Wireless Scanner Pairing via RFID Tag Address Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless scanners in retail environments face challenges in accurately pairing with specific cash registers to prevent data errors, as existing manual configuration methods are prone to errors and require maintenance, and optical alignment for bar codes is cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

Implementing RFID technology in wireless scanners to automatically pair with RFID tags on scanner bases, allowing for convenient and reliable point-to-point communication by reading RFID tags for unique association and data transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual configuration methods are used for pairing wireless scanners with cash registers, then device complexity is reduced, but pairing accuracy and reliability deteriorate due to human errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepairing accuracyVSAvoidpairing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless scanner automatically reads the RFID tag on the cash register and configures its own pairing information without requiring manual intervention. The device self-services the pairing process by autonomously acquiring the cash register address from the RFID tag and establishing the point-to-point relationship, thereby improving pairing accuracy while eliminating manual configuration errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration operations with automated RFID electromagnetic field-based reading. Instead of manually entering or configuring pairing information through physical interfaces, the system uses RFID technology to automatically transfer pairing data from the cash register tag to the wireless scanner, substituting manual mechanical processes with automated electromagnetic field communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If bar codes are used for identification, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to optical alignment requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning convenienceVSAvoidalignment requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces optical bar code scanning mechanisms with RFID electromagnetic field-based reading. Instead of requiring precise optical alignment between the scanner and bar code, the system uses RFID tags that can be read through electromagnetic fields without line-of-sight requirements, substituting optical mechanical alignment with automated electromagnetic field communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The RFID tag serves as an intermediary carrier for the cash register address information. Instead of directly scanning bar codes or manually entering information, the wireless scanner reads the RFID tag which mediates the transfer of pairing data, eliminating the need for direct optical alignment or manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If bar codes are used for identification, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to susceptibility to damage and pollution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification durabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical bar code labels that are susceptible to damage and pollution with RFID tags embedded in the cash register. The RFID tag stores identification information in an electronic format that is not affected by physical degradation, replacing vulnerable mechanical/optical identification with durable electromagnetic field-based identification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The RFID tag provides beforehand cushioning against the reliability issues of bar codes by storing identification information in a protected electronic format. The tag is embedded or attached in a manner that protects it from physical damage and pollution, anticipating and preventing the degradation problems that affect bar codes before they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Automated RFID-based pairing reduces errors and maintenance needs, ensuring accurate data transfer between scanners and cash registers, as RFID tags are easier to scan and less susceptible to damage compared to bar codes.

Implementation Method 1

a wireless scanner utilizes radio frequency identification (RFID) to automatically achieve a pairing operation with a wireless scanner base using an RFID tag in the wireless scanner base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRFID (Radio Frequency Identification): Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10387697B2Pairing method for wireless scanner via RFID

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 HAND HELD PRODS INC

AI summary

A wireless scanner is described that performs a pairing operation with a wireless scanner base before commencing scanning operations in a wireless scanner network. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is used to achieve the pairing operation of the wireless scanner with the wireless scanner base by using an RFID tag associated with the wireless scanner base. The RFID tag in the wireless scanner base may contain pairing information such as a network address of the wireless scanner base for use in automatically establishing a wireless communication session with the wireless scanner base in accordance with another wireless protocol.