Patent ID: 6967563
Filing Date: 2005-11-22
Classification: A63B,G06K,G06Q,G08B

Abstract:
1. An inventory control apparatus comprising: a computer including: an anti-collision, field activated apparatus affixed to each item in the inventory including a programmable memory storing its unique item code, a transmitter, anti-collision hardware and software and an antenna; and an interrogator/reader in communication with the computer and including: where each anti-collision, field activated apparatus affixed to an item of inventory within the range of the generated field periodically transmits a signal including its unique item code only when anti-collision hardware and software of each anti-collision, field activated apparatus determines that no other anti-collision, field activated apparatus is transmitting its periodic signal and where the status of each item whose field activated apparatus has transmitted its signal to the receiver of the interrogator/reader is set to a first state indicating that the item is inside the range of the generated field, while the status of all other items is set to a second state indicating that the all other items are outside of the range of the generated field.