SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED TRACKING. STORAGE AND

RETRIEVAL OF ITEMS USING RFID TECHNOLOGY FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storage of property including, but not limited to, personal and/or corporate possessions. More particularly, the invention provides an improved system and method utilising RFID technology for managing items in storage. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A well-established industry has developed around providing transport (eg removals) and storage services. Demand for such services broadly stems from the fact that individuals and organisations possess items of property which, for various reasons, they may be unable, or may simply not wish, to store on their own premises. Items commonly placed into off-site storage facilities by companies and individuals include furniture (office or domestic), artworks, and a variety of other corporate or personal possessions. It is also common for portions of gallery and/or museum collections to be kept in separate storage facilities when not on display. Additionally, there are certain businesses, such as auction houses, which routinely place items into storage pending sale. It will be appreciated that these examples are by no means exhaustive, and that storage facilities are utilised by a wide range of customers for a variety of storage purposes.

The storage services to which the present invention is most particularly directed have certain significant characteristic features. One such characteristic is that the items held in storage are not generally interchangeable, may be uniquely identifiable, and in some cases are of considerable individual economic and/or sentimental value. Items may be held in storage for extended periods, and individual items may be required by their owner at a variety of different times, while other items may remain in storage. It will be appreciated that these characteristics create a very different set of requirements for the management of stored items than exist, for example, in other storage applications such as the warehousing of goods intended for wholesale or retail sale.

In particular, owners of specific items held in storage may wish to review their possessions and/or retrieve particular items upon demand. However,

conventional storage methods and systems suffer from a number of shortcomings in this respect. For example, it may presently be difficult for an owner to identify and/or specify particular items required to be retrieved from storage. For items held in storage for an extended period, the owner's memory of relevant characteristics of the item may be imprecise. By way of example, an owner requiring a particular item of furniture, such as a chair, to be retrieved from storage may need to provide a fairly detailed description of the chair to ensure that it is distinguishable from other similar items of furniture held within the storage facility on behalf of the same person. Any difficulties thereby encountered in identifying the required item may result in inefficient service, and/or retrieval of the wrong item.

Another known issue with existing storage management systems and methods is the impact of human error during the processes of removal, storage and retrieval of items. Ideally, the exact location of every individual item within the storage facility is held in accurately maintained records. In practice, however, errors may be made in identifying and tracking items at various times. For example, human error may result in the initial location of an item, for example within a particular container, being incorrectly recorded during initial removal of the item to storage. Such errors are easily made, because it is commonplace to pack and repack containers during removal in order to make most efficient use of available storage space as further items are taken to storage. Once in storage, items may subsequently be moved and/or repacked, in order to reclaim storage space, and reduce the total number of containers in storage, as items are retrieved from storage. In this regard, the process of consolidation, ie repacking of items from multiple containers that may have been partially emptied in order to more efficiently reclaim storage space, creates particular logistical problems in the management of stored property. Consolidation creates many opportunities for errors or omissions to be made in accurately recording the new location of items in storage. As will be appreciated, once the location of an item has been incorrectly recorded, the subsequent location and retrieval of that item may require the unpacking of multiple containers until the item has been found. In such circumstances, the records of item location are substantially without value.

Recognition of the foregoing problems has led the present inventor to consider the potential benefits of automating various aspects of the removal and storage processes, in order to remove sources of error, improve efficiency, and provide new storage services to customers. In particular, the inventor identified Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology as having the potential to automate the identification and tracking of items removed to, and held in, storage facilities. However, no existing system has been found which addresses the specific needs of the removals/storage industry, as outlined above.

United States patent application publication no. 2006/0290471 describes a system in which RFID tags are applied to consumable items, such as bathroom consumables, mini-bar contents, and the like, and corresponding storage cabinets are equipped with RFID interrogators. It is therefore possible for each cabinet to determine its contents, and transmit this information to a central computer which maintains an inventory database. The system enables the automatic generation of requests to replenish items that have been consumed and removed from the cabinets. However, the system is unable to distinguish between individual consumable items of the same type, and is not able to address any of the specific problems arising in the provision of removal/storage services, such as the need to track, manage, identify and retrieve individual items upon demand.

