality of RFID scan data for a filtering to determine a first set of filtered item identification codes (IICs); Aggregating multiple first-set filtered IICs to form a first-set IIC, Generate a first message based on a set of IIC; T) Use a topic to send the first message to one or more back-end computing devices. a system configured to communicate to a device.

[0085] Clause 2. The first device receives the and utilize the second IoT topic to retrieve at least the first II receive a comparison inventory message containing an inventory list with information corresponding to C. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

[0086] Article 3. The inventory message shall contain at least one IIC corresponding to the first IIC of the first set of IICs. 2. The system of claim 1 or 2, further comprising enrichment data describing the items. .

[0087] Clause 4. The first user device transmits at least a portion of the second message to the first user device. any one of clauses 1 to 3 further configured to display the information on a user interface of the device. 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

[0088] Clause 5. The system may participate in a first scanning session and a second scanning session. and receiving the second plurality of RFID scan data and filtering the second set of filter data. and determining the filtered IICs of the second set; and aggregating the second set of filtered IICs to determine the second set of filtered IICs. forming a set of IICs; generating a second message based on the second set of IICs; Send one or more secondary messages using Internet of Things (IoT) topics The second IoT topic is used to communicate the inventory list to the end computing device. a second user device configured to receive a comparison inventory message including the The comparison inventory list is the first IIC of the first set of IICs from the first scanning session. and adding information corresponding to the second IIC from the second set of IICs. The system according to any one of clauses 1 to 4,

[0089] Clause 6. The second user device derives a second set of I from the second plurality of RFID scan data. and filtering the second plurality of RFID scan data. This means that the third IIC is included in the first set of IICs or the second set of IICs. Based on the judgment, a part of the multiple RFID scan data corresponding to the third IIC is ignored. 6. The system of claim 5, comprising:

[0090] Clause 7. Filtering the second plurality of RFID scan data Based on the determination that the IIC of the first set or the IIC of the second set is not included, A notification to the user device is issued, thereby triggering a skill corresponding to the fourth IIC. The scan item was not previously scanned during the first scan session. 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

[0091] Clause 8. The first user device acquires a first set of I from the first plurality of RFID scan data. and filtering the first plurality of RFID scan data. and determining from a first portion of the first plurality of RFID scan data that a first IIC is a first set of RFID tags. Based on the determination that the first IIC is included in the first plurality of RFID tags, Any one of clauses 1 to 7, including ignoring the second portion of the scan data. The system described in

[0092] Clause 9. The generation of a first message based on a first set of IICs includes the step of: each IIC in the first set of IICs is included in a first scan cell; The item scanned from the session corresponds to one of clauses 1 to 8. The system described.

[0093] Clause 10. The aggregation is performed for the first IIC in the first set of filtered IICs. determining a product identifier corresponding to the first IIC; and generating an aggregate product identifier, wherein the first message includes the aggregate product identifier. A system according to any one of items 1 to 9.

[0094] Clause 11. The system further comprises one or more back-end computing devices. The one or more backend computing devices may receive the first user device from the second user device. 1 message is received and the first message is used to retrieve the first scan result from the first scan session. At least a comparative inventory having information corresponding to at least a first IIC from the set of IICs generating an inventory message including the list of items to be identified; and transmitting the inventory message to the first user device. 11. The system of any one of clauses 1 to 10, configured to:

[0095] Clause 12. One or more back-end computing devices may include a first set of IIC and a shelf further including enrichment data describing at least one item corresponding to the first IIC of 12. The system of clause 11, further configured to generate a wholesale message.

[0096] Clause 13. The first message further comprises the location of the first scan session. 12. A system according to any one of clauses 12.

[0097] Clause 14. The location of the first scan session is based on the physical location of the first user device. The first user device is determined to be 14. The system of claim 13, further configured to determine the physical location by .

[0098] Clause 15. A first user device may receive a first scan session from a user of the first user device. 14. The system of claim 13, further configured to receive an indication of a location of the session.

[0099] Article 16. RFID scan data is used to identify GTINs (Global Trade Identifiers). tification Number), SGTIN(Serialized GTIN ), or EPC (Electronic Product Code), A system according to any one of clauses 1 to 15.

[0100] Clause 17. First Internet of Things (IoT) topic is used to transmit the first message. This is achieved by using MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transceiver) Any of clauses 1 to 16 that utilizes the Transport protocol The system described in one.

[0101] Clause 18. A first user device receives a first plurality of RFID scans from a first RFID scanner. 18. The system according to any one of clauses 1 to 17, wherein the system receives the scan data.

