RFID Transport Device Sensor Network for Inventory Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
In RFID-enabled store inventory management, stray RFID tag readings from multiple locational and product tags can make it difficult to determine the intended target RFID tags, especially when using conventional RFID scanners in crowded environments.
Innovation Solution
Equipping transport devices like forklifts with RFID scanners and additional external sensors such as proximity sensors, laser sensors, and accelerometers to filter out unwanted RFID signals by correlating load information, movement data, and signal strengths, and assigning a 'virtual' pallet tag to groups of product RFID tags for accurate location tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If RFID scanners are used to read tags from far distances (3-5 meters), then reading capability is improved, but stray readings from unintended tags increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces transport device sensors (proximity sensors, accelerometers, load sensors) as intermediaries that provide contextual information about the scanning environment. These sensors act as mediators between the RFID scanner and the tags, helping to filter and identify which far-distance readings are legitimate targets versus stray readings from unintended tags.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple parameters simultaneously: it uses proximity sensors to detect distance parameters, accelerometers to detect motion parameters, and load sensors to detect weight parameters. By analyzing changes in these parameters over time, the system can distinguish between intentional scanning of target tags and accidental pickup of stray tags, even at far distances.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple RFID tags are present in crowded store environments, then inventory tracking coverage is improved, but difficulty in determining intended target tags increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback loops where transport device sensors continuously monitor the scanning environment and provide feedback to the RFID scanning system. Proximity sensor feedback indicates when the device is near specific locations, accelerometer feedback indicates movement patterns consistent with intentional scanning, and load sensor feedback confirms when merchandise is actually being handled. This multi-layered feedback mechanism enables the system to accurately identify intended target tags even among many nearby tags.
3Measurement precision
If additional external sensors are added to transport devices, then accuracy of target RFID tag determination is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the sensor system with multi-functionality in mind. The same sensor suite (proximity sensors, accelerometers, load sensors) serves multiple purposes: proximity sensors detect both distance to tags and proximity to locational spots, accelerometers detect both device movement and shock events, and load sensors detect both merchandise weight and presence. This universal sensor approach reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate specialized sensors for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile sensor system and method for managing inventory of a store includes at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) scanner for receiving readings from RFID tags, at least one external sensors for detecting at least one external events other than RF signals from the RFID tags, and a processor configured to update an RFID database for storing the readings from the RFID tags, wherein the update is based on a correlation function of the readings from the RFID tags and the external events detected at the at least one external sensors.