An automation apparatus, a reader apparatus, and a method for configuring an automation apparatus. The method includes: harvesting wirelessly, by a passive electronic tag, energy from a reader apparatus; receiving wirelessly, by the passive electronic tag, configuration data from the reader apparatus; storing, by the passive electronic tag, the configuration data to a non-volatile memory of the passive electronic tag; and reading, by a processor, the configuration data from the passive electronic tag.

An adaptive inventory management system for use in a materials handling facility storing a plurality of items that are each associated with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The management system including a global inventory database subsystem and a RFID interrogator subsystem comprising a plurality of RFID interrogators that are each configured to read the unique identifier of the RFID tag associated with each of the plurality of items that are within a defined boundary of at least one scan zone generated by the respective RFID interrogator and to communicate the unique identifier of the each scanned RFID tag identified within each scan zone of the respective RFID interrogator to the global inventory database subsystem. The management system being selectively configured to effect user desired levels of fidelity and/or resolution with respect to the generated unique identifier of each scanned RFID tag within a defined space of the materials handling facility.

An electronic device, in disclosed embodiments, includes an antenna, transceiver circuitry coupled to the antenna, a memory configured to store a first operation key and instructions, and a processor coupled to the transceiver and to the memory. The processor is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory to cause the electronic device to, in response to receiving a first transmission containing an encrypted version of a second operation key that is encrypted by the first operation key, decrypt the encrypted version of the second operation key using the first operation key to recover the second operation key, store the second operation key in the memory, transmitting, by a transmitter of the electronic device, a second transmission that contains the first operation key and a command.

A high speed tabletop and industrial printer is disclosed with integrated high speed RFID encoding and verification at the same time. The industrial printer simultaneously prints on and electronically encodes/verifies RFID labels, tags, and/or stickers attached to a continuous web. The industrial printer comprises a lighted sensor array for indexing the printing to the RFID tags; and a cutter powered from the industrial printer for cutting the web that the RFID tags are disposed on. The industrial printer comprises two RFID reader/writers that are individually controlled. Specifically, one of the RFID reader/writers comprises the ability to electronically encode the RFID tags while the web is moving; and the second RFID reader/writer uses an additional RFID module and antenna on the printer for verifying the data encoded to the RFID tags.

A radio transponder and method for data transfer between a radio transponder reading device and the radio transponder, wherein a control unit of the radio transponder controls a change in a load impedance via a control signal having a selected switching pulse frequency and a selected switching pulse quantity to produce a response signal, where the control unit codes multiple-valued at least ternary symbols into the control signal, and where symbol values are assigned to respective switching pulse sequences each having a unique combination of switching pulse frequency, switching pulse number and phase shift such that only combinations for which the quotient of switching pulse number and switching pulse frequency lies within a predefined value range are selected.

A near-field communication (NFC) device is described. The NFC device includes an antenna configured to radiate an electromagnetic field. The NFC device also includes electronic circuitry coupled to the antenna. The electronic circuitry is configured to receive first data from a unidirectional tag device within a transmission limit. The electronic circuitry is also configured to receive second data from at least one bidirectional tag device after the transmission limit.

An adaptive inventory management system for use in a materials handling facility storing a plurality of items that are each associated with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The management system including a global inventory database subsystem and a RFID interrogator subsystem comprising a plurality of RFID interrogators that are each configured to read the unique identifier of the RFID tag associated with each of the plurality of items that are within a defined boundary of at least one scan zone generated by the respective RFID interrogator and to communicate the unique identifier of the each scanned RFID tag identified within each scan zone of the respective RFID interrogator to the global inventory database subsystem. The management system being selectively configured to effect user desired levels of fidelity and/or resolution with respect to the generated unique identifier of the each scanned RFID tag within a defined space of the materials handling facility.

A novel system and method to facilitate an issuing and storing key/keycard system includes a network, a cloud server, a terminal, a cabinet control server, and at least an issuing and storing key/keycard cabinet. The customer/ the user, through the terminal, can sign up/ receive authentication methods to verify user rights/owner of key/keycard to the cloud server. The issuing and storing key/keycard cabinet is used in issuing and storing the customer/user's key/keycard. The cabinet control server controls and operates the issuing and storing key/keycard cabinet. The invention is to provide a method of issuing and storing key/keycard includes steps: i) the customer/user register/verify user rights/owner of key/keycard to the cloud server; ii) the customer/user takes/stores key/keycards at the issuing and storing key/keycard cabinet; iii) synchronization data between the cloud server with the cabinet control server.

In some implementations, a device may configure security tags. The device may receive, from one or more cameras associated with the device, image data associated with a product moving through a scanning zone of the device. The device may determine, based on the image data, a direction of movement associated with the product moving through the scanning zone of the device. The device may configure, via a reader of the device and based on the direction of movement associated with the product, a setting of a security tag associated with the product.

An adaptive inventory management system for use in a materials handling facility storing a plurality of items that are each associated with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The management system including a global inventory database subsystem and a RFID interrogator subsystem comprising a plurality of RFID interrogators that are each configured to read the unique identifier of the RFID tag associated with each of the plurality of items that are within a defined boundary of at least one scan zone generated by the respective RFID interrogator and to communicate the unique identifier of the each scanned RFID tag identified within each scan zone of the respective RFID interrogator to the global inventory database subsystem. The management system being selectively configured to effect user desired levels of fidelity and/or resolution with respect to the generated unique identifier of each scanned RFID tag within a defined space of the materials handling facility.