RFID Shipping Labels Programmed by Mobile Device for Private Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shipping label generation methods require access to a printer or a QR code, which can lead to mixing up packages and lack privacy for shipping information.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing RFID tags encoded with shipping information, allowing secure and direct application to packages without the need for printers or QR codes, with encryption for privacy and compatibility with multiple shipping entities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If QR codes are used for shipping labels, then printing capability is reduced, but package mixing risk increases and privacy protection decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical printing systems (QR codes requiring printers) with RFID electronic tags that store shipping information digitally. This substitution eliminates the need for physical printing while providing unique identifiers that cannot be easily duplicated or mixed up, thereby resolving both the printing capability limitation and the package mixing risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses RFID tags that can be programmed with shipping information as electronic copies of traditional shipping labels. These tags contain all necessary shipping data in encrypted form and can be read by RFID scanners at shipping facilities, eliminating the need for physical QR code printing while maintaining label functionality
2Loss of information
If QR codes are used for shipping labels, then privacy protection is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual QR code systems with RFID electronic tags that store shipping information in encrypted digital form. This substitution enhances privacy protection by preventing unauthorized visual access to shipping details while the RFID reading mechanism simplifies the overall system by eliminating printers and manual QR code handling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of shipping information from visual/optical (QR codes) to electronic/magnetic (RFID tags). This parameter change enables encrypted storage of shipping details, improving privacy protection, while the RFID technology provides a more integrated and less complex system compared to printing infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are directed to generating radio frequency identification (RFID) shipping labels. A request to access shipping options is received, via a mobile application operating on a mobile device of a user, whereby the shipping options include an option to program a RFID tag associated with a package to be shipped. In response to receiving the request, the shipping options are presented on a user interface displayed on the mobile device. An indication of a selection of the option to program the RFID tag is received via the mobile application. In response to receiving the indication, instructions are presented on a second user interface that indicate positioning the mobile device within proximity of the RFID tag. The mobile device then programs the RFID tag with shipping information.