Patent ID: 7515049
Filing Date: 2009-04-07
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. An apparatus that allows a radio frequency identification transmitting device to obtain information from a radio frequency identification tag mounted to a container when seated in a storage location, comprising: a reproduction device positioned relative to the storage location such that, when the container is seated in the storage location, the radio frequency identification tag mounted to the container is proximate to said reproduction device wherein the reproduction device is mounted to the storage location and is separate from the container; a pickup device positioned relative to the storage location such that an antenna of the radio frequency identification transmitting device can be maneuvered proximate to said pickup device, wherein the pick-up device position is fixed in relation to the storage location; the radio frequency identification transmitting device transmitting a radio frequency signal to the radio frequency identification tag mounted to the container through said pickup device and said reproduction devices, wherein the transmitting device is robotically maneuvered proximate to the pickup device so as to enable the pickup device to receive and transmit the radio frequency signal emitted by the transmitting device, and wherein the container with an associated radio frequency identification tag seated in the storage location is replaceable with a different container having an associated radio frequency identification tag, the reproduction device and pickup device enabling communication between the transmitting device and the radio frequency identification tag associated with the different container.