An intelligent cabinet for dispensing products contained therein that includes an outer wall, an inner liner defining an enclosed interior space adapted for housing an inventory of items, an intermediate layer provided between the outer wall and inner liner, and having a plurality of slots, and a system of modular cassettes including a plurality of cassettes where each cassette is adapted to be fittingly received in and removable from a corresponding slot from the plurality of slots, and a plurality of RFID antennas, where each RFID antennas is separately housed in one of the cassettes from among the plurality of cassettes

Systems and methods of the invention relate to managing an inventory of items within a storage container. A storage container can house one or more items for distribution among one or more users such as, for instance, employees. The storage container discussed herein provides authentication of a user, tracking of the inventory each user removes or returns, video/image capture of user during access of the storage container, wireless tracking of items housed within the storage container, among others. The storage container can provide flame retardant protection and/or electrical isolation to one or more items located within the storage container.

According to one embodiment, a reading apparatus includes a shielding body, an antenna, and a reader and writer. The shielding body is formed in a box shape with an upper opening, to place an accommodating body and to shield radio waves. The antenna is provided in the shielding body to receive information from an RFID tag attached to a product that is passing through the opening. The reader and writer is connected to the antenna to read information of the product from the information received by the antenna.

According to one embodiment, a reading device is configured to read information from an RFID tag attached to a product. The reading device includes a housing, an antenna, an opening-and-closing lid, a detector, a reading unit, and an alert unit. The housing includes an opening portion, and therein a space for accommodating the product. The antenna is provided within the space. The opening-and-closing lid is opening and closing the opening portion. The detector is configured to detect an open or closed state of the opening-and-closing lid. The reading unit is configured to read the information from the RFID tag. The alert unit is configured to issue an alert on an operation method in accordance with the open or closed state of the opening-and-closing lid and an operation state of the reading unit.

Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

A reel receiving device based on RFID is disclosed. A reel receiving device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a reel receiving antenna array for individually receiving and supporting a plurality of reels each of which is wound by a strip loaded with electronic components by allowing each of the reels to be supported at outer circumferential side in part, and reading independently RFID tags attached to the reels received individually, a switching unit for activating antennas forming the reel receiving antenna array individually in sequence, and a control unit for providing reception-position information of each of the reels by identifying the RFID tag read.

According to one embodiment, a reading apparatus includes a shielding body, an antenna, and a reader and writer. The shielding body is formed in a box shape with an upper opening, to place an accommodating body and to shield radio waves. The antenna is provided in the shielding body to receive information from an RFID tag attached to a product that is passing through the opening. The reader and writer is connected to the antenna to read information of the product from the information received by the antenna.

A system for dispensing, receiving, and tracking towels or other items includes a cabinet structure having first and second interior spaces. An access door provides access to the first interior space, and a return door permits items to be returned to the second interior space. An RFID system conducts read operations to determine how many items having RFID tags are disposed in the first and second interior spaces. The system determines what items have been removed from the first interior space, and associates removed items with specific users. The RFID system conducts read operations as items are returned to the second interior space and credits the user.

A smart bookrack includes a number of book cabinets. Each book cabinet accommodates one book and carries a sensor and a determining device. Each book includes an electronic tag to identify the book. The smart bookrack further includes a RF unit, a controller, and a display device. The determining device detects whether a book being in each book cabinet. The RF unit scans identification information of each book and transmits the identification information to the controller. The controller determines a status of each book according to actual location of the book and identification information of each book. The display device displays the status of each book by using different signals. A book management system and method using the smart bookrack are also provided.

A product management system includes a product management apparatus, a product wireless tag provided on the product and into which a product identifier indicating the product is written, a tool wireless tag provided on a holding tool for holding the product and into which a tool identifier indicating the holding tool is written, a display zone communication apparatus provided in a display zone in which at least one set of the product and the holding tool is disposed and having a wireless tag reader for reading the product identifier from the product wireless tag and reading the tool identifier from the tool wireless tag. The display zone communication apparatus transmits both the product identifier and the tool identifier read by the wireless tag reader to the product management apparatus. The product management apparatus links the holding tool and the product held by the holding tool with each other.