WO2017149427A1

WO2017149427A1 - A system for, and a method of, reading electronic tag data

Info

Publication number: WO2017149427A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/051113
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tai Wai PONG
Original assignee: Sato Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2016-02-29
Filing date: 2017-02-27
Publication date: 2017-09-08

Abstract

Described is a system for reading electronic tag data. The system comprises at least one data tag from which data are able to be obtained, and a plurality of electronic tags having tag identities, at least one of the electronic tags being a trigger tag including trigger data. The system also comprises a reader that retrieves tag identities from the electronic tags. The system further comprises a processor that monitors the retrieved tag identities to detect the presence of the trigger data, and if the trigger data have been detected, the processor causes the reader to retrieve data from the at least one data tag.

Description

"A system for, and a method of, reading electronic tag data"

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates, generally, to inventory tracking and monitoring and, more particularly, to a system for, and a method of, reading electronic tag data and to an electronic tag reader.

Background

[0002] Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a wireless identification method where data are electronically stored on a tag, and the data are read by an RFID reader. RFID tags can be attached to objects that need to be identified or tracked. RFID tags can be passive, active, or semi-passive. Active tags have batteries and are able to actively transmit data to passive readers. Semi-passive tags have small on-board batteries and are activated by a reader in order to transmit data. Passive tags rely on the power provided by the readers to transmit their data. Different types of readers are used for the different types of tags.

[0003] RFID tags provide a simple and efficient way of tracking items because tags or labels can be attached to objects while minimally interfering with such objects. For example, inventory systems are able to scan a container with an RFID reader, count the number of objects with RFID tags attached to them and identify those objects. In addition, where tracked objects must be kept within certain parameters, for example, a specified temperature range or humidity range (e.g. produce transported through a supply chain), sensors used to monitor the relevant parameter may include RFID functionality so that the sensed parameters can be read using RFID readers.

[0004] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles, or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Summary

[0005] In inventory systems where different types of RFID tags are used (for example a mixture of passive, semi-passive, and/or active tags), different readers are required for the different tags. An example of a passive RFID tag is a Phase Jitter Modulation (PJM) RFID tag. Also, if the same type of tags, e.g. passive RFID tags, are used but with different types of data (for example item tracking data, and sensor data), reading the mixed data may require different readers or some data processing to make sense of the read data. Because RFID-based inventory systems are often high-volume inventory systems, it is advantageous if the inventory tracking process is fast and efficient.

Therefore it would be useful to have a system that can handle mixed or hybrid tag, reader and/or data types efficiently.

[0006] To this end, described herein are a system and method for reading electronic tag data, as well as an electronic reader, for handling different types of data in an inventory tracking and monitoring system.

[0007] In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a system for reading electronic tag data, the system comprising:

a reader that retrieves tag identities from a plurality of electronic tags, at least one of the tag identities including trigger data; and

a processor that:

monitors the tag identities of the plurality of electronic tags to detect the presence of the trigger data; and

if the trigger data have been detected, causes the reader to retrieve data from at least one data tag.

[0008] The reader may operate in a first mode of operation to retrieve tag identities from the plurality of electronic tags, and then switch to a second mode of operation to retrieve data from the at least one data tag. Each electronic tag may be a passive tags. The at least one data tag may be a semi-passive tag.

[0009] The reader may comprise:

a first sub-reader configured to retrieve tag identities from the plurality of electronic tags; and

a second sub-reader configured to retrieve data from the at least one data tag.

[0010] The reader may retrieve the tag identities over a first scan cycle, and

only if the trigger data are detected does the processor cause the reader to retrieve the data from the at least one data tag.

[0011] The data may be sensor data, for example temperature data.

[0012] The reader may comprise multiple antennas for retrieving the tag identities.

[0013 ] The proces sor may further:

associate a location of the at least one data tag with one of the multiple antennas; and

control the reader to retrieve the data from the at least one data tag using that one of the multiple antennas.

