Abstract:
A system for tracking objects that include radio frequency identification (RFID) tags associated therewith. The system including a structure substantially defining an enclosure, a reflective interior of the enclosure configured for the reflection of radio signals, at least one conveyor belt that transports the objects through the structure, at least one RFID reader panel inside the structure, wherein the at least one RFID reader panel transmits a radio signal into the interior of the structure such that the radio signal will reflect off of the interior of the structure to increase a probability that the RFID tags associated with the objects that enter the structure are read, and an operator terminal that receives and stores information regarding read RFID tags from the at least one reader panel.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, methods, and apparatus. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for improving detection of RFID tags for identification and tracking of baggage. 
         [0002]    Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are electronic devices that may be affixed to items whose presence is to be detected and/or monitored. The presence of an RFID tag, and therefore the presence of the item to which the RFID tag is affixed, may be checked and monitored by devices known as “readers” or “reader panels.” Readers typically transmit radio frequency signals to which the RFID tags respond. Each RFID tag can store a unique identification number. The RFID tags respond to reader-transmitted signals by providing their identification number and additional information stored on the RFID tag based on a reader command to enable the reader to determine an identification and characteristics of an item, for example baggage. 
         [0003]    Currently, airlines are implementing RFID monitoring capabilities at airports to track baggage to ensure the baggage gets to the correct destination. These implementations have experienced difficulty in achieving 100% read success due the fact the RFID tags are not always oriented in an optimum position on a piece of baggage in order to achieve a successful read. Thus, if an RFID tag is not optimally read, the bag associated with the unread RFID tag must be manually removed from a conveyor belt and manually taken to a proper location, which is extremely time consuming for both the person manually taking the baggage to a destination and the process itself. 
         [0004]    An existing solution is to put multiple readers and/or to position baggage in a particular orientation to try to ensure an optimal read is made. However, extra readers and elaborate baggage orientation devices adds cost. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a need is present for a method and apparatus to minimize improper reads of RFID tags or overcome issues discussed above. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for improving detection of RFID tags for identification and tracking of baggage. 
         [0007]    In embodiments, described is a system for tracking at least one object that includes at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The system including a structure having an interior and radio frequency reflective walls, at least one RFID reader panel that transmits a radio signal into the interior and is operable to read the at least one RFID tag in the interior, and an operator terminal that receives and stores information regarding a read RFID tag from the at least one RFID reader panel. 
         [0008]    In further embodiments, described is an apparatus for detecting a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The apparatus includes a structure having an interior and radio frequency reflective walls, a first opening that allows a transport of at least one object with at least one RFID tag into the interior at least one RFID reader panel that transmits a radio signal into the interior and is operable to read at least one RFID tag in the interior, and a second opening that allows the transport of the at least one object out of the structure. 
         [0009]    In still further embodiments, described is a method for tracking at least one object that includes at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The method includes transmitting radio signals from one or more RFID reader panels into an interior of a structure having radio frequency reflective walls, and receiving an indication that the one or more RFID reader panels has successfully read the at least one RFID tag. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary operating environment for tracking objects that include RFID tags associated therewith; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a s a cross-sectional view of a structure for tracking objects that include RFID tags associated therewith; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for tracking objects that include RFID tags associated therewith. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The subject matter of the present disclosure is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the terms “step,” “block,” and/or “operation” may be used herein to connote different elements of methods employed, the terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described. 
         [0014]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary operating environment is shown and designated generally as radio frequency identification (RFID) system  100 . In embodiments, the RFID system  100  includes a structure  104  (described in further detail below) that includes a reflective interior (not shown) and one or more RFID reader panels  112 . Once baggage  114  enters the structure  104  via conveyor belt  102 , the RFID reader panels  112  transmit radio signals (see  FIG. 2 ) that are to be received by RFID tag  116  on the baggage  114 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that using the structure  104  to read RFID tags on baggage is merely one possible example and the same system may be used for any application that involves a reading of any group of items that are streaming through a particular location. Thus, although the term “baggage” is used throughout the present disclosure for exemplary purposes, the term “baggage” may be any single item or a group of items. 
