Patent ID: 6959229

Claim:
A system for transporting a product, comprising: a movable conveyance system having a plurality of pathways for transporting a product along a predetermined pathway; a carrier removably coupled to one of the plurality of pathways, said carrier adapted to move the product from a first location to a second location, said carrier further having an electronic readable transponder coupled thereto, said transponder containing information for routing the carrier along the plurality of pathways; a plurality of smart readers joined to the movable conveyance system being in selective electronic communication with the transponder such that the information can be transmitted from the transponder to the reader; wherein each of the plurality of smart readers includes a custom circuit board with an intelligent circuitry, a memory, and an input/output module to interface with one of a touch screen or a programmable key pad, and the plurality of smart readers are independent of each other such that they are not controlled by a centralized control center; a switch for selectively switching between pathways such that the carrier can be directed from one pathway to another; and a controller for selectively activating said switch, said controller in communication with at least one of the plurality of smart readers such that the at least one of the plurality of smart readers may convey the information to the controller, wherein activation of the switch is based at least in part on the information.