A mobile device for handling objects includes a radio frequency identifier reader for receiving radiation emitted by object-specific radio frequency identifiers attached to the objects and radiation emitted by fixed radio frequency identifiers. The mobile device includes a processing system that computes a speed estimate for the mobile device based on a distance between two fixed radio frequency identifiers and a time-difference between receptions of radiation from these fixed radio frequency identifiers. The processing system determines, based on radiation received from each object-specific radio frequency identifier, a movement indicator indicative of movement of the mobile device with respect to the corresponding object. When the speed estimate exceeds a threshold, the processing system classifies objects which are moving in accordance with the movement indicator to be objects non-belonging to a load of the mobile device. The mobile device can be for example a forklift.

A multizone equipment tracking solution includes radio frequency identification (RFID) tags affixed to items of inventoried equipment; a plurality of RFID readers deployed in a plurality of different zones, including a transit zone and a storage zone, wherein an RFID reader in a transit zone comprises a mobile reader and a wireless signal strength measurement component; and a monitoring node. The RFID readers read tag codes from items that are in the different zones, and report the information to the monitoring node, permitting a real-time, end-to-end view of inventoried equipment across different zones. The RFID reader in the transit zone also measures a wireless signal strength (e.g., cellular) along a transit route and reports the measurements, thereby reducing a need for dedicated monitoring efforts by the wireless network operator. Reported data, may be advantageously mined to provide value for inventory management, while also providing cost savings for wireless network management.

In some implementations, a system may receive, from a motion sensor, an inactivity indication that indicates a period of inactivity within a physical environment. The system may store, in a data structure, identifiers of a plurality of RFID tags that a tag reader read during the period of inactivity. The system may receive, from the motion sensor, a motion notification that indicates a period of activity within the physical environment. The system may cause the tag reader to collect an identifier of an RFID tag in the physical environment during the period of activity. The system may determine, based on the identifier and the identifiers of the plurality of RFID tags, a movement status associated with the RFID tag during the period of activity and perform an action associated with the movement status of the RFID tag.

In accordance with an embodiment, an information processing apparatus uses a reader for reading tag information from an RF tag added to each of objects, to thereby manage the objects. The information processing apparatus includes a display device and a controller. The controller acquires information for identifying an allocated range of management of the objects at the information processing apparatus. The controller causes the display device to display individual progress information indicating by what degree of the allocated range reading by the reader has been finished.

Sortable tracking objects that can be associated with item containers and items for tracking and organization.

The order support system includes an information acquisition apparatus for acquiring position information, which is an indicator of a position of a target item whose remaining quantity gradually decreases due to repeated consumption, using near field communication, and at least one processor that is configured to perform support control for automatically ordering the target item based on the position information. The information acquisition apparatus includes an identification tag attached to the target item, and a reader to read the unique information stored in the identification tag. The at least one processor is configured to execute calculating a remaining quantity index value which is an index of the remaining quantity of the target item, based on the position information, and transmitting order information of the target item based on the remaining quantity index value.

An article management apparatus includes a processor configured to repeatedly acquire, at a predetermined interval, identification information from a radio tag attached to an article. The identification information is capable of identifying the article. The processor is also configured to track an elapsed reading time during which the identification information is repeatedly acquired. The processor is also configured to manage the elapsed reading time in association with the identification information.

The present invention discloses a computing platform (100) for movement of one or more containers (102) and method thereof. The present invention provides an improved platform and method for use in an industrial automation environment. Each container (102) includes a chip (104) having container related data. A scanner (108) scans the chip (104), and detect placement related data, and information pertaining to quality parameters of associated material filled in the container (102). A measurement module (110) measures the quality of material. The processing unit (112) assigns the characteristics of the carding machine (106) to the chip (104), and process the container (102) from the assigned carding machine (106) to a second carding machine. The indicator (114) generates an indicating signal. The output generation module (116) generates an output based on the signal, the measured quality, and the characteristics. The report generation module (118) generates a report.

An in-transit identification system for an overhead conveyor that transports items equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags uses a guide track arrangement and an antenna frame movably connected thereto. An RFID antenna is mounted to the frame and a bidirectional translation mechanism moves the frame relative to the guide track arrangement along a first direction parallel to a transport path of the conveyor and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A controller controls the translation mechanism to move the frame along the second direction to locate the antenna in the transport path adjacent to a first item being transported, along the first direction to maintain the antenna adjacent to said first item while an RFID tag of said first item is interrogated by the antenna and again along the second direction to withdraw the antenna from the transport path after interrogation of the RFID tag.

A computing system can include a radio transceiver and tracking manager software for tracking the location of objects such as tools. Radio frequency identification tags are attached to the objects and can communicate with the radio transceiver. During an initial registration process, the tracking manager software sends an initial registration signal to each object so that the object can be identified in a registered objects file. In one instance, the tracking manager software subsequently sends periodic interrogation signals to the objects to confirm that the objects are within a certain proximity. In another instance, after completing a task a worker can check-in each object wherein the tracking manager software sends interrogation signals to the objects to confirm that all of the objects are accounted for.