International publication no. WO 2007/106045 discloses an RFID-based tracking system particularly directed to monitoring and/or managing linen, eg in hotels or hospitals. Individual items of linen are tagged, and subsequently tracked by general location (eg hospital, laundrette, distribution centre) and status (eg soiled, clean). While this system tracks the movements and status of individual items, it is not concerned with maintaining records of the location of particular items down to the level of individual storage containers. The main objective of the system is to ensure that items pass correctly through the process of use, cleaning, storage, and reuse. The system is unable to satisfy the needs of the removal/storage industry for a more effective means of tracking, managing, identifying and retrieving particular items upon demand.

International publication no. WO 02/48955 describes a system for tracking the physical location of articles within a warehouse. Articles are tagged with

RFID transponders, and further "location marker" tags are disposed at fixed locations within a warehouse. Comparing RF signals returned from transponders on tagged items, as well as those returned from the location markers, assists in maintaining records of the physical location of articles within the warehouse. However, such a system only partially addresses the needs of the removal/storage industry, since it does not facilitate the identification and retrieval of specific items by their owners upon demand.

International publication no. WO 2007/022802 discloses an antenna arrangement that is able to detect the direction of motion of articles tagged with RFID transponders. The arrangement enables automatic detection of whether tagged items are being loaded (stored) or unloaded (retrieved) to or from a storage facility. However, this arrangement does not address the need for tracking and management of items within the storage facility, or for more efficient and effective means for identification and retrieval of particular items. None of the systems or methods of the prior art, individually or in combination, address all of the identified needs and requirements of operators and customers of removal/storage services.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved system and method for the automated tracking and management of items held in storage on behalf of their owners. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for automated tracking of an item to be stored in a storage facility on behalf of an item owner, the method including the steps of: receiving and recording item owner information; capturing an image of the item; affixing an RFID transponder to the item, said RFID transponder having stored identifying information retrievable using an RFID interrogator; recording item information which includes at least said image of the item; associating the item information with the identifying information of the RFID tag and the item owner information within a database; storing the item within a storage container; and

subsequently tracking the location of the item within the storage facility by scanning the storage container using an RFID interrogator, to determine the presence of the item therein, and associating identifying information of the storage container with the corresponding item information in the database. Advantageously, at any time subsequent to storage of the item within the storage facility, the database includes information enabling the item to be identified, located and retrieved from storage as required by the item owner.

A particularly advantageous feature of the invention is the association, within the database, of an image of each item stored with additional item information, identifying information of an affixed RFID transponder, and location information identifying the enclosing container, which is automatically updated by scanning entire storage containers using an RFID interrogator. At any given time, therefore, it is possible to identify a particular item by sight (using the captured image), and immediately determine, from the database, the container in which the item is stored within the storage facility. Since each container is scanned within the storage facility, after items have been stored therein, there is no possibility of human error in recording the location of each individual item. In particular, containers may be scanned upon entry to the storage facility, and at any subsequent time, in order to maintain complete and accurate records of the location (Ze enclosing container) of every stored item. These specific advantageous features, having particular utility in the provision of removal/storage services, are unable to be realised by any prior art system known to the inventor.

Preferably, the item information recorded in relation to each item includes an item description. The level of detail provided in the item description may be as simple or as detailed as appropriate and/or required. For example, an item may be described simply as a "chair", or in greater detail, such as "mahogany dining chair". Advantageously, the inclusion of an item description within the item information facilitates subsequent identification of the item, for example by searching of the database via item keywords. It is further preferred, for example in embodiments of the invention deployed in relation to furniture removal and storage services, that the item information include an originating location of the item. For example, a chair may be identified as having originated in a "dining room". The storage of originating

location information associated with the item in the database advantageously facilitates identification of particular items, for example by enabling a search for all items originating within a particular room. This feature also facilitates the efficient retrieval from storage of all items required to furnish a particular room at a destination location.

Preferably the steps of capturing an image of the item, and recording item information, are performed "on-site", at an originating location, prior to the removal of items to storage. A portable device, such as a PDA, handheld PC, tablet PC, or the like, may be used for this purpose. The portable device may include suitable imaging apparatus for capturing the image of the item, or this functionality may be provided by a separate imaging device, such as a digital camera.

