Patent ID: 8159330

Claim:
A system for determining dimensions of a parcel comprising: a positioning device for holding the parcel, the positioning device including a platform, a first side wall and a second side wall adjacent the first side wall, each of the platform, the first side wall and the second side wall including a respective antenna for transmitting and receiving RF signals; a response device adapted to be placed on the parcel, the response device including a plurality of mounting tabs that extend from the response device, a first RFID tag being provided on a first mounting tab and being located such that it is a similar distance from the platform as the parcel extends, a second RFID tag being provided on a second mounting tab and being located such that it is a similar distance from the first side wall as the parcel extends, and a third RFID tag being provided on a third mounting tab and being located such that it is a similar distance from the second side wall as the parcel extends, wherein when the response device is placed on the parcel, the parcel does not obstruct a path between the first RFID tag and the platform, the second RFID tag and the first side wall, and the third RFID tag and the second side wall; and a control device coupled to each antenna, the control device causing each of the antennas to transmit a respective RF signal, the respective RF signal causing at least one of the RFID tags to provide a response signal, the control unit determining the dimensions of the parcel based on the response signals returned from the RFID tags.