Patent ID: 6547137
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: G06K,G06Q

Abstract:
A system for tracking items of merchandise through a plurality of locations in a stream of commerce comprisinga database, said database storing identification information on each of said items of merchandise and location information on each of said items of merchandise; a label attached to each of said items of merchandise, said label including a hologram and a machine readable code having said identification information on said item of merchandise from said database; means for scanning at each location in said stream of commerce said machine readable code on said label attached to said item of merchandise to obtain said identification information on said item of merchandise; means for transmitting from each location in said stream of commerce to said database said scanned identification information and location information on said location in said stream of commerce; means for updating said database to include said transmitted location information on said location in said stream of commerce for said scanned identification information; and means for tracking said item of merchandise having identification information using said transmitted location information in said database.