In preferred embodiments, the database is associated with a server computer system, and information including, for example, descriptive information and item images is uploaded to the server for storage within the database. In some embodiments, the information upload may be performed immediately upon entry, at an originating location, for example via wireless transmission to the server such as via a cellular network using GPRS technologies. Alternatively, images and information captured and recorded on site may be held temporarily within a portable device, which is subsequently returned to the server location for upload of data via a local connection, such as a Local Area Network (LAN) connection, wireless LAN connection, serial connection (eg USB), or the like.

The method further preferably includes maintaining a status of the item throughout the process of storage and retrieval. In a particularly preferred embodiment, items are initially removed from an originating location, into storage, and ultimately retrieved to a destination location. In this embodiment, following the capturing of an image of the item and recording of item information, a first item status, "on the way (OTW)", is recorded. Subsequently, when the item is stored within the storage container, a second item status, "electronic proof of pickup (EPOPU) inbound", is recorded. Preferably, the change in status is effected automatically by passing the item via a transportable RFID interrogator prior to storage within the storage container. Upon scanning the storage container using the RFID interrogator within the storage facility, a third item

status, "electronic proof of delivery (EPOD)", is recorded. Upon retrieval of the item from storage at some later time, a fourth status, "electronic proof of pickup (EPOPU) outbound", is recorded. Preferably, this change in status is also performed automatically by passing the item via an RFID interrogator upon retrieval. Advantageously, maintaining a status of each item enables more accurate and efficient operation of the storage service, for example by enabling automatic generation of request for retrieval of items, and automatic tracking of time taken for each operation in the process to be completed.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, a retrieval process is provided which includes some or all of the following steps: the item owner selecting and requesting items required for retrieval; the items being located using location information associated with the items within the database; items being retrieved from the corresponding containers; retrieved items being scanned using an RFID interrogator to verify their retrieval from storage; the corresponding item records being removed from the database; and the items being delivered to a destination location required by the item owner. The method also preferably includes a consolidation process, including the steps of: repacking the contents of two or more partially full containers resulting in at least one empty container; scanning the repacked storage containers within the storage facility to determine the presence of items stored therein, and associating identifying information of the repacked storage containers with the corresponding item information in the database.

Advantageously, this consolidation process enables the fully automated tracking of items that have changed location (Ze enclosing storage container), eliminating a further source of possible error in the tracking of items within the storage facility.

In another aspect, the invention provides a system for automated tracking of an item to be stored in a storage facility on behalf of an item owner, the system including: an RFID transponder having stored identifying information retrievable via an RFID reader, said RFID transponder being adapted to be affixed to the item; an imaging device for capturing an image of the item; an information processing system including a database, the information processing system being configured to: receive and record item owner information; receive and record item information, including at least an image of the item captured using the imaging device; and associate the item information with the identifying information of the RFID transponder and the item owner information within the database; a storage container for storing the item; and at least one RFID interrogator located at the storage facility, the RFID interrogator being configured to scan the storage container to determine the presence of the item therein, wherein the information processing system is further configured to associate, within the database, identifying information of the storage container with the item information of the item determined to be contained therein.

In accordance with a preferred method of operation of the system, at any time subsequent to storage of the item within the storage facility, the database includes information enabling the item to be identified, located and retrieved from storage as required by the item owner. In accordance with preferred embodiments, the information processing system preferably further includes at least one portable electronic device for capturing item images and information on-site at an originating location.

The information processing system preferably also includes a server configured to maintain the database, and to receive information uploaded from the portable device. It is further preferred that the system include a transportable

RFID interrogator, beatable at the originating location of items removed to storage, for recording the entry of the item into the storage container.

The system also preferably includes a Web server, for providing access to item information stored within the database by item owners. Advantageously, a Web-based interface may be provided for item owners to search, view items, select items, and request retrieval of items. The Web-based interface may also be utilised by operators within the storage facility for management of movement of items, including receiving retrieval requests from item owners, and tracking items through the retrieval, pick-up and/or delivery process.

