Patent ID: 8519848
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: G06K,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for maintaining information representing an inventory of articles, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining information reflecting a current inventory of the articles; receiving radio frequency identification (RFID) tag identifying information from an RFID tag reader, wherein the RFID tag identifying information identifies any RFID tags that responded to an RFID tag interrogation signal from the RFID tag reader during an inventory polling operation; and adjusting an operational parameter based on an analysis of the RFID tag identifying information; wherein the operational parameter is selected from a group consisting of a missing article detection threshold, and a variable polling parameter that defines one or more polling parameters selected from a group consisting of a time at which the RFID tag reader is to perform a next inventory polling operation, a duration of the next inventory polling operation, an identification of one or more antennas to be activated during the next inventory polling operation, and one or more antenna activation durations for the next inventory polling operation; wherein the operational parameter is the variable polling parameter, and wherein the step of adjusting the operational parameter comprises determining, in response to an occurrence of a triggering event, an adjustment to the variable polling parameter, wherein the triggering event is selected from a group consisting of an occurrence of a temporal event, and a determination that an inventory change compares unfavorably to a threshold.