[0014] The multiple antennas may be arranged on multiple, transversely arranged axes.

[0015] The system may further comprise a data store for storing at least the retrieved data from the at least one data tag.

[0016] The system may further comprise a sensor in communication with the at least one data tag.

[0017] Also described herein is a system for reading electronic tag data, the system comprising: at least one data tag from which data are able to be obtained;

a plurality of passive electronic tags having tag identities, at least one of the electronic tags being a trigger tag including trigger data;

a reader that retrieves tag identities from the passive electronic tags; and a processor that:

monitors the retrieved tag identities to detect the presence of the trigger data; and

if the trigger data have been detected, causes the reader to retrieve data from the at least one data tag.

[0018] The at least one data tag and the trigger tag may be spatially associated with each other.

[0019] The data may be associated with a container of items, each item, in turn, being associated with one of the plurality of passive electronic tags.

[0020] Also described herein is an electronic reader:

configured to retrieve, during a first scan cycle and while in a first mode of operation, tag data from a plurality of electronic tags having tag identities; and

configured to switch to a second mode of operation to retrieve data from at least one data tag following completion of the first scan cycle.

[0021] The electronic reader may switch from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on the retrieved tag identities.

[0022] Switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation may occur if the retrieved tag identities include trigger data. The trigger data may indicate the presence of the at least one data tag.

[0023] The electronic reader may comprise multiple antennas for retrieving the tag identities from the plurality of electronic tags. A location of the data tag may be determined from data read by one of the multiple antennas, and the reader may retrieve the sensor data from the at least one tag using that one of the multiple antennas. The multiple antennas may be arranged on multiple, transversely arranged axes.

[0024] The first mode of operation may be a passive mode of operation, and the second mode of operation may be a semi-passive mode of operation.

[0025] Also described is a method for reading electronic tag data, the method comprising:

scanning for tag identities from a plurality of electronic tags over a first scan cycle;

monitoring retrieved tag identities for trigger data; and

if trigger data are detected, causing the reader to retrieve data from at least one data tag.

[0026] Also described is a method for reading electronic tag data, the method comprising:

in a first mode of operation, retrieving tag identities from a plurality of electronic tags over a first scan cycle; and

in a second mode of operation, retrieving sensor data from at least one data tag following completion of the first scan cycle.

[0027] The method may further comprise switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation after completion of the first scan cycle and based on the retrieved data. Switching to the second mode of operation may occur if the retrieved data include trigger data indicative of the presence of the at least one data tag.

[0028] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. Brief Description of Drawings

[0029] Embodiments of the disclosure are now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

[0030] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a system for reading electronic tag data;

[0031] Fig. 2 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for reading electronic tag data;

[0032] Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of another embodiment of a method for reading electronic tag data; and

[0033] Fig. 4 is a flow diagram of a further embodiment of a method for reading electronic tag data.

Description of Embodiments

[0034] Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a system 100 used for reading electronic tag data, e.g. from RFID tags, includes at least a reader 102 and a processor 104. The reader 102 retrieves tag identities from a plurality of electronic tags 106 inside a container 122, each tag 106 being associated with an item 126. One of the electronic tags is a trigger tag 108 (which may or may not be associated with an item 126), and when the reader 102 reads the tag identities, the identity data of the trigger tag 108 include trigger data that indicate the presence of a data tag 110. The trigger tag 108 and the data tag 110 are spatially associated with each other and are typically located close to each other, for example within the same container 122, or within the same compartment or drawer 124 of the container 122.

[0035] In some embodiments, the trigger tag 108 and data tag 110 are attached to one another. In other embodiments the data tag 110 is mounted in the container 122 while the trigger tag 108 is inside the container and may typically be carried on its associated item 126 within the container 122.

[0036] The data tag 110 stores data, typically sensor data such as temperature data provided by a temperature sensor 112. The sensor 112 can either be a separate device or may form part of the data tag 110. Examples of sensor RFID tags are the

PowerTMP temperature sensor tag from PowerlD and Pressure and Temperature Sensor from Phase IV.