         [0015]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the RFID tag  116 , upon receiving a radio signal, transmits a response radio signal (not shown) that is received by the RFID reader panels  112 . The response radio signal includes data stored in the RFID tag  116 , for example and without limitation, a unique I.D. number, a terminal number, a gate number, and a flight number. In embodiments, a reader panel may have split functions, where one section of the reader panel is operable to transmit radio signals, and where another section of the reader panel is operable to receive a response radio signal from the RFID tag  116 . For example, the reader panel may include a single antenna with a circulator to allow the antenna to both transmit the radio signal and receive the response radio signal from the RFID tag  116 . In further embodiments, the reader panel may function entirely as a transmitter or a receiver. For example, the reader panel may include an antenna for transmitting the radio signal or an antenna for receiving the response radio signal from the RFID tag  116 . In embodiments, the structure  104  includes one or more reflective curtains  118  that limit propagation of radio signals transmitted from the RFID reader panels  112  and further enhance the enclosed environment created by the structure  104 . In further embodiments, more than one structure  104  may be included with the RFID system  100 . Therefore, a first structure may be used to read the RFID tag  116  on the baggage  114 , which may direct the baggage  114  to another structure, and so on, until the baggage  114  reaches a proper destination. 
         [0016]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the RFID reader panels  112  are coupled to a server  106 , which, in turn, is coupled to an operator terminal, for example, computing device  108 . The computing device  108  is coupled to a database  110 . The database  110  may be implemented by a computer processing system that includes at least one storage device for storing the database  110 . The data received by the RFID reader panels  112  (via the response radio signal) is transmitted to the server  106 . The data can also be transmitted to the computing device  108  and stored in the database  110 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the structure  104 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the RFID reader panels  112  transmit radio signals  210  that are to be received by a RFID tag  208  on baggage  206 . In embodiments, the structure includes four reader panels, one above the conveyor belt  102 , one below the conveyor belt  102 , and one on each side of the conveyor belt  102 . However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any number of reader panels may be used. In embodiments, the structure  104  also includes a recognition component  218  that provides information as to whether a piece of baggage is present inside of the structure  104 . In embodiments, the recognition component  218  is, without limitation, one of the following: an optical recognition component, an electromechanical contractor, and relay. 
         [0018]    As mentioned above, RFID tags are not always oriented in an optimum position on a piece of baggage to achieve a successful read from a radio signal transmitted from a reader panel. To overcome this problem, and as shown in  FIG. 2 , the radio signals  210  emanate from the RFID reader panels  112  and either illuminate/excite the RFID tag  208  or, if the RFID tag  208  is not optimally oriented, the radio signals  210  pass by and are then reflected from, for example, a side wall, a floor, and/or a ceiling of the structure  104 . Thus, using the reflective nature of the structure  104  to reflect and reuse the radio signals  210  to create a multitude of communication paths with many different orientations between the RFID reader panels  112  inside the structure  104 , an optimal read of the RFID tag  208  affixed to the baggage  206  may be obtained. Therefore, no matter what the orientation of the baggage  206  may be as the baggage  206  travels through the structure  104  via the conveyor belt  102 , an optimal read of the RFID tag  208  maybe obtained. 
         [0019]    One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the interior and/or exterior shape of the structure  104  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is for illustrative purposes only and many other shapes of the structure  104 , such as a cylinder or a rectangle, are well within the, scope of the present disclosure. Although dimensions of the structure  104  (i.e., length, width, and height) are important design parameters for good performance, the structure  104  may be any shape that ensures optimal reflection of radio signals toward a piece of baggage within the structure  104 . For example, the structure  104  should provide a good sampling of resonances over about 860 MHz to about 960 MHz RFID frequency range. These resonances are frequencies for which an RFID tag may be strongly excited and provide a good reading. If not optimally designed, the resonances may exhibit large gaps over which the RFID tags will not be strongly excited. Table 1 and Table 2 (below) are illustrative examples of poor and good selections, respectively, of structure dimensions for a rectangular structure. Exemplary modes for poor selection of structure dimensions are, for example, 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet high (see Table 1). Exemplary structure dimensions to obtain non-degenerate modal field distributions are, for example, 7.9 feet long, 4.1 feet wide, and 3.1 feet high (see Table 2). In embodiments, dimensions of the structure  104  do not share a common factor, such as a factor of 2 as seen in Table 1 (e.g., cavity modes 8′×4′×2′ are each a factor of “2”). 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0020]    Further, a non-reflective/nonconductive interior of the structure  104  may be made reflective/conductive by lining walls of the interior of the structure  104  with light weight reflective/conductive materials. For example, a light weight structure may be made with light weight foam board coated with silver-coated paint or aluminum foil that is applied to the interior of the light weight structure. In certain embodiments, the interior of the structure  104  is made of a material with a minimum conductivity of about 10E4 (S/m) to about 10E8 (S/m), for example, aluminum, nickel, copper, galvanized steel, and the like. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many other reflective materials may be used. 
