5136 results about "Electronic tags" patented technology

The present invention provides for smart and dumb implementations of a stand-alone, remotely updateable, remotely alterable, flexible electronic label. The electronic label provides for displaying information in connection with a mammal, non-mammal, an item or location. The label includes a display assembly having electronic ink disposed on a support, one or more antennas for sending or receiving signals corresponding to one of instructions, programs, data or selected indicia to be displayed by said display assembly, a storage element in circuit with the antenna for storing the instructions, programs, data and indicia, and one or more processors for intelligently determining the indicia to be displayed by the display assembly, for controlling and coordinating operation of the label, and for generating output signals for instructing the display assembly to display the indicia.

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for managing electronic records on a computer network is provided. The method provides the steps of creating an electronic tag that uniquely identifies an electronic record, storing the electronic tag, and distributing the electronic record. The method further performs the steps of analyzing a network user's workstation specifications, analyzing a network user's user profile, and generating a reference code, wherein the electronic tag is generated from information analyzed in the network user's workstation specification, the network user's user profile and the reference code.

A method and system for delineating document boundaries and identifying document types by analyzing digital images of one or more documents, automatically categorizing one or more pages or subdocuments within the one or more documents and automatically generating delineation identifiers, such as computer-generated images of separation pages inserted between digital images belonging to different categories, a description of the categorization sequence of the digital images, or a computer-generated electronic label affixed or associated with said digital images.

Examples of a rail-mounted robotic inventory system are provided. The system includes a rail-mounted robot having an electronic tag reader configured to receive electronic tag data from electronic tags associated with inventory items. The system can include a navigation module configured to direct the rail-mounted robot along a rail through an inventory area, detect obstacles, and determine a position of the rail-mounted robot within the inventory area. The system can include an inventory identification module configured to receive the electronic tag data from the rail-mounted robot and identify and/or locate the inventory items in the inventory area based at least partly on the electronic tag data.

Portable storage units are equipped with human readable electronic displays that contain information pertaining to the content and state of the storage units. The information displayed changes as the contents of the storage unit change. Such electronic labels can contain a variety of useful information. Some information would be static, such as owner identification, while other information will be dynamic such as the amount of free space. Still other information will be browseable such as the directory structure, file contents, storage unit total capacity, storage unit available space, storage unit directory structure, storage unit file names. storage unit file contents and device reliability statistics.

An electronic assembly may be contained in a label that performs time-temperature integration (TTI) and indicates that time and/or temperature levels have been reached that may compromise the quality, shelf life, or safety of the item to which the label is affixed. The label may be used on a wide variety of objects that require careful handling in terms of temperature and/or time elapsed before use. The labeling system includes circuitry that measures and calculates, and indictor(s) that signal that the time has come for discounted sale, and, later, that the time has come for disposal rather than sale. Optionally, the circuitry may act as an “over-temperature alarm” system, to measure, calculate, and indicate when a one-time temperature violation has occurred that is of such a magnitude that the item is immediately considered compromised or spoiled. The label may take the form of a flexible, disposable label that is typically powered by a small battery. Methods may include providing a temperature-variable oscillator or time-base, counting cycles of said oscillator within a logic circuit to determine when one or more preset total cycle counts is/are reached, and signaling when said total cycle count(s) is/are reached.

The present invention provides for smart and dumb implementations of a standalone, remotely updateable, remotely alterable, flexible electronic label. The electronic label provides for displaying information, such as prices, bar codes, advertising messages and restocking information, in connection with a mammal, non-mammal, an item or location. The flexibility and form factor of the electronic label allow the label to fit into and conform to the shape of the molding used in retail store shelving to display merchandize and warehouse shelving. The label can be of various sizes, shapes and lengths to allow for multiple applications. The flexible, thin label includes a flexible display assembly having electronic ink disposed on a support, one or more antennas for sending or receiving signals corresponding to one of instructions, programs, data or selected indicia to be displayed by said display assembly, a storage element in circuit with the antenna for storing the instructions, programs, data and indicia, and one or more processors for intelligently determining the indicia to be displayed by the display assembly, for controlling and coordinating operation of the label, and for generating output signals for instructing the display assembly to display the indicia.