[0037] The reader 102 is an electronic reader that reads RFIDs. The reader 102 includes one or more antennas 114. The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 has three antennas 114 arranged on orthogonal axes (in Fig. 1 the antennas 114 on the X- and Y- axes are visible and the antenna on the Z-axis is omitted for the sake of clarity but extends in a plane parallel to the page). In other embodiments, the antennas 114 could be positioned in parallel, for example two antennas with each one along the base of one of the drawers 124 of the container 122. In some embodiments, the reader 102 is configured as a tunnel through which the container with the RFID tags 106, 108 is passed and the antennas 114 are positioned along one or more walls of the tunnel.

[0038] The reader 102 is configured to read different types of tags, in the illustrated example, both passive and semi-passive tags. The reader 102 operates with a different signal strength, depending on the type of RFID that is to be read: higher power for passive RFID tags and lower or moderate power for semi-passive RFID tags. Fig. l illustrates the reader 102 as having two sub-readers: a first sub-reader 116 used to read passive tags and a second sub-reader 118 to read semi-passive tags. The two sub- readers 116, 118 may be two physically separate sub-readers, each operating according to its required function depending on the mode of operation of the reader 102.

[0039] Instead, the reader 102 may be a single reader operable in two separate modes of operation, the two sub-readers illustrated merely being indicative of a functional distinction. [0040] In addition to variable signal strength, different communication protocols are typically also used for the different modes of operation. For example, in one embodiment the uplink communication protocol from the reader 102 to the electronic tags 106 and the trigger tag 108 uses Phase Jitter Modulation (PJM) while the uplink communication protocol from the reader 102 to the data tag 110 uses Pulse Code Modulation (PCM). The downlink communication protocol uses Bipolar Shift Keying Modulation (BPSK). It will be appreciated that the specific communication protocols may be selected from any number of appropriate protocols depending on the system's requirements.

[0041] The processor 104 may be a general purpose microprocessor, with executable instructions defined by a suitable programming language stored in an associated memory. The processor 104 may also be an Application- specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and/or other suitable processing hardware component(s).

[0042] The processor 104 is in data communication with a data store such as database 120. The database 120 is regularly updated with identities read from the passive tags 106, and with sensor data retrieved from the sensor tag 110. While only one sensor tag 110 has been illustrated, it will be appreciated that the system 100 could employ multiple sensor tags 110 in appropriate circumstance, for example, one in each drawer 124 of the container 122.

[0043] Also, while the illustrated system shows a cabinet 122 with drawers 124, another major use of the system is in ISO transport containers. In such an application, one or more sensor tags 110 may be provided depending on the volume able to be covered by the, or each, sensor tag 110. For example, items may be placed on pallets which, in turn, are placed in the transport container and each pallet may have a sensor tag 110 associated with it.

[0044] With reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for retrieving data from electronic tags 106, 108, 110 is illustrated and is designated generally by the reference numeral 200. At 202 the reader 102 operates in a first mode of operation, typically a high-speed, high power mode suitable for scanning the passive RFID tags 106. Thus, at 202 the contents of the container 122 are scanned and the identities of all the passive tags 106 are obtained. The scanning process 202 typically relies on the operation of all or most of the antennas 114 of the reader 102.

[0045] At 204 the data obtained from the passive tags 106 are monitored for the presence of the trigger tag 108, containing trigger data, indicating the presence of a data tag, or sensor tag, 110. In some embodiments utilising multiple antennas 114, if the trigger tag 108 is detected, then the specific antenna 114 that detected the trigger tag 108 (or in some cases more than one antenna 114, depending on the configuration and location of the trigger tag 108) is noted. The assumption is that that antenna 114 is the closest antenna 114 to the data tag 110, or in any event best positioned to retrieve data from the data tag 110.

