Transition zone RFID tag management

Deploying at each transition between separate areas of a facility a plurality of RFID reader antennas. Each antenna is deployed at a given transition covering a span of the given transition from a different perspective such that each point in the span is covered by at least two antennas. The antennas of a first transition between a first area and a second area of the separate areas detect, and in combination with an RFID system in communication with the antennas of the first transition, a tag known to have been in the first area. The RFID system identifies an item associated with the detected tag as moving to the second area. The antennas of a particular transition of the second area subsequently detect, in combination with the RFID system in communication therewith, the tag, and identifying the detected item as leaving the second area for an area across the particular transition.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to radio frequency identification (RFID) tag management through transition zones in a facility.

BACKGROUND

RFID tag systems are commonly used in retail stores and other settings (such as warehouses and offices) to prevent unauthorized removal of tagged items from a given area. Articles to be protected are tagged with a security tag, e.g., an RFID tag that, when activated, generates a response signal when passed through an interrogation zone. An antenna and receiver detects this response signal and may generate an alarm if the security tag has not been accounted for. Similarly, detectors in an RFID system emit periodic bursts in the radio frequency range that causes a detectable resonant response in an RFID tag.

For example, retailers (e.g., apparel retailers) have deployed security tags on products in stores to track product movements as the products arrive at stores, are placed on display on the sales floor, and are sold. The tags may be used with a security system to detect inventory changes and/or possible loss events.

Examples of the technology disclosed herein deploy at each transition between separate areas of a facility a plurality of RFID reader antennas. Each antenna is deployed at a given transition covering a span of the given transition from a different perspective such that each point in the span is covered by at least two antennas. The antennas of a first transition between a first area and a second area of the separate areas detect, in combination with an RFID system in communication with the antennas of the first transition, a tag known to have been in the first area. The RFID system identifies an item associated with the detected tag as moving to the second area. The antennas of a particular transition of the second area subsequently detect, in combination with the RFID system in communication therewith, the tag, and identify the detected item as leaving the second area for an area across the particular transition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG.1, in a continuing example, a retailer wants to keep track of merchandise, e.g., item162tagged with tag162aand item164tagged with tag164b, that goes into and out of sub-areas a fitting area100of a retail store. While a retail store is used in the continuing example, the overall area of interest can be in other than a retail store. For example, a warehouse may have a loading dock that is an area of interest.

The fitting area100of the example has two sub-areas. Area_2130includes a plurality of individual fitting rooms132,134,136, and138. Area_1120acts as a foyer for Area_2130and as a rejection area where items162that a customer decides not to purchase can be left for re-stocking. While two sub-areas (Area_1120and Area_2130) are show, examples of the technology disclosed herein can be deployed across more than two sub-areas, for example, as shown inFIG.2discussed below.

In the continuing example, Area_1120connects to the sales floor Area_0110through transition140(a single doorway). Area_1120connects to Area_2130through transition150(also a single doorway). Area_2130has no direct transition to the sales floor.

Each transition140,150is flanked by at least two RFID transmit/receive antennas, e.g., antennas142and44for transition140, and antennas152and154for transition150. In the continuing example, each pair of antennas sit over corresponding doorway so as to offer redundant coverage of the doorway from at least two different perspectives. In some examples, more than two antennas are used to cover a particular transition.

Each antenna in the continuing example is a narrow beam antenna, e.g., less than 40-degree beam width142a,144a,152a,154a. In practice, electronically steerable and electronic beam-width controlled antennas can be used; and angles other than 40 degrees can be used. Each beam width and the number of antennas is chosen such that each point across the transition140,150is covered from at least two perspectives—without covering the entirety of Area_1120.FIG.3illustrates a scenario300where a shielding object310shields item162with tag162afrom the field of view154aof antenna154, but not from the field of view152aof antenna152—illustrating the utility of coverage of the transition150between Area_1120and Area_2130from a plurality of perspectives.

Each of antennas142,144,152, and154are in communication (by wired, wireless, or a combination thereof) with RFID system180. RFID system180performs tag identification as known to those of skill in the relevant art based on interrogation signals transmitted by antennas such as antennas141,144,152, and154and based on transponder signals, e.g., from tag162a, received by those antennas in response to the interrogation signals. RFID system180also performs other functions as will be described below.

Based on tag detections via antennas142and144across transition140, RFID system can determine when a tagged item, e.g., item162with tag162a, crosses transition140. If the item/tag162/162ahas not previously crossed transition140, then the RFID system180can determine that the item/tag162/162ahas entered Area_1120. If the item/tag162/162ais then detected crossing transition150by RFID system180based on RFID signals collected by antennas152and154, then RFID system180can determine that the item/tag162/162ahas left Area_1120and entered the individual fitting room area Area_2130. For example, RFID system180, based on item/tag164/164abeing detected at transition140and then shortly thereafter at transition150can determine that item164has entered the individual fitting room area Area_2130.

Typical RFID systems use persistent real-time RFID tag reading across the entire area being monitored—often in ways that are susceptible to error from shielding, since an open area allows a myriad of shielding geometries. Performing RFID at transitions from a small plurality of antennas can reduce the opportunities for shielding.

