Device and a method for automatic detection of whether an item is correctly routed

Abstract

A device for automatic detection of whether an item is correctly routed is provided, the item including at least one radio frequency tag, wherein the device includes an RF communication mechanism for receiving at least one reading from the RF tag, the device being adapted to be arranged at a read point in proximity of the conveying mechanism, which conveying mechanism is operable to transport the item towards a destination, wherein the device is configured to extract identification and/or destination information from the reading received from the item on the conveying mechanism crossing past the device and to verify whether the item is correctly routed. Also, provided is a method for automatic detection of whether an item is correctly routed.

Claims

1. A device for automatic detection of whether an item on an airport conveyor is correctly routed, said item including at least one RFID tag, wherein the device comprises an RFID antenna, and an RFID reader, the RFID reader being configured for receiving at least one reading from the tag via the antenna, wherein said device is adapted to be arranged at a read point in proximity of a conveyor, which conveyor is operable to transport the item towards a destination, wherein the device is configured for extracting identification or destination information or both from the reading received from the item on the conveyor crossing past the device and for verifying whether the item is correctly routed, and wherein the device further comprises a GPS receiver for determining a position of the device and for identifying a parking stand in the airport and identifying an airplane currently being loaded by the conveyor; and for checking on the basis of the reading whether the item is correctly routed.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a casing inside which there is provided the RFID antenna, the RFID reader, and the GPS receiver; wherein the casing further comprises a connector for functional connecting the device to a controller of the conveyor, and wherein the device is configured for automatically stopping the conveyor whenever a routing error is detected.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device further comprises a lamp or a horn or both as a warning mechanism for warning a user of the device whenever a routing error is detected.

4. A method for automatic detection by a device whether an item on an airport conveyor is correctly routed, said item including at least one RFID tag, wherein the device comprises an RFID antenna and an RFID reader, the RFID reader being configured for receiving at least one reading from the tag via the antenna, wherein said device is adapted to be arranged at a read point in proximity of the conveyor, which conveyor is operable to transport the item towards a destination, wherein the device is configured for extracting identification or destination information or both from the reading received from the item on the conveyor crossing past the device and for verifying whether the item is correctly routed; wherein the method comprises: arranging the device at a read point in proximity of the conveyor; placing the item with the tag on the conveyor and crossing the item by the conveyor past the device; by the reader receiving at least one reading from the tag via the antenna, by the device extracting identification or destination information or both from the at least one reading received from the tag while the item is crossing past the device; by the device verifying whether the item is correctly routed or whether there is a routing error; and wherein the device comprises a GPS receiver for determining a position of the device, and the method further comprises determining a GPS position of the device, from the GPS position identifying a parking stand in the airport and identifying a flight currently being loaded by the conveyor; checking on the basis of the reading whether the item is correctly routed.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the device comprises a casing inside which there is provided the RFID antenna, the RFID reader, and the GPS receiver; and wherein the conveyor is a conveyor belt as part of a belt loader vehicle; wherein the method comprises arranging the casing of the device on the vehicle at a read point on the side of the conveyor belt.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the item is a suitcase, or a bag, or a package; wherein the destination is a baggage compartment of an airplane; wherein the method further comprises driving the belt loader vehicle under an airplane and loading the suitcase, bag or package into the baggage compartment of the airplane by the conveyor belt only if the suitcase, bag or package is verified as correctly routed.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the casing comprises a connector for functional connection of the device to a controller of the conveyor, and wherein the device is configured for automatically stopping the conveyor via the connector whenever a routing error is detected; wherein the method further comprises connecting the connector to the controller of the conveyor and, during checking of the routing of the item, automatically causing the conveyor to stop whenever a routing error is detected by the device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the device comprises a lamp or a horn or both as a warning means, wherein the method further comprises activating the lamp or the horn or both for warning a user of the device whenever a routing error is detected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1: A self-adhesive label including an RFID tag;

(3) FIG. 2: A device for automatic detection of whether an item is correctly routed;

(4) FIG. 3: A device according to embodiments of the invention used in a belt loader; and

(5) FIG. 4: A method for automatic detection of whether an item is correctly routed.