[0046] At 206 a decision is made about whether to operate the reader 102 in a second mode of operation or not. In some embodiments, the reader 102 can only operate in one of the two modes of operation at a time, and the first high speed scan cycle needs to be completed before the reader 102 switches to the second mode of operation used for retrieving data from the data tag 110. In other embodiments, the reader 102 is able to operate in both modes (either in a simultaneous or in a multiplexed fashion, the latter switching back and forth between the two modes of operation as required). Therefore, the decision made at 206 may be one of three decisions:

1. The reader may activate the second mode of operation as soon as the trigger data have been detected;

2. The reader may be switched to the second mode of operation only once a first scan cycle has been completed (Completion of the scan cycle is detected based on the particular communication protocol used); or

3. The system may check both whether a first scan cycle has been completed and whether trigger data have been detected before activating the second mode of operation. [0047] At 208, according to the requirement of the relevant embodiment as considered at 206, when the decision is made to switch to (or activate) the second mode of operation, then the reader 102 retrieves data from the data tag 110 and stores the retrieved data together with the scanned tag identities in the database 210.

[0048] Fig. 3 shows a flow diagram of another embodiment of a method for retrieving data from electronic tags, the method being designated generally by the reference numeral 300. This method 300 pertains to scanning and retrieving data from tags contained in various drawers within a cabinet, such as the cabinet 122 with drawers 124 illustrated in Fig. 1. At 302 software running on the processor 104 initiates the scanning of all the tags 106 of the items 126 within each drawer 124 of the cabinet 122 in a first scan cycle.

[0049] Once the first scan cycle has been completed, the scanned data are checked for the presence of trigger data from the trigger tag 108. If it is determined at 304 that trigger data have been detected, then the location of the trigger tag 108 (and associated sensor tag 110) is determined at 306 by associating a drawer 124 location of the trigger tag 108 with the particular antenna 114 that retrieved the trigger data.

[0050] At 308 the RFID reader 102 software switches to a sensor data retrieval mode and selects the specific antenna 114 that located the trigger tag 108 as identified at 306.

[0051] At 310 the RFID reader 102 communicates with the sensor tag 110 and sensor data retrieval commences.

[0052] At 312 logged sensor data are stored in a data store, such as a central database, for parameter monitoring and management of the items 126. In some embodiments the system 100 alerts the user immediately if the sensor data exceed a predetermined threshold. For example, blood bags are considered void if exposed to temperatures higher than a certain threshold for a specified period of time. [0053] Once all the data have been stored at 312, the scan is considered completed at 314.

[0054] If, at 304, the reader 102 has not detected the trigger tag 108 in the first scan cycle, then reader operation is terminated at 316 and the scan is completed at 314.

[0055] Another embodiment of a method, designated generally by the reference numeral 400, for retrieving data from electronic tags is illustrated in the flow diagram of Fig. 4. This example pertains to the operation of a tunnel style RFID scanner.

[0056] At 402 the reader software is configured to perform continuous scanning for passive RFID tags 106, 108 in a first scan cycle. The tunnel has three antennas 114, each on one of an X-, Y- and Z-axis, and scanning is configured to be performed sequentially, one antenna 114 at a time.

[0057] At 404, when a container of items 126 with associated passive RFID tags 106, 108 is placed within the tunnel (not shown), the reader 102 scans the container 122, one antenna 114 at a time, and the reader 102 identifies all the RFID tags 106, 108 in the container. Generally, not all three antennas 114 will provide the same results.

Typically, each antenna 114 will read a subset of all the tags 106, 108 so that each read tag identity may be associated with one particular antenna 114 (or in some cases more than one where the antenna fields overlap).

[0058] If it is found at 406 that a trigger tag 108 has been detected, then at 408 the reader software switches to sensor data retrieval mode. The reader software also selects that antenna 114 which located the trigger tag 108 as determined from the trigger data retrieved in step 404.

[0059] At 410 the reader 102 retrieves data from the sensor tag 110. Typically the antenna 114 which located the trigger tag 108 is used for retrieving the data from the sensor tag 110. At 412 the logged sensor data are stored in a data store, such as a central database, for parameter monitoring and management of the items. Again, in some embodiments the user is alerted if, for example, a temperature threshold has been exceeded.

