Patent ID: 8284056
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: G06Q,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A product management system comprising: a container: a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader located a distance from the container; an echolocation RFID tag wholly contained within a top portion of the container, the echolocation RFID tag capable of transmitting radio signals to a product in the container and thereafter receiving return signals due to the reflection of the transmitted radio signals from the product; wherein, in operation, the RFID reader transmits a signal to the echolocation tag and responsive to the RFID reader signal, the echolocation tag transmits a radio signal to the product and receives a return signal due to the reflection of the transmitted radio signal from the product, the echolocation tag transmitting information regarding the returned signal to the RFID reader, the RFID reader receiving the returned signal information from the echolocation RFID tag to determine a distance from the echolocation RFID tag to the product and then correlates the distance determined to a quantity of product in the container.