WhileFIG.1illustrates transitions between Area_0110, Area_1120, and Area_2130, examples of the technology can be deployed across the transitions to smaller areas such as the transitions to individual fitting rooms132,134,136, and138.

FIG.2illustrates another topology200, of many other possible topologies, for examples of the present technology. In topology200, a third area, Area_3170, is introduced opposite of Area_1120from Area_2130. Area_3170has its own transition140bwith Area_0110, and its own transition150bwith Area_2130. Transition140bis covered by antenna146with field of view146aand antenna148with field of view148a. Transition150balso is covered by antenna156with field of view156aand antenna158with field of view158a. Antennas146,148,156, and158are in communication with RFID system180as with the previously described antennas, and perform the transmit and receive functions of interrogation and transponder reception typical of such systems. In the example ofFIG.2, RFID system180uses the sequential detection of tags such as tag162aand tag162bto determine the area in which items such as item162and item164are located.

FIG.4illustrates raw transition detection data, andFIG.5illustrates report data processed and reported by RFID system180based on transponder data harvested by antennas142,144,152, and154ofFIG.1, in accordance with one example of the present technology. In each ofFIG.4andFIG.5, individual tags are tracked by the electronic product code (EPC) associated with the individual tag.

InFIG.5, given that each tag detection is time-stamped and is characterized by an EPC, RFID system180can determine the sequence and duration of a tag in each area110,120, and130. In combination with transaction data, RFID180can related the sequence and duration of a tagged item across with areas with conversion rates.

Referring now toFIG.6, illustrated is an example computer device640in accordance with an implementation, including additional component details as compared toFIG.1. The computer device640may be an example of the RFID system180ofFIG.1. In one example, computer device640may include processor48for carrying out processing functions associated with one or more of components and functions described herein. Processor48can include a single or multiple set of processors or multi-core processors. Moreover, processor48can be implemented as an integrated processing system and/or a distributed processing system. In an implementation, for example, processor48may include a CPU.

In an example, computer device640may include memory50for storing instructions executable by the processor48for carrying out the functions described herein. In an implementation, for example, memory50may include random access memory. The memory50may include instructions for executing a transition zone RFID tag management application660for executing the methods disclosed herein.

Further, computer device640may include a communications component52that provides for establishing and maintaining communications with one or more parties utilizing hardware, software, and services as described herein. Communications component52may carry communications between components on computer device640, as well as between computer device240and external devices, such as devices located across a communications network and/or devices serially or locally connected to computer device640. For example, communications component52may include one or more buses, and may further include transmit chain components and receive chain components associated with a transmitter and receiver, respectively, operable for interfacing with external devices.

Additionally, computer device640may include a data store54, which can be any suitable combination of hardware and/or software, that provides for mass storage of information, databases, and programs employed in connection with implementations described herein. For example, data store54may be a data repository for operating system652and/or transition zone RFID tag management application660. The data store may include memory50and/or storage device54.

In an implementation, user interface component56may transmit and/or receive messages corresponding to the operation of operating system652and/or transition zone RFID tag management application660. In addition, processor48may execute operating system652and/or transition zone RFID tag management application660, and memory50or data store54may store them.

Referring toFIG.7, a method for transition zone RFID tag management is illustrated, in accordance with examples of the technology disclosed herein. In such methods, a plurality of RFID reader antennas are deployed at each transition between separate areas of a facility—Block710. Each antenna is deployed at a given transition covering a span of the given transition from a different perspective such that each point in the span is covered by at least two antennas.

Antennas of a first transition between a first area and a second area of the separate areas detect, in combination with an RFID system in communication with the antennas of the first transition, a tag known to have been in the first area, and identifying an item associated with the detected tag as moving to the second area—Block720.

Subsequently, the antennas of a particular transition of the second area detect, in combination with the RFID system in communication therewith, the tag, and identifying the detected item as leaving the second area for an area across the particular transition—Block730.

In summary, examples of the technology disclosed herein use two pairs of overhead RFID antennas in a transition between separate areas of a facility, each pair is positioned such that they are close to the threshold between areas. By tracking RFID transitions into each area, a report can be generated to show real time and historical status of tags in each area. Reports can include a list of tags in each area. Instead of a persistent, constant or semi-constant approach, examples of the present technology determine location only at transitions. Typical systems use “real time” reading, which presents accuracy challenges due to body and garment shielding unless a large number of antennas are involved, which would increase costs.

Various implementations or features may have been presented in terms of systems that may include a number of devices, components, modules, and the like. A person skilled in the art should understand and appreciate that the various systems may include additional devices, components, modules, etc. and/or may not include all of the devices, components, modules etc. discussed in connection with the figures. A combination of these approaches may also be used.

The various illustrative logics, logical blocks, and actions of methods described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a specially-programmed one of a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but, in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computer devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. Additionally, at least one processor may comprise one or more components operable to perform one or more of the steps and/or actions described above.

While implementations of the present disclosure have been described in connection with examples thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of the implementations described above may be made without departing from the scope hereof Other implementations will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the specification or from a practice in accordance with examples disclosed herein.