RFID Tracking System for Retail Object Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Retail stores face challenges in efficiently tracking customers and objects, such as carts and baskets, within their premises to enhance customer experience and manage inventory and resources effectively.
Innovation Solution
A retail store RFID customer tracking system that includes a mobile RFID transmitter system with multiple tags and fixed RFID tag readers, using tracking control circuits to analyze RFID signals and identify changes over time, allowing for the tracking of objects without their unique identifiers as they move through the store, and integrating with inventory, scheduling, and resource management systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tracking methods are used to monitor customers and objects in retail stores, then tracking capability is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or electronic tracking systems with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. RFID tags attached to objects and readers positioned in the store enable wireless, contactless tracking without complex mechanical components, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining reliable tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces RFID tags as intermediary objects that carry identification information. These tags act as mediators between the objects being tracked and the readers, enabling indirect tracking through radio frequency communication without requiring direct line-of-sight or complex physical connections.
2Ease of operation
If continuous monitoring of store systems is implemented to improve customer experience, then service quality improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling of RFID tag data rather than continuous monitoring. The system reads RFID tags at intervals as objects pass through detection zones, which reduces energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring while still providing sufficient data to track customer movement patterns and improve service quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID tags are passive devices that do not require power sources. They automatically respond to reader signals without consuming energy, enabling tracking functionality while minimizing power consumption in the overall system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient tracking of customers and objects, optimizing resource allocation, improving customer experience, and reducing power consumption by dynamically controlling store systems based on location and movement data.
Implementation Method 1
A retail store RFID customer tracking system includes a mobile RFID transmitter system with multiple tags and fixed RFID tag readers, using tracking control circuits to analyze RFID signals
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided to track objects at a retail store, comprising: a mobile RFID transmitter system comprising an array of RFID tags; multiple RFID tag readers; a tracking control circuit communicatively coupled with the multiple RFID tag readers, and configured to: receive, from a sub-set of RFID tag readers, RFID tag information of each detected first set of RFID tags of the array of RFID tags; obtain a first set of rules and evaluate over time the received RFID tag information and identify over time threshold changes from a set of base information of received RFID signals from the array of RFID tags, wherein the threshold change is consistent with a first object traveling between the array of RFID tags and a corresponding one of the first sub-set of RFID tag readers; and track the first object.