[0102] Article 19. Computerized systems that use radio frequency identification (RFID) to track inventory 10. A method for scanning a first plurality of RFID scans for a scanning session at a first device, comprising: receiving the data and filtering the first plurality of RFID scan data by the first device; to determine the first set of filtered Item Identification Codes (IICs) and aggregating multiple first-set filtered IICs to form a first-set IIC. generating a first message based on the first set of IICs; First message sent by first device using Internet of Things (IoT) topic and communicating to a second device.

[0103] Clause 20. A first set of IICs is determined from a first plurality of RFID scans; The scanning includes: determining, from a first portion of the first plurality of RFID scan data, a first IIC for a first sector; Based on the determination that the first IIC is included in the IIC of the set, 20. The method of claim 19, comprising ignoring a second portion of the FID scan data.

[0104] Clause 21. The method further comprises receiving an inventory message from the second device; The inventory message includes a comparison inventory; the comparison inventory includes a first set of IIC The inventory message uses a second IoT topic. 21. The method of claim 19 or 20, wherein the first user device is communicated to the second user device via the first user device.

[0105] Clause 22. A method for initiating a scan session with a second device by a first device. and requesting that the first plurality of RFID scan data be scanned. Received during a session, the method.

[0106] Article 23. The first message is sent via MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry) from the first device to the second device using the Network Transport protocol The method described in any one of clauses 19 to 22 is transmitted.

[0107] Article 24. One or more computer processors on which computer-usable instructions are stored. and computer-usable instructions are transmitted to one or more computer processors. When executed by the first IoT topic, a first message is sent from a first user device using a first IoT topic. receiving a first message, the first message being a first scan session; receiving a first set of IICs; Based on this, we will create an inventory list for the first scanning session, and the second IoT topic. Using the queue, at least the inventory list for the first scan session is and transmitting the operation to the first user device via one or more computers. A computerized system that is implemented by a computer processor.

[0108] Clause 25. The operation is to communicate to the first user using the first IoT topic after the communication of the second message. receiving a third message from the device, the third message comprising a second set of the second set of IICs being distinct from the first set of IICs; and create inventory records based on the first set of IICs and the second set of IICs. and the inventory list updated in the fourth message using the second IoT topic. and causing the first user device to receive the first signal. system.

[0109] Clause 26. The operation may include transmitting the updated inventory list to a second user using a second IoT topic. the second user device may further include transmitting the first scanning signal to the second user device. a system as described in clause 24 or clause 25 that was participating in a session.

[0110] Clause 27. The operation includes, upon receiving a request from a first user device, The method according to any one of clauses 24 to 26, further comprising initiating a session. system.

[0111] Article 28. The second message is sent via MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry) to the first user device using the Network Transport protocol. , a system according to any one of clauses 24 to 27.

[0112] Article 29. Operations based on the first set of IICs and corresponding to the first set of IICs determining an enriched data set describing at least one item of the second message; Clause 24 further provides that the enhanced data set is transmitted in the form of a message. 28. A system according to any one of clauses 28.

[0113] Article 30. Operation corresponds to the IIC of the first set of IICs using the IIC of the first set of IICs and updating a record on the distributed ledger associated with the item. A system according to any one of clauses 24 to 29.

[0114] Clause 31. Messages received from one or more back-end computing devices The message will include updated inventory lists and / or enhancement item information, as well as storefront information. May contain one or more inventory reports, such as a back-of-store (storage room) vs. back-of-store (stockroom) comparison report , A system or method according to any one of clauses 1 to 30.

[0115] Clause 32. Messages received from one or more back-end computing devices The page contains updated inventory lists and / or enhanced item information, as well as comparative inventory reports. The report may include a first inventory count at a first location and a second inventory count at a second location. and the first location is in a different location from the second location. A system according to any one of the methods described above.

[0116] Clause 33. Filtering the plurality of RFID scan data comprises filtering the plurality of RFID scan data. For the first RFID scan data item in the scan data, determining a first product identifier corresponding to the data item; and identifying the one or more previously determined product identifiers. searching for a first product identifier in a list of product identifiers; If the identifier is not in the list of one or more previously determined product identifiers, Clause 1, comprising: including one product identifier in the first set of filtered IICs; ~A system or method according to any one of clauses 32.

