System and method for electronic inventory

Patent 6002344 Issued on December 14, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

November 21, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventors

Application

No. 975969 filed on 11/21/1997

US Classes:

340/10.2, Contention avoidance340/10.33, Wake up (all call)340/572.1, Detectable device on protected article (e.g., "tag")705/22, Inventory monitoring705/23, Input by product or record sensing (weighing, scanner processing)705/28Inventory management

Examiners

Primary: Stamber, Eric W.
Assistant: Myhre, James W.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C

Foreign Patent References

0 494 114 A2 EP 07/13/1992
0 585 132 A1 EP 03/13/1994
0 598 624 A1 EP 05/13/1994
0 615 285 A2 EP 09/13/1994
WO93/05485 WO 03/13/1993

International Classes

G07G 001/12
G06F 007/04
G06F 017/60
G06K 015/00

Abstract

A system and method for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a Tag ID and a manufacturer number. Each tag can be attached to an item to take inventory of those items. A tag reader transmits a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal. Each tag increments a first tag count in response to the clock signals, and transmits the Tag ID assigned to the tag when the first tag count corresponds to the Tag ID assigned to the tag. The tag reader records the transmitted Tag IDs. When more than one tag transmits simultaneously, the tag stores the Tag ID in order to resolve the contention when the first read cycle is complete. In the second read cycle, the tag reader transmits the contended Tag ID followed by at least one clock signal. Each tag that contended for the transmitted Tag ID increments a second tag count in response to the clock signals, and transmits the manufacturer number assigned to the tag when the second tag count corresponds to the manufacturer number assigned to the tag. The tag reader records the transmitted Tag IDs, completing the inventory of the tags.