Abstract:
A method of detecting an item in a store which determines whether the item is from a different store. The method includes the steps of interrogating an RFID label on an item in the store, and comparing RFID label information in the RFID label with store RFID label information to determine whether the RFID label is from another store different than the one store.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, and more specifically to a method of detecting and managing RFID labels on items brought into a store by a customer. 
     RFID technology provides an alternative to bar code reader technology for distinguishing and recording items for purchase. RFID may result in labor savings to retailers, since it may obsolete conventional methods of identifying products. 
     Some of the uses of RFID technology are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,394 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. This patent is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     RFID labels may be permanently attached to products. RFID labels permanently attached to clothing and other items may be worn or carried by customers into stores. These RFID labels may be detected by RFID interrogators within the stores. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a method of detecting and managing RFID labels on items brought into a store by a customer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method of detecting and managing radio frequency identification (RFID) labels on items brought into a store by a customer is provided. 
     One embodiment of the method includes the steps of interrogating an RFID label on an item in the store, and comparing RFID label information in the RFID label with store RFID label information to determine whether the RFID label is from another store different than the one store. 
     The embodiment may further include the step of determining whether the RFID label contains purchase information if the RFID label is from the other store. 
     The embodiment may further include the step of classifying the item as being potentially stolen if the RFID label does not contain purchase information. 
     The embodiment may further include the step of comparing item identification information in the RFID label to store promotion information to determine whether to issue a promotion if the RFID label contains purchase information. 
     One embodiment of the system includes an RFID interrogator which obtains information from the RFID label, and a computer which compares the information in the RFID label with store RFID label information to determine whether the RFID label is from another store different than the one store. 
     The computer may additionally determine whether the RFID label contains purchase information, and, if the RFID label does not contain purchase information, alert store security personnel to track the person. 
     The computer may additionally compare item identification information in the RFID label with promotion information to determine whether to issue a promotion to the person if the RFID label contains purchase information. 
     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a method of detecting and managing RFID labels on items brought into a store by a customer. 
     It is another object of the present invention to deliver promotions to customers who bring items bearing RFID labels into a store. 
     It is another object of the present invention to verify that items carried in a store by a customer are not stolen. 
     It is another object of the present invention to minimize theft and increase sales by managing RFID labels. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a transaction processing system; and 
     FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the method of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, transaction system  10  primarily includes RFID label interrogator  14 , terminal  16 , and server  18 . 
     RFID interrogator  14  emits a signal and receives return signals from nearby store RFID labels  12  and customer RFID labels  26 . RFID interrogator  14  decodes the return signals and provides information from store RFID labels  12  and customer RFID labels  26  to terminal  16 . 
     RFID labels  12  and  26  store label and product identification information and various amounts of additional information, such as date and time of purchase, location of purchase, and seller. The additional information is stored at checkout. 
     Terminal  16  uses RFID interrogator  14  to read store RFID labels  12  and customer RFID labels  26 . Terminal  16  may include a checkout transaction terminal, a return station computer, or a kiosk computer. 
     Terminal  16  executes RFID label processing software  20 , which determines whether customer RFID label  26  is associated with an item from another store for which no purchase has been recorded within customer RFID label  26 . Identification information for store RFID labels  12  is stored in inventory data file  22 . If customer RFID label  26  contains store information for a different store but fails to contain purchase information, then the associated item may be considered stolen. 
     If customer RFID label  26  contains purchase information from the other store, then RFID label processing software  20  may additionally deliver promotions based upon detected item information in customer RFID label  26  using promotion data file  24 . 
     For example, in the case of store RFID labels  12 , terminal  16  may send product identification information to server  18  with price requests and server  18  may return the price information. If terminal  16  is a kiosk computer, RFID label processing software  20  may issue a coupon or other promotion based upon rules, products, or other criteria listed in promotion data file  24 . 
     As another example, in the case of customer RFID labels  26 , RFID label processing software  20  may issue an alert to security personnel if software  20  determines that the customer RFID label  26  associated with an item contains store information for a different store, but contains no purchase information. Security personnel may then watch the customer for signs of theft as the customer walks through the store. 
     Transaction server  18  handles price and inventory requests from terminal  16 . Transaction server  18  also provides promotion information from promotion data file  24 . 
     In FIG. 2, the method of operation of system  10  is illustrated in more detail beginning with START  40 . 
     In step  42 , RFID interrogator  14  sends out a signal to interrogate any RFID labels in the vicinity. The signal may be sent in response to an operator command or trigger or by a signal from a proximity sensor, similar to barcode readers. 
     If terminal  16  is a checkout station computer, then RFID interrogator  14  interrogates store RFID labels  12  on items to be purchased and customer RFID labels  26  on items carried or worn by the customer. 
     If terminal  16  is a return station computer, then RFID interrogator  14  interrogates customer RFID labels  26  on items to be returned and customer RFID labels  26  on other items carried or worn by the customer. 
     If terminal  16  is a kiosk, then RFID interrogator  14  interrogates store RFID labels  12  on items presented by the customer for price check and customer RFID labels  26  on items carried or worn by the customer. 
     In step  44 , RFID interrogator  14  receives return signals from store RFID labels  12  and customer RFID labels  26 . 
     In step  46 , RFID interrogator  14  decodes the information from store RFID labels  12  and customer RFID labels  26  and sends the decoded information to terminal  16 . 
     In step  48 , RFID processing software  20  examines decoded information from an RFID label. 
     In step  50 , RFID processing software  20  determines whether the decoded information represents an RFID label from a different store by comparing the RFID identification information with RFID identification information in inventory data file  22 . If so, operation proceeds to step  52 . Otherwise, operation jumps to step  54 . 
     In step  52 , RFID processing software  20  determines whether the decoded information contains purchase information from the different store. If so, operation proceeds to step  54 . Otherwise, operation proceeds to step  58 . 
     In step  54 , RFID processing software  20  determines whether to issue a promotion based upon a comparison of the decoded information with promotion data file  24 . If so, operation proceeds to step  56 . Otherwise, operation proceeds to step  60 . 
     In step  56 , RFID processing software  20  issues a promotion from promotion data file  24 . 
     In step  58 , RFID processing software  20  issues an alert to security personnel if the RFID label fails to contain purchase information. Operation proceeds to step  60 . 
     In step  60 , RFID processing software  20  determines whether each piece of decoded information has been compared with inventory data file  22 . If so, operation ends at step  62 . Otherwise, operation returns to step  48 . 
     Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.