Abstract:
A system for tracking and reporting data using RFID technology includes an article and a radio frequency identification tag attached to the article. The tag has an identifier associating the tag with the article and containing data representative of information about the article. A reader senses the presence of the identification tag and reads the identifier information and the data. An operations computer is in communication with the reader for receiving from the reader, in real time, the identifier information and the data, recording the identifier information and the data, and generating output data regarding the article. At least one workstation remote from the operations computer an in communication with the operations computer is able to access the output data generated by the operations computer.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/358,694, filed 22 Feb. 2002. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The field of the invention is reporting data regarding sales of RFID tagged merchandise. The merchandise is sold at one or more locations and data regarding the sales at the locations is available to a remote computer user.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In the entertainment industry, accurate and timely reporting of data is critical to success. A spike in music sales requires increased production of related CDs, an increase in advertising and marketing expenditures, and distribution of more CDs to radio stations. Localized sales spikes are met with the same solutions and, further, inventory of CDs may be shifted from one location to another to fulfill the localized interest in a CD. If the sales increases are inaccurately reported, the advertising, marketing, and production costs are wasted. The success of DVDs, movie tickets, and events like concerts depends on accurate reporting.  
         [0004]     It currently takes about a week for data gathered from sales at the point of sale in a store, box office, or over the Internet to be reported accurately. Gathering and processing the data is a time consuming process. To reduce this time, entertainment companies project sales based on limited returns. These projections are prone to error and unreliable. Projections rely on a small sampling of data points (sales in certain stores), but ignore the entire data set, that is, all sales in all stores in every geographic location. However, the time it takes to gather all the sales data is such that, as a practical matter, heretofore projections were all that companies could rely on.  
         [0005]     A need exists for real time reporting and tracking in the retail entertainment and movie-ticket industries. The present invention satisfies that need  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In its broad aspects, the invention is a system for tracking and reporting data using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology comprising: an entertainment industry article; a radio frequency identification tag attached to the article, the tag having an identifier associating the tag with the article and containing data representative of information about the article; a reader that senses the presence of the identification tag and reads said identifier information and said data; an operations computer in communication with the reader for receiving in real time from the reader said identifier information and said data, recording said identifier information and said data, and generating output data regarding the article; and at least one workstation remote from the operations computer and in communication with the operations computer enabled to access the output data generated by the operations computer.  
         [0007]     The RFID tags can be attached to or embedded in a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, a video cassette recorder tape, a memory stick, a CompactFlash card, a Secure Digital card, a ticket, a smartcard, a laser disc, packaging for a compact disc, packaging for a digital versatile disc, packaging for a video cassette recorder tape, packaging for a memory stick, packaging for a CompactFlash card, packaging for a Secure Digital card, packaging for a ticket, packaging for a smartcard, or packaging for a laser disc. The tags are used to track and gather data on sales and use of the item tagged. A reader/antenna senses the RFID tag at the counter or checkin/out area, and the sale data (based on the tag&#39;s presence) is transmitted to a database for processing and reporting.  
         [0008]     The database and output can be remotely accessed using nearly any type of modern computer with Internet access. Thus, at the remote location, no specialized equipment need be installed. The core of the system comprises an RFID tag, a reader/antenna, an operations computer or server, and remote workstations connected to the operations server. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the invention adapted for use in a retail sales environment.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  shows the RFID tag attached to a CD jewel case.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the invention adapted for use in ticketed entertainment.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  shows the RFID Smart Card and ticket for use in the ticketed entertainment setting.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the invention adapted for use in the retail entertainment sales environment. In the preferred embodiment, the invention incorporates radio frequency identification (RFID). Some industries use RFID systems to track items. Such systems include EZ-PASS, which tracks vehicles passing through toll stations, smartcard applications where funds are credited and debited to an electronic purse, animal tagging and tracking, proximity magnetic keys to gain access to locked doors, theft prevention of retail merchandise, and warehouse inventory tracking.  
         [0014]     RFID systems usually employ three components: 1) an antenna or coil, 2) a transceiver (with decoder), and 3) a transponder (also known as an RF tag) electronically programmed with unique information. The antenna emits radio signals to activate the tag and read and/or write data to it, and is the link between the tag and the transceiver. The transceiver controls the RFID system&#39;s data acquisition and communication. The electromagnetic field produced by an antenna can be present continuously when multiple tags are expected continually (such as in the EZ-PASS example), or if a continuous presence is not required, the RF tag can activate the field when it comes within a certain proximity to the antenna.  
         [0015]     Often, the antenna is packaged with the transceiver and decoder to comprise a reader or interrogator, which can be configured as either a handheld or a fixed-mount device. The reader emits radio waves in ranges of anywhere from one inch to 100 feet or more, depending upon its power output and the radio frequency used. When an RFID tag passes within range of the emitted radio waves, the tag is activated and emits a signal representative of data stored in the tag. The reader receives that signal and decodes the data; and the data are transmitted to a host computer for processing.  
