RFID Shelf Stock-Taking With Time-Scheduled Label Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current merchandise stock-taking methods in large-scale supermarkets rely heavily on manual labor, leading to low efficiency and poor accuracy, especially with the transition to electronic shelf labels, which are not fully utilized for automatic stock-taking.
Innovation Solution
A system involving an autonomous mobile device, RFID tags, and electronic shelf labels with wireless communication modules, where the mobile device sends RFID excitation signals to RFID tags, which respond with identity information within scheduled time windows, allowing the electronic shelf labels to receive and relay this information to a base station for accurate stock-taking data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual stock-taking is used, then labor flexibility is maintained, but stock-taking efficiency is low and accuracy is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service stock-taking where RFID tags automatically respond to excitation signals from the autonomous mobile device, and electronic shelf labels automatically receive and process tag identity information without human intervention. The merchandise itself (via RFID tags) performs the identification function, eliminating the need for manual counting while maintaining system operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical stock-taking operations with an automated electromagnetic field-based RFID system. The autonomous mobile device uses RFID excitation signals to trigger responses from tags, and electronic shelf labels use wireless communication to receive data, substituting human labor with electromagnetic field interactions and automated data processing.
2Measurement precision
If electronic shelf labels continuously receive RFID signals, then stock-taking accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station allocates specific RFID signal reception time windows to electronic shelf labels, enabling them to receive signals periodically rather than continuously. This time-scheduled reception approach ensures that labels are active only when needed to capture tag identity information, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining detection accuracy during critical measurement periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuous stock-taking coverage by having multiple electronic shelf labels cooperate and by implementing repeated RFID signal reception within allocated time windows. The autonomous mobile device sends excitation signals that trigger repeated responses from RFID tags, ensuring that tag identity information is captured reliably without requiring continuous label activation.
3Productivity
If multiple RFID tags respond simultaneously, then data collection speed is improved, but signal collision increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station implements periodic signal reception through allocated time windows for different electronic shelf labels. This time-division approach allows multiple tags to respond in an organized sequence rather than chaotic simultaneity, reducing signal collisions while maintaining overall fast data collection across the entire stock-taking area.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station pre-allocates reception time windows to electronic shelf labels before the actual RFID signal reception begins. This preliminary organization of reception schedules prevents signal collisions by ensuring that labels are ready to receive at appropriate times, improving signal reception reliability while maintaining efficient data collection throughput.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional RFID systems are used, then simplicity is maintained, but system flexibility and stability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic shelf labels serve multiple functions: they display product information to consumers, receive RFID tag identity information for stock-taking, and communicate wirelessly with the base station. This multi-functionality integrates stock-taking capability into existing shelf infrastructure, enhancing system flexibility without adding separate dedicated stock-taking devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the autonomous mobile device, electronic shelf labels, and RFID tags. It allocates reception time windows, collects data from multiple labels, and processes tag identity information, providing centralized control that enhances system stability and flexibility while managing the complexity of coordinating multiple components.
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
This approach enhances stock-taking efficiency and accuracy by automating the process, reducing labor costs, maintaining low power consumption, and improving system stability and flexibility compared to traditional RFID systems.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of RFID tags that receive the RFID excitation signal repeatedly send their tag identity information according to a random back-off mechanism
Implementation Method 2
enabling the plurality of electronic shelf labels in a stock-taking area to receive tag identity information sent by the RFID tag in the stock-taking area in a close-range and in a time-scheduled manner
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a merchandise stock-taking method and system, a computer device and a storage medium. The method includes: an autonomous mobile device sends a RFID excitation signal in a stock-taking area, so that all RFID tags that receive the RFID excitation signal in the stock-taking area repeatedly send their tag identity information within a certain duration; and then the base station counts a merchandise stock-taking result in the stock-taking area according to all the tag identity information sent by the plurality of electronic shelf labels. Therefore, through the mutual communication among the autonomous mobile device, the RFID tags on the merchandise, the electronic shelf labels on the shelf and the base station, the present disclosure realizes the automatic stock-taking of shelf merchandise, thereby improving the merchandise stock-taking efficiency. The plurality of electronic shelf labels in the stock-taking area receive the tag identity information sent by the RFID tag in the stock-taking area at a short distance and in a time-scheduled manner, which reduces the power consumption of the electronic shelf labels while improving the reliability of the RFID signal reception, thereby increasing the merchandise stock-taking accuracy, and reducing the labor cost as well as losses caused by human errors.