Patent ID: 7053777

Claim:
An apparatus for identification and monitoring of, and obtaining data relating to, products moving along a distribution path, comprising: an RFID tag mountable to a product, or product carrier, a plurality of interrogators spaced apart along said distribution path, wherein each interrogator of said plurality of interrogators cooperates in RF communication with said RFID tag when said RFID tag is in proximity to said each interrogator along said distribution path, wherein said each interrogator interrogates said RFID tag during said RF communication so as to obtain unique data, unique to said RFID tag, wherein said each interrogator communicates said unique data to a central data base, a central database processor cooperating with said central database and communicating with said plurality of interrogators so as to obtain up-to-date data, including said unique data, from said RFID tag as said RFID tag progresses along said distribution path, distributed processors along said distribution path also in communication with said central database processor so that said distributed processors may obtain feedback information and data from said central database no matter where said RFID tag is along said distribution path so as to obtain up-to-date product status data from said up-to-date data including said unique data, wherein said RFID tag and said each interrogator each comprises a transceiver and memory, said memory cooperating with said transceiver.