         [0016]     The data tracking system of the present invention comprises a point of sale (POS)  14  such as that typically found in a retail store location  15 . POS  14  has an RFID antenna/reader  16  arranged to detect and read (and possibly write) data from a transponder in the form of a radio frequency (RF) tag  10  attached to the article for sale  12 . The article  12  may be a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, a video cassette recorder tape, a memory stick, a CompactFlash card, a Secure Digital card, a ticket, a smartcard, a laser disc and the like.  
         [0017]     Multiple readers  16 , located at multiple points of sale  14  within a retail store location  15  are connected to a hub  22 , by means of which each reader  16  is connected to a local computer/server  18 . The readers  16  transmit the RF tag data to the local server  18  via a wired or wireless network. From the local server  18 , the data are transmitted to the operations computer/server  20  either instantly, at predetermined intervals, or manually. Information from other locations  15  having one or more POS  14  is also transmitted to the operations server  20 . In this way, sales data for all stores connected to the operations server  20  are gathered on a near real time basis.  
         [0018]     The operations server  20  records, analyzes, and processes the sales data (and perhaps related data) and reports the processed data to system users. A person physically at the location of the operations server  20  could access the processed sales data (and related output) directly. More common, however, is the situation shown in  FIG. 1  in which a user accesses the sales data and reports from an external workstation  24  that connects to the operations server  20  via an Internet, Intranet, or other connection.  
         [0019]     In the second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the tag  10  is embedded into or attached to a ticket or smart card  42 . The ticket or smart card tag  10  gives its holder access to an event like a concert or movie.  
         [0020]     In use at a movie multiplex, for example, the ticket holder walks past a sensor located near the door to the theater within the multiplex showing the movie. The system reads and compares the tagged ticket  40  with the movie playing in the theater. If the two are the same, the ticket holder is admitted to the theater. If the two do not match, an alarm might be activated to alert theater staff to a problem (for example, a person entering a movie he did not pay for). Further, if a person tried to enter the theater without a ticket, a sensor would sound to again call theater personnel to investigate.  
         [0021]     In this way, the ticket  42  with the RF tag  10  thereon that a person purchased could be used to enter only the movie selected at the ticket counter. This would prevent children from attending movies with mature ratings and prevent unauthorized entry into movies.  
         [0022]     Another advantage of this system is that it would provide the same tracking and reporting capabilities as the tag attached to the CD. As a person enters the theater, a reader  46  near the door recognizes the ticket and transmits the data to a local server  18  that in turn transmits it to a operations server  20 . Just like the previous example of the CD sales, the operations server  20  is accessible by external workstations  24  connected to the operations computer  20  via an Internet, Intranet, or other connection.  
         [0023]     A smartcard  43  could also be employed to track movie entry. The card&#39;s tag is activated prior to entry into an event or theater and when the user passes the reader  46 , a check is made of the card. If the card is preauthorized to view the movie, the card would be “debited” one movie or event entrance. In this way, a smart card could be prepurchased and used several times before it would become useless. Alternatively, it could be “recharged” so that its holder could use the card to gain access to other movies and events in the future.  
         [0024]     For the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a person or machine may affix the RFID tag  10  to the CD, DVD, or tape case  12 . The tag  10  shown is approximately postage stamp sized. Other shapes and sizes are possible and may be necessitated based on where the tag  10  is located. For instance, digital movies and music can be stored on memory sticks, CompactFlash cards, and Secure Digital Cards. Those storage media are generally currently sold as read/write media, but in the future read-only versions of the media may be available that store songs or movies. The cases that contain the media could be so small that postage stamp sized RFID tags would block writing or pictures on the case (for example, a Secure Digital Card is postage stamp sized). For the majority of media, however, a postage stamp sized RFID tag  10  is adequate.  
         [0025]     The RFID tag  10  is inlaid in a thin polymer substrate with an adhesive applied on one face of the substrate. The tags  10  generally come in a roll and have a protective surface covering the adhesive face. Application of the tag  10  requires removing the tag from the strip and pressing the tag&#39;s adhesive surface to the merchandise. This can be done manually or by a machine.  
         [0026]     Tags  10  can be active or passive. An internal battery powers active tags. Such tags are typically read/write tags (data can be written to and retrieved from the tags). The use of a battery means that a sealed active transponder has a finite lifetime. However, a suitable cell coupled to suitable low power circuitry can ensure functionality for as long as ten or more years, depending upon the operating temperatures, read/write cycles and usage. The trade-off is greater size and greater cost compared with passive tags. In general terms, active transponders allow greater communication range than can be expected for passive devices, better noise immunity, and higher data transmission rates when used to power a higher frequency response mode.  
         [0027]     For the read/write active tag, the UPC code information is written into the tag. When the tag  10  is read by the reader  16 , the tag data is transferred to the local server  18  and the reader  16  writes data to the indicating that the tagged good is now “sold.” This read/write application is more expensive than its passive tag read-only counterpart.  