[0060] At 414 the user is notified that the scan cycle has been completed and the reader software returns to the initial configuration 402 in preparation for receiving another container of items 126.

[0061] If, at 406, the reader 102 determines that the trigger tag 108 is not present, then the user is alerted at 416 that no sensor tag 110 is present. Data retrieval is completed, the scan cycle is completed at 414 and the reader software returns to the initial configuration 402.

[0062] Advantages provided by the proposed systems and methods described herein include being able to retrieve information from different types of electronic tags, e.g. both passive and semi-passive RFID tags, using the same system and reader, and also doing this while maintaining a high speed while the passive tags are being read.

Efficiency is achieved by not scanning for sensor or data tags if no such tags are present.

[0063] Also, it is not necessary for each item to be furnished with its own sensor tag, thus reducing the cost of the system.

[0064] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A system for reading electronic tag data, the system comprising:

at least one data tag from which data are able to be obtained;

a plurality of electronic tags having tag identities, at least one of the electronic tags being a trigger tag including trigger data;

a reader that retrieves tag identities from the electronic tags; and

a processor that:

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one data tag and the trigger tag are spatially associated with each other.

3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the data are associated with a container of items, each item, in turn, being associated with one of the plurality of electronic tags.

4. A system for reading electronic tag data, the system comprising:

a processor that:

monitors the tag identities of the electronic tags to detect the presence of the trigger data; and

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the reader operates in a first mode of operation to retrieve tag identities from the plurality of electronic tags, and the reader switches to a second mode of operation to retrieve data from the at least one data tag.

6. The system of claim 4 or claim 5 wherein each electronic tag is a passive tag, and wherein the at least one data tag is a semi-passive tag.

7. The system of any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the reader comprises:

a second sub-reader configured to retrieve data from the at least one data tag.

8. The system of any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein:

the reader retrieves the tag identities over a first scan cycle, and

9. The system of any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein the data are sensor data.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensor data are temperature data.

11. The system of any one of claims 4 to 10 wherein the reader comprises multiple antennas for retrieving the tag identities.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the processor further:

associates a location of the at least one data tag with one of the multiple antennas; and

controls the reader to retrieve the data from the at least one data tag using that one of the multiple antennas.

13. The system of claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the multiple antennas are arranged on multiple, transversely arranged axes.

14. The system of any one of claims 4 to 13 further comprising a data store for storing at least the retrieved data from the at least one data tag.

15. The system of any one of claims 4 to 14 which further comprises a sensor in communication with the at least one data tag.

16. An electronic reader:

17. The electronic reader of claim 16 which switches from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on the retrieved tag identities.

18. The electronic reader of claim 17 wherein switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation occurs if the retrieved tag identities includes trigger data.

19. The electronic reader of claim 18 wherein the trigger data indicate the presence of the at least one data tag.

20. The electronic reader of any one of claim 16 to 19 further comprising multiple antennas for retrieving the tag identities from the plurality of electronic tags.

21. The electronic reader of claim 20 wherein a location of the data tag is determined from data read by one of the multiple antennas, and the reader retrieves the data from the at least one data tag using that one of the multiple antennas.

22. The electronic reader of claim 20 or claim 21 wherein the multiple antennas are arranged on multiple, transversely arranged axes.

23. The electronic reader of any one of claims 16 to 22 wherein the first mode of operation is a passive mode of operation and wherein the second mode of operation is a semi-passive mode of operation.

24. A method for reading electronic tag data, the method comprising:

monitoring retrieved tag identities for trigger data; and

25. A method for reading electronic tag data, the method comprising:

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation after completion of the first scan cycle and based on the retrieved data.

27. The method of claim 25 or claim 26 which includes switching to the second mode of operation if the retrieved data include trigger data indicative of the presence of the at least one data tag.