Further benefits, advantages and preferred features of the method and system of the present invention will become apparent in the following description of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiment of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary system embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred method of automated tracking of an item in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a state transition diagram illustrating item status changes according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred method for an item owner to select and retrieve stored items in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred method for an item owner to select and retrieve entire containers in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred method of consolidation of stored items in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 7 illustrates a Web-based interface for identification and selection of stored times according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 illustrates item detail information available via the Web-based interface of Figure 7; Figure 9 illustrates a Web-based interface to a list of selected items according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 10 illustrates a Web-based retrieval request form according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a system 100 for automated tracking of an item 102 which is to be stored in a storage facility 104 on behalf of an item owner. In general, each item, eg 102, to be held in storage 104 is stored within a storage container 106. Each storage container 106 typically contains a number of stored items. A particular problem which arises in such a system 100 is accordingly keeping track of the various items 102 held within storage facility 104, and the specific storage containers 106 in which they are held. A system 100, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, addresses this problem.

The system 100 includes a number of further features and components in order to achieve the aforementioned objective, and to provide additional advantages, as will become apparent from the following description. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponders, eg 108, are provided to be affixed to items, eg 102, prior to transfer into storage. Each RFID transponder 108 has stored identifying information which is retrievable using corresponding RFID interrogator devices, the placement and function of which is described in further detail below. The system 100 also utilises an imaging device 1 10, and a portable electronic device 1 12, such as a PDA or handheld personal computer (PC). It may be advantageous to employ a portable electronic device 1 12 which does not require the use of a keyboard for operation, such as a tablet PC having a touchscreen, for example. The imaging device 1 10 may be, for example, a digital camera, and may be a separate component of the system 100, or an integrated component of the portable electronic device 1 12. In general, the purpose of the portable electronic device 1 12 is to record and/or capture information relating to items, eg 102, transferred into storage, and/or information relating to the item owner. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, such information includes images of the items, eg 102, captured using the digital imaging device 1 10. The system 100 further includes a transportable RFID interrogator 1 14, a server computer 1 16 operatively associated with a database 1 18, and a further RFID interrogator 120 located at the storage facility 104. In accordance with particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, there is also provided a Web

server 122, having access to the database 1 18, which is connected to the Internet 124, and thereby accessible to end-users via client computer systems (eg home- or office-based personal computers) 126. The Web server 122 may execute on separate computing hardware to the server 1 16, or both functions may be provided by separate programs, or groups of running processes, executing on the same hardware platform. The various options for implementation of the server 1 16, database 1 18, and Web server 122, will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant information technology and information processing arts. The operation and use of various components of the system 100 will now be described with reference to Figure 2, in which there is shown a flowchart 200 illustrating a method of automated tracking of an item according to an embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of simplicity, in the following discussion the invention is exemplified by an embodiment relating to the removal and storage of furniture and other personal items from a domestic residence. However, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention are also applicable to other storage applications, such as commercial storage (eg of office furniture and/or other fixtures and fittings), the storage of specific items of value, such as museum pieces, artworks or the like, and the temporary storage of particular items for other purposes, such as the holding of items on behalf of auction houses pending sale. Other specific applications of embodiments of the invention will also be apparent to persons experienced in relevant storage industries.

With reference to the exemplary application of domestic removals and storage, the item 102 to be stored within the storage facility 104 may be an article of furniture, such as a chair. The general process of removal and storage is that all of the domestic items to be stored, belonging to the item owner ⁽ Je the home owner), are transferred on-site, /e at the domestic premises, to containers 106, which are subsequently transported to the storage facility 104. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first step 202 in a method of tracking the item 102 is to record information of the item owner, such as a name, contact details, and so forth, using the portable electronic device 1 12. This

information may then subsequently be associated with each item, eg 102, that is transferred into storage.