         [0028]     Passive tags operate without an internal battery source, deriving the power to operate from the field generated by the reader. Passive tags are consequently much lighter than active tags, less expensive, and offer a virtually unlimited operational lifetime. The trade-off is that they have shorter read ranges than active tags and require a higher-powered reader. Passive tags are also constrained in their capacity to store data and the ability to perform well in electromagnetically noisy environments. Sensitivity and orientation performance may also be constrained by the limitation on available power. Despite these constraints, passive transponders offer advantages in terms of cost and longevity. They have an almost indefinite lifetime and are generally less expensive than active transponders.  
         [0029]     The passive read only tags would have a tag serial number associated with a specific UPC code in a database at the local or operations server. When the tag data is read, the serial number is flagged in the server so it cannot be entered a second time, the appropriate UPC is identified, and external reports accessible on the operations server are updated.  
         [0030]     Available types of reader/antenna  16  and  46  differ in complexity, depending upon the type of tags being supported and the functions being performed. The reader&#39;s function is to provide the means of communicating with the tags and facilitating data transfer. Once the reader  16  reads and receives the signal from a tag  10 , algorithms may be applied to decide whether the signal is a repeat transmission, and the reader may then instruct the transponder to cease transmitting. This is known as the “Command Response Protocol” and is used to circumvent the problem of reading multiple tags in a short space of time. This is particularly helpful in the retail data setting where the goal is to count the item purchased once only.  
         [0031]     Data communication between tags  10  and a readers  16  is by wireless communication. Two methods of communication distinguish RFID systems, one based upon close proximity electromagnetic or inductive coupling and one based upon propagating electromagnetic waves. Coupling is via antenna structures that form an integral feature in both tags and readers. While the term antenna is generally considered more appropriate for propagating systems, it is also loosely applied to inductive systems.  
         [0032]     The reader  16  may be capable of simultaneous identification. Simultaneous identification allows the reader to count multiple tags immediately upon the tags entering the range of the reader  16 . This obviates the need for a cashier to “scan” each item individually. Such readers are known.  
         [0033]     When a customer purchases a product that has a tag  10  thereon, a cashier or other store employee at the POS  14  insures that the reader  16  recognizes each tagged item. When the reader/antenna reads each tag, it may emit an audible tone so the cashier knows the tagged item has been recorded. Grocery store laser UPC readers verify readings similarly: as each product is scanned, the register emits a tone.  
         [0034]     For security purposes; additional readers  16  may also be located near exits from a store. These readers  16  read the RFID tag  10  and compare them with the tags recently read at the POS  14 . If there is a match (i.e., the tagged item was paid for), no action is taken. If there is no match, the system concludes that the tag  10  was not scanned at the POS  14  and the item was not paid for, and an alarm would sound, calling the store&#39;s attention to a possible theft. Thus, a passive RFID  10  tag could be used both to track merchandise and prevent theft.  
         [0035]     Within either the local server  18  or the operations server  20 , the data from the readers is stored, analyzed, and reported. As contemplated herein, it is generally assumed that the operations server stores, analyzes and reports the data. The types of output that can be generated include: 
        total number of tagged items sold number of tagged items sold by store     number of tagged items sold compared with other geographical areas, stores, or points of sale     number of tagged items sold by artist, producer, company, etc.     number of tagged items sold within different timeframes or compared to other timeframes     comparisons between inventories of tagged items versus those items sold (for purposes of shifting inventory between locations  15 )     custom ad hoc reports        
 
         [0042]     Output from the operations server could be made available via a web server (not shown) and updated at some regular interval, or made available at the moment a user requests it. Previously, to get such reports based on reliable (non-projected) data required at least one week&#39;s lead time. With the system of the invention, such reports are available based on more timely (up to the minute) sales data.  
         [0043]     The remote workstation  24  is a computer connected to the operations server  20  via, most conveniently, the Internet. However, other connection methods may be used. The remote workstation  24  would not need any special hardware, and if the operations server output is made available over the Internet, the workstation  24  should not need any special software beyond a web browser. The output from the operations server  20  would be accessible to a person with the correct authorization, such as a pre-assigned password.  
         [0044]     The availability of the data on the operations computer  20  to someone logging in from a workstation  24  will depend on the user&#39;s permission to access the data. A senior executive might have access to all of the generated reports, while more junior employees might have access to only certain of the reports. Similarly, the computer staff in charge of the database might have both access to the reports and an ability to manipulate the data remotely. A permission hierarchy should be set up before any user accesses the data.  
         [0045]     The data tracking system described herein provides real or near real time tracking capabilities for tracking sales in the entertainment industry. Unreliable projections are unnecessary, and decision making executives do not have to “guess” at what the sales will be when they make decisions about advertising, marketing, and inventory management. The executives can make their decisions based on data that reflects up to the minute sales.