Systems and methods for a merchandizing display related to a continuous display formed by electronic displays embedded along product shelves and on the packages stored on the product shelves. An electronic label device may detect the presence of a consumer and send a trigger to the packages on its product shelf. The electronic label device may also send a trigger to surrounding electronic label devices. A streaming video may then be apportioned among displays on electronic label devices and the packages. Each of the displays may simultaneously output a different portion of the streaming video.

A system and method for funding a collective account via aggregating usage of electronic tags is disclosed. The system and method promotes the use of electronic tags, and the funding of collective accounts that may be associated with charitable or other philanthropic causes. Further benefits may be realized by replenishing the prefunded account that serves as the source of funds for the electronic tag to an affinity account that also benefits the charitable or other philanthropic cause.

An authentication system enabling a customer to verify the authenticity of a product in a foolproof, secure and simple manner. plurality of secret sets of numbers is generated, each set comprising a challenge portion and a response portion. These sets are stored on a remote server. Each set is associated with a different product. The customer sends a challenge portion to the server, and prompts the server to provide a response. If the response matches that of the product in hand, the product is known to be authentic. In another embodiment of the system, cellular transmission is used to power an electronic tag attached to the product and carrying authentication data. In a third embodiment, the full manufacturer database is divided into separate databases, possibly related to product vendor, such that an authentication process can be performed without the need to access the manufacturer's entire database of products.

A system and method for funding a collective account via aggregating usage of electronic tags is disclosed. The system and method promotes the use of electronic tags, and the funding of collective accounts that may be associated with charitable or other philanthropic causes. Further benefits may be realized by replenishing the prefunded account that serves as the source of funds for the electronic tag to an affinity account that also benefits the charitable or other philanthropic cause.

In order to control the status and the operation of a dispensing machine assembly comprising one or more modules or sub-assemblies, at least one of modules or sub-modules is provided with an electronic tag and the machine is provided with a tag controller device for interacting with said tag by reading, writing and transmitting information data on or through said tag and operating said dispensing machine according to the information gathered from said tag or tags.

The invention relates to a multi-lane free flow video vehicle position and control method, the processes thereof are that: step 1, virtual coils are arranged in the visual field of a panoramic camera to form a detection area. Step 2, when a vehicle enters the detection area, a video detector starts an algorithm program to obtain the position of the vehicle. Step 3, a central processing unit starts a microwave communication system and an image snapshot system. Step 4, a logical comparison system judges whether the vehicle has electronic label information, if without, executing step 8. Step 5, the logical comparison system judges whether a vehicle license plate number in the electronic label information and the vehicle license plate number which is identified by a license plate recognition system are consistent, if not consistent, executing step 8 is. Step 6, the images of the vehicle which are snapshot are deleted. Step 7, toll transaction is done, and a transaction record is formed after the transaction. Step 8, the transaction record which is transferred to a background billing system is further treated. Step 9, returning to a main process. The method can achieve an electronic toll collection function in a multi-lane free flow mode through the accurate location for the vehicle and the coordination control for a system.

The invention provides a refinement production system and a production method based on RFID and bar code fusion, wherein an RFID electronic tag is bound on the goods in process, the RFID electronic tag or a bar code can be selected randomly to be bound on the components and parts, thus being capable of effectively controlling production cost, being beneficial to carry out real time and effective collection on the information of goods in process and components and parts simultaneously, realizing accurate synchronization of material flow and information flow, and providing a possibility for therealization of refinement production for enterprises. The production method in the invention comprises the following steps: 1) binding the RFID electronic tags on the goods in process which enter a production line, and binding the bar codes or the RFID electronic tags on the components and parts; 2) when the components and parts which are pasted with bar codes or bound with the RFID electronic tags are on the production line, collecting the information of the components and parts to match with the information of the goods in process, and binding the information of components and parts with theinformation of the goods in process after matching successively; and 3) when the products are finally off the line, collecting the RFID electronic tag information which is bound on the goods in process and printing manufacturer certificates and bar codes.

