Patent ID: 7796037

Claim:
A method of weighing RFID tagged articles in a container without emptying the container, the method comprising the steps of: identifying the container by reading a code of an RFID tag integrated in the empty container, wherein each empty container has a unique RFID code, wherein each said RFID tag comprises a customer profile identifying a different customer of a store; identifying a first customer associated with the empty container by reading said code of said RFID tag integrated in the empty container; retrieving a reference weight corresponding to the empty container, wherein the reference weight is associated with the RFID code; measuring a weight of the empty container to obtain a measured weight; comparing the measured weight with the reference weight of the empty container; determining, by a computer in response to said comparing, that said measured weight differs from said reference weight; authorizing an access into said store for the empty container when a difference between the measured weight and the reference weight of the empty container does not exceed a predetermined threshold; recording the authorized access of the container, wherein the container is filled with content comprising a plurality of items; measuring and checking a weight of said plurality of items such that a measured weight of said plurality of items is generated; computing a theoretical weight of said plurality of items, wherein said computing comprises summing a theoretical weight of each item of said plurality of items; comparing the measured weight of said plurality of items with said theoretical weight of said plurality of items; determining, in response to said comparing the measured weight of said plurality of items, a weight difference value between said measured weight of said plurality of items and said theoretical weight of said plurality of items; determining that said weight difference exceeds a predetermined difference value; and generating an alert indicating that said weight difference exceeds said predetermined difference value.