Title:
MANAGING PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS USING READ/WRITE RFID TAGS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2000/045324
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
A method for production and operations management comprises the steps of: associating a read/write RFID tag (36) with a product (34) to be processed; subjecting the product (34) to at least one process; and, writing information to the associated tag (36) relating to the at least one process, whereby application of the at least one process to the product (34) can be confirmed by reading the information from the associated tag (36). The method can further comprise the steps of: subjecting the product (34) to a further process; reading from the associated tag (36) the information relating to the at least one process; modifying the further process in accordance with the read information; and, writing further information to the associated tag (36) related to the further process. The processes (Process1-ProcessN) can include, for example, at least one of a manufacturing process, an inspection process, a shipping process, a warehousing process and a retailing process.
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Inventors:
BESNARD PHILIPPE
Application Number:
PCT/US2000/002205
Publication Date:
August 03, 2000
Filing Date:
January 28, 2000
Export Citation:
Assignee:
SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS CORP (US)
International Classes:
G05B19/418; B65G61/00; G06K17/00; G06Q10/00; H04B7/26; (IPC1-7): G06K/
Foreign References:
| US5785181A | 1998-07-28 | |||
| US5856931A | 1999-01-05 | |||
| US5910776A | 1999-06-08 | |||
| US5963134A | 1999-10-05 | |||
| US5971592A | 1999-10-26 | |||
| US6002344A | 1999-12-14 | |||
| US6025780A | 2000-02-15 | |||
| US6032127A | 2000-02-29 |
Other References:
See also references of EP 1181661A2
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Comoglio, Rick F. (FL, US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
What is claimed is:
| 1. | A method for production and operations management, comprising the steps of : associating a read/write RFID tag with a product to be processed; subjecting said product to at least one process: and, writing information to said associated tag relating to said at least one process, whereby application of said at least one process to said product can be confirmed by reading said information from said associated tag. |
| 2. | The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of : r e ad i n g fro m s ai d associated tag said information relating to said at least one process. |
| 3. | The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of : subjecting said product to a further process; reading from said associated tag said information relating to said at least one process; modifying said further process in accordance with said read information; and, writing further information to said associated tag related to said further process. |
| 4. | The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one process is at least one of a manufacturing process, an inspection process, a shipping process, a warehousing process and a retailing process. |
| 5. | The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one process and said further process include at least one of a manufacturing process, an inspection process, a shipping process, a warehousing process and a retailing process. |
| 6. | A method for managing processing of a product subjected to a succession of product processes, comprising the steps of : associating a read/write RFID tag with said product; and, writing information to said tag related to said product processes. |
| 7. | The method of claim 6, comprising the step of writing said information to said tag upon completion of each said product process. |
| 8. | The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of : reading from said associated tag said information related to said product processes. |
| 9. | The method of claim 6, wherein said writing step comprises the step of writing information indicative of completing said product processes. |
| 10. | The method of claim 6, wherein said writing step comprises the step of selectively writing control data for subsequent product processes onto said associated tag. |
| 11. | The method of claim 6, wherein said writing step comprises the steps of : writing information indicative of completing said product processes; and, selectively writing control data for subsequent product processes onto said associated tag. |
| 12. | The method of claim 11, comprising the step of writing at least some of said control data prior to said succession of product processes. |
| 13. | The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of : modifying one of said product processes in accordance with said read information. |
| 14. | The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of : modifying at least one of said product processes in accordance with said control data. |
| 15. | The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of : modifying at least one of said product processes in accordance with said control data. |
| 16. | The method of claim 6, wherein said product processes include at least one of a manufacturing process, an inspection process, a shipping process, a warehousing process and a retailing process. |
| 17. | The method of claim 12, wherein said product processes include at least one of a manufacturing process, an inspection process, a shipping process, a warehousing process and a retailing process. |
| 18. | The method of claim 15, wherein said product processes include at least one of a manufacturing process, an inspection process, a shipping process, a warehousing process and a retailing process. |
| 19. | A system for processing a product, comprising: a read/write RFID tag associated with said product; a plurality of processing stations; a process controller operatively associated with each said processing station; an RFID reader/writer operatively associated with each said processing station for transferring data between said process controller and said associated tag; a tag controller; a first network enabling communications between said tag controller and each said process controller, each said process controller being responsive to control data transmitted by said tag controller and transferred from said associated tag; and, a second network enabling communications between said tag controller and at least one management center controller, whereby processing of said product can be monitored and controlled by said at least one management center at each said processing station, irrespective of the nature and location of the processing stations. |
| 20. | The system of claim 19, wherein processes performed at said processing stations include at least one of a manufacturing process, an inspection process, a shipping process, a warehousing process and a retailing process. |
| 21. | The system of claim 20, wherein said at least one management center controller comprises at least one of a manufacturing controller, an inspection controller, a warehouse controller, a shipping controller and a retail point of sale controller. |
| 22. | The system of claim 19, wherein said at least one management center controller comprises at least one of a manufacturing controller, an inspection controller, a warehouse controller, a shipping controller and a retail point of sale controller. |
Description:
INTERNATIONALSEARCHREPORTInternationalapplicationNo. PCT/US00/02205 C(Continuation).DOCUMENTSCONSIDEREDTOBERELEVANT Category*Citationofdocument,withindication,whereappropriate,
oftherelevant passagesRelevanttoclaimNo. Y,PUS6,002,344A(BANDYet al.)14DECEMBER1999,col.2,1,3,6,7,9-12, line45tocol.12,line49.14,19,22. A,EUS A(BOWERSetal.)15FEBRUARY2000,summary1,2,6,9,19,20. oftheinvention. A,EUS6,032,127A(SCHKOLNICKetal.)29FEBRUARY2000,1-22. abstract,figure6,col.4,line3tocol.12,line30. INTERNATIONALSEARCHREPORTInternationalapplication No. PCTIUS00/02205 A. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER : US CL : 115,116,117,213,214,215,225,226,227; 705/7,8,9,28,29; 340/825.54,825.35,572.1