         [0021]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , only one piece of baggage may enter the structure  104  at a time. Thus, once the RFID reader panels  112  achieve a successful read of the RFID tag  208  on the baggage  206 , the baggage  206  exits the structure at opening  216  and a next piece of baggage enters at opening  214  where the process is then repeated. In further embodiments, the structure  104  is large enough for multiple pieces of baggage to enter at one time as well as large enough to include more than one conveyor belt. 
         [0022]    In addition to using the reflective nature of the structure  104  to reflect and reuse the radio signals  210 , the structure  104  also holds the radio signals  210  internally not allowing the radio signals  210  to emanate as readily and therefore cause electromagnetic interference in the surrounding areas. Further, the structure  104  eliminates the possibility of reading RFID tags on baggage in the surrounding area by virtue of a closed environment thus created. As mentioned above, the structure includes one or more reflective curtains  118  that further enhance the enclosed environment created by the structure  104 . The one or more reflective curtains  118  are located at the openings  214  and  216  and limit the propagation of radio signals, for example radio signals  210 . In further embodiments, the structure  104  includes flexible reflective curtains at the openings  214  and  216 . In still further embodiments, the reflective curtains  118  are a reflective fabric. 
         [0023]    Referring next to  FIG. 3 , a flow diagram  300  illustrates an exemplary method for tracking objects that include RFID tags associated therewith. Once the process of sending baggage through the structure  104  begins  302 , an indication is received  304  by the structure  104  that a piece of baggage, for example the baggage  206 , is present inside the structure  104 . In embodiments, once the indication is received  304  by the structure  104  that the baggage  206  is present inside the structure, and with the reflective curtains  118  covering the openings  214  and  216 , the RFID reader panels  112  may begin to transmit radio signals. In further embodiments, if the reflective curtains  118  are flexible, the reflective curtains  118  may allow the baggage  216  to enter the structure  104  by virtue of their flexibility while maintaining a substantially closed environment in the structure  104 . If an indication is received  306  that a successful read of the RFID tag  208  is made, the process continues  310  and the next piece of baggage is permitted to enter the structure  104  through the opening  214  as the other piece of baggage that just received a successful read is removed  308  from the structure  104  through the opening  216 . However, if there is no indication received that a successful read of the RFID tag  208  is made, in one embodiment, the baggage  206  may be manually removed  312 , read, and taken to its proper destination. In further embodiments, if there is no indication received that a successful read of the RFID tag  208  was made, the baggage  206  is redirected on an alternate path for further verification, which may include manual verification or that the baggage  206  is sent through a further system  100  for RFID tag detection. An RFID tag may not be optimally read because, without limitation, the RFID tag may be damaged, partially or fully obscured, improperly attached, or has fallen off the baggage  206 . Once the baggage  206  has been removed from the structure  104  or re-routed, the process continues  310  and the next piece of baggage is permitted to enter the structure  104  through the opening  214 . In embodiments, a metering system may be used to ensure that each piece of baggage is optimally spaced to ensure that only one piece of baggage enters the structure  104  at a time. In further embodiments, more than one piece of baggage may enter the structure  104  at the same time. 
         [0024]    This written description uses examples to disclose the claimed subject matter, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the claimed subject matter, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.