NOTATIONS

(6) 1: Device. 2: Suitcase. 3: RFID tag. 4: RFID reader. 5: Read point. 6: Conveyor belt. 7: Belt loader. 9: Barcode. 10: Label. 11: Lid. 12: Motherboard. 13: PC. 14: 3G modem/antenna unit. 15: Horn 16: Lamp. 17: Battery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a self-adhesive label 10 including an RFID tag 3, wherein the label 10 is fastened to a suitcase 2 (i.e., an item 2) (ref. FIG. 3) of a passenger.

(8) The printer at the check-in codes the relevant information in the RFID tag 3, which is printed together and embedded in the label 10 to apply to the suitcase 2. The 10 digits code, which is encoded in the barcode 9 on the label 10, is also encoded in the RFID tag 3 via the RFID antenna at the printer. Thanks to that 10 digits code, it is possible to retrieve the travel information (e.g., the flight number, etc.) of the passenger from a database. Alternatively, it is also possible to store the travel information directly in the RFID tag 3, so that the need for storing the travel information in a database is avoided.

(9) FIG. 2 shows a device 1 for automatic detection of whether a suitcase 2 is correctly routed. The device 1 comprises: an RFID antenna (i.e., a first element of a communication means or mechanism 4) (not visible) embedded in the lid 11 of the device 1, a motherboard 12, an RFID reader 4 (i.e., a second element of the communication means or mechanism 4), a PC 13, a 3G modem/antenna unit 14 (it may also be a WiFi modem/antenna unit, and the antenna may also be used for receiving GPS signals), a Bluetooth port, I/O (i.e., a connecting means or mechanism), a horn 15 (i.e., a first element of a warning means or mechanism), a lamp 16 (i.e., a second element of the warning means or mechanism) and a battery 17.

(10) FIG. 3 shows the device 1 mounted on a read point 5 on the side of a conveyor belt 6 of a belt loader 7 (i.e., a transportable conveyor belt 6, which is driven under an airplane and which is used to load the suitcases 2 in the baggage compartment of the airplane). The device 1 will then scan any suitcase 2 that runs past in front of its lid 11 and check if the suitcase 2 is in fact directed to that flight by communicating via the 3G unit 14 to an external server for verifying the data. Consequently, if the suitcase 2 should not be directed to that flight and/or the passenger has not boarded and/or the suitcase has been properly screened, etc., the lamp 16 will light up (e.g., in red), the horn 15 will sound and, thanks to the I/O, the conveyor belt 6 of the belt loader 7 will be stopped. The worker unloading the baggage cart onto the conveyor belt will watch out for the light and/or the sound identifying misrouted suitcases and will then remove the suitcase 2 positioned in front of the device 1.

(11) Advantageously, thanks to Bluetooth, the device 1 may also communicate with a hand scanner carried by a worker at the belt loader 7 (instead of directly communicating with the server via the 3G unit 14), which checks on the server if the suitcase 2 read by the device 1 is in fact directed to that flight or not. If not, the device 1 will then react as already described above.

(12) FIG. 4 shows a method 100 for automatic detection of whether an item 2 is correctly routed, said item 2 including at least one radio frequency (RF) tag 3, wherein the method 100 comprises:

(13) providing 101 a device 1 as described above;

(14) arranging 102 the device 1 at a read point 5 in proximity of the conveying means or mechanism 6;

(15) connecting 106 the device 1 to a controller associated to the conveying means or mechanism 6;

(16) determining 105 a position of the device 1;

(17) extracting 103 identification and/or destination information from at least one reading received from the item 2 on the conveying means or mechanism 6 crossing past the device 1;

(18) verifying 104 whether the item 2 is correctly routed;

(19) stopping 107 the conveying means or mechanism 6 whenever a routing error is detected; and

(20) activating 108 a warning means or mechanism 15, 16 for warning a user of the device 1 whenever a routing error is detected.

(21) Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

(22) For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of a or an throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and comprising does not exclude other steps or elements. The mention of a unit or a module does not preclude the use of more than one unit or module.