[0117] There are many different arrangements of the various components shown and components not shown. Various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. The description is intended to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. Alternative embodiments are within the scope of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the reader of this disclosure after reading the above and upon reading this disclosure. Alternative ways of implementing the embodiments may be accomplished without departing from the scope of the following claims. Certain features and subcombinations are practical and may be used interchangeably with other features and subcombinations. Any combination of positions may be employed and is contemplated within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A system for managing inventory using radio frequency identification (RFID), comprising: The system comprises a user device; The user device determining a physical location of the user device based on the location of the user device when the inventory item was scanned; receiving a plurality of RFID scan data from an RFID scanner device communicatively coupled to the user device; filtering the received plurality of RFID scan data to filter out similar RFID scan data from different item RFID tags in addition to performing de-duplication or de-duplication; converting the plurality of RFID scan data into respective item identification codes (IIC); aggregating said IICs to form a set of IICs, each IIC in said set of IICs being unique; linking the physical location of the user device to each IIC of the set of IICs as a location of each IIC of the set of IICs based at least in part on the physical location of the user device by communicating each IIC of the set of IICs and the physical location of the user device to a backend computing device; generating a message including the set of IICs and the location of each IIC in the set of IICs; configured to communicate the message to one or more backend computing devices utilizing a first Internet of Things (IoT) topic; the RFID scan data is scanned from an RFID tag associated with the inventory item using the RFID scanner device; The IIC is used to identify a particular item at a desired granularity, including manufacturer and model; The system, wherein the first Internet of Things (IoT) topic is information for identifying communications from the user device to the one or more backend computing devices.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the physical location of the user device includes accepting input from a user of the user device of the location when the inventory item was scanned.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the physical location of the user device includes automatically obtaining location information from the user device when the inventory item was scanned.

4. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein determining the physical location of the user device includes determining the physical location of the user device based on the plurality of RFID scan data including a location RFID tag, the location RFID tag being tied to a known location and scanned by the RFID scanner device.

5. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the physical location of the user device bound to a first IIC of the set of IICs is determined based on a location RFID tag when a first RFID tag coupled to an item corresponding to the first IIC of the set of IICs is detected within a proximity threshold to the location RFID tag.

6. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the physical location of the user device associated with a first IIC of the set of IICs is determined based on the location RFID tag when RFID scan data of the first RFID tag associated with the first IIC of the set of IICs is received within a predetermined threshold time of receiving RFID scan data of the location RFID tag.

7. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the physical location of the user device associated with a first IIC of the set of IICs is determined based on the location RFID tag when a characteristic of a first RFID received signal associated with the first RFID tag associated with the first IIC of the set of IICs is detected within a predetermined threshold relative to a characteristic of a second RFID received signal associated with the location RFID tag.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein each of the first RFID received signal characteristic and the second RFID received signal characteristic comprises a signal strength.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location of each IIC in the set of IICs includes an indication that each IIC is located in a storage portion of a retail location or a showroom portion of the retail location.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more backend computing devices are configured to communicate a location of an IIC in the set of IICs to a second user device.

11. 1. A method for managing inventory using radio frequency identification (RFID) for use by a server, the method comprising: receiving a first message from the first device, the first message including a first set of unique item identification codes (IICs) linked to the first RFID scan; receiving a second message from a second device, the second message including a second set of unique IICs associated with the second RFID scan; generating an aggregated set of IICs by combining the first set of IICs and the second set of IICs; de-duplicating the set of aggregated IICs to form a third set of IICs, wherein the de-duplicating of the set of aggregated IICs is performed such that each IIC in the third set of IICs is unique; communicating a third message to each of the first device and the second device, the third message including the third set of IICs; each of the first message and the second message is received using a first Internet of Things (IoT) topic, and the third message is communicated using a second IoT topic, the first IoT topic being different from the second IoT topic, the first IoT topic being information for identifying communications from devices, including the first device, to the server, and the second IoT topic being information for identifying communications from the server to devices, including the first device; The method, wherein the first RFID scan and the second RFID scan refer to scanning a plurality of RFID tags associated with a plurality of inventory items.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first RFID scan and the second RFID scan are initiated at a common location.

13. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, subsequent to communicating the third message to the first device, receiving a fourth message from the first device including a fourth set of IICs bound to the first RFID scan.

14. 1. A system for inventory taking, comprising: one or more computer processors; a computer memory having computer usable instructions stored therein; The computer usable instructions, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the one or more computer processors to: receiving a message from the first user device including a set of unique item identification codes (IICs) converted from RFID scan data provided by the scan; creating an inventory list for the scan by combining the set of IICs, the inventory list including whether a product is present or how many identified items are present at a location; receiving an inventory query from a customer device requesting a reference to the inventory; transmitting at least a portion of the inventory list to the customer device for display on a user interface of the customer device; said scanning refers to scanning an RFID tag associated with each individual item; The IIC is used to identify a particular item at a predetermined level of granularity.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the action further comprises communicating the location of the item to the customer device for display on the user interface of the customer device.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the inventory query from the customer device is linked to an item having an IIC from the set of IICs.

17. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the message is received from the first user device using a first IoT topic, the first IoT topic being information for identifying communications from user devices, including the first user device, to the one or more computer processors.

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