An identity authentication method authenticates valid purchases of restricted products or services such as alcoholic beverages from unattended vending machines. The authentication method is designed to comply with all 50 States' requirements, as the equipment includes a field-programmable age requirement verification mechanism. The process consists of two primary steps: 1) Registration, a one-time procedure where a Patron's age is verified, fingerprint enrolled and information entered into an electronic tag, as well as a central database (if applicable); and 2) Purchase, which occurs each time a product is purchased, where the Patron presents the electronic tag to a tag reader (located on the front of the vending machine), authenticates his/her Identification by placing the appropriate finger onto a fingerprint scanner (also located on the front of the vending machine), then proceeds to purchase the product via cash, credit card, or whatever other method is applicable to that particular location.

A reusable electronic tag having a plurality of memory locations to allow a user to write information onto the tag. After a memory location is written, it becomes write-protected, preventing the written content from being altered or deleted by an unauthorized user. By granting a user access right to certain memory locations, it is possible to restrict the user's ability to access the memory location depending on the granted access type and the level of restriction set for the memory location. A user with a valid password is allowed to read and write a memory location. Such a user may be allowed to clear the memory locations so that the tag can be reused.

An electronic assembly may be contained in a label that performs time-temperature integration (TTI) and indicates that time and/or temperature levels have been reached that may compromise the quality, shelf life, or safety of the item to which the label is affixed. The label may be used on a wide variety of objects that require careful handling in terms of temperature and/or time elapsed before use. The labeling system includes circuitry that measures and calculates, and indictor(s) that signal that the time has come for discounted sale, and, later, that the time has come for disposal rather than sale. Optionally, the circuitry may act as an “over-temperature alarm” system, to measure, calculate, and indicate when a one-time temperature violation has occurred that is of such a magnitude that the item is immediately considered compromised or spoiled. The label may take the form of a flexible, disposable label that is typically powered by a small battery. Methods may include providing a temperature-variable oscillator or time-base, counting cycles of said oscillator within a logic circuit to determine when one or more preset total cycle counts is/are reached, and signaling when said total cycle count(s) is/are reached. Extra sensing, time-keeping, memory storage, and/or communication interface circuits may be incorporated to augment the electronic assembly's and method's capabilities.

The invention discloses an electronic toll collection system and method. The system consists of a lane control computer and a road side unit, wherein the lane control computer is used for receiving information of the road side unit and performing corresponding treatment on the information; the road side unit comprises a wireless location module used for locating a vehicle-mounted e-tag, a toll transaction module used for communicating with the vehicle-mounted e-tag, acquiring billing and vehicle information of the vehicle-mounted e-tag and completing toll transaction, a video detection module used for detecting vehicle positions, capturing vehicle images and recognizing vehicle registration plates, and a control module used for realizing real-time position matching between position information, acquired by the wireless location module, of the vehicle-mounted e-tag and the vehicle position information detected by the video detection module and achieving corresponding process control. According to the invention, the toll transaction success rate can be effectively improved, car-following interference is reduced and toll dodging is prevented.

An electronic label reading system includes an interrogator including a transmitter and a receiver. The system also has a transmitter antenna connected to the transmitter for generating an interrogation electromagnetic field through which objects possessing code responding labels may pass. The code responding labels include label receiving antennas for receiving from the interrogation field a label interrogation signal, and generate label reply signals, and, from the label reply signals, reply electromagnetic fields. The system also has a receiver antenna connected to the receiver for receiving the reply signals from the label reply fields. The interrogation field and label reply fields provide a communication channel from the labels to the interrogator, and the interrogator signals to the labels condition information indicative of the condition of the communication channel.

An inventive system for delivering packages includes a computer system for determining an optimum route for delivering the package, an electronic tag associated with the package including a first transceiver, and a signaling device. The inventive system also includes a base station having a second transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the first transceiver.

Master case tracking mesh for data transmission includes a shipping container for holding items to be transported therein. The shipping container may include a central data storage unit configured to receive data transmitted thereto, and a plurality of electronic tags configured to store data of the items, and further configured to transmit data of the items to the central data storage unit.