Considering now the storage of a particular item, such as a chair 102, the next step 204 in the preferred method is to capture an image of the item 102 using the imaging device, eg a digital camera 1 10. The captured image may subsequently be transferred to the portable electronic device 1 12. At step 206, an RFID transponder 108 is affixed to the item 102. At step 208, additional information relating to the item 102 is recorded using the portable electronic device 1 12. For example, such information may include a brief title for the item 102 (eg "chair"), a more detailed description of the item 102 (eg "leather armchair"), and an originating location of the item (eg "lounge room"). The additional information recorded in relation to the item 102 may be used for a number of purposes, and in particular may subsequently be used to facilitate searching in order to locate and/or retrieve the item. The item 102, with the RFID transponder affixed thereto, is subsequently passed via the transportable RFID interrogator 1 14. The RFID interrogator 1 14 may be transported to the site of the removal operation, and set up in a convenient location, for example near an entrance to the domestic residence. Upon passing the interrogator 1 14, the RFID transponder 108 is detected, and identifying information of the transponder 108, which is stored therein, received by the interrogator 1 14, and subsequently transferred to the portable electronic device 1 12. The process of scanning the item 102 is reflected at step 210 of the flowchart 200. At this stage of the process, it is possible to create an item record which includes the information recorded in relation to the item 102, the image of the item captured using the image device 1 10, and which is associated with the recorded information regarding the item owner. The item record may then be transferred to the server 1 16, and stored within the database 1 18. The creation and storage within the database 1 18 of the item record is reflected by step 212 in the flowchart 200. It will be understood that the particular sequence of steps 202 to 212 outlined in the foregoing discussion need not be performed in the precise order described. For example, the order in which information is recorded, the image captured, the item tagged and scanned, and information transferred to the

database 1 18, may be modified in various ways while still achieving the same ultimate result. In particular, the time at which information is transferred from the portable electronic device 112 to the server 1 16, and recorded in the database 1 18, may vary depending upon the implementation details of the system 100. In some embodiments, a wireless connection may be available between the portable electronic device 1 12 and the server 1 16, such as a cellular telephone connection based upon GPRS, enabling immediate, on-site, transfer of information to the server 1 16. However, in alternative, and equally practical, embodiments, all information may be retained within the portable electronic device 1 12, in relation to all items transferred into storage, and the device 1 12 subsequently returned to a location of the server 1 16, and the information uploaded via a local connection, such as a Local Area Network (LAN) connection, wireless LAN connection, serial connection {eg USB), or the like.

After scanning (step 210) the item 102 is transferred to the storage container 106, at step 214.

Upon completion of on-site removal operations, the container 106, possibly along with a number of similar containers, will contain a number of items, including the chair 102. Significantly, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention it is unnecessary for workers and/or operators at the site of the removal operation to keep track of individual items, eg chair 102, and/or the containers, eg 106, in which they are stored. Instead, all containers with their complete contents are transported to the storage facility 104, at which each container is passed via a further RFID interrogator 120. The RFID interrogator 120 is preferably a gantry-type arrangement upon which there are mounted a number of individual RF interrogation devices having differing orientations, to maximise the ability to interrogate the various RFID transponders, eg 108, affixed to items contained within the storage container 106. Passing of the container 106 via the gantry 120, represented by step 216 of the flowchart 200, results in the interrogator 120 receiving responses from the RFID transponders contained therein including the identifying information of each such transponder. Accordingly, complete information identifying the particular items, eg 102, held within the container 106 is obtained. This information is transferred to the server 116 and the relevant item records within the database 1 18 are

updated. The container 106 is then transferred into storage 104, as represented by step 218 in the flowchart 200.

At the conclusion of the removal and storage process, all items, such as the chair 102, removed from the domestic premises are uniquely identified and recorded within the database 118, including identification of the specific storage containers holding each such item. As will be appreciated, a particular advantage achieved through the use of the system 100, in accordance with the method 200, is the fully automated tracking of items from an originating location, into a particular storage container within a storage facility without the need for manual intervention, thereby substantially avoiding the possibility of human error in recording the correct location of each individual item.

A further advantageous feature of preferred embodiments of the present invention is the ability to automate the updating of status information of each item in order to improve the efficiency and reliability of the provision of removal and storage services. In particular, a status may be associated with each item, corresponding with the actual removal, transportation and storage process flows. Figure 3 illustrates a state transition diagram 300 illustrating an exemplary sequence of status changes in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. At state 302, a new item record is created in the system, for example by entering initial item information into the portable electronic device 1 12 at step 208. Once the initial item record is created, by completion of the item information and association of the captured item image, a transition occurs to state 304, representing a first item status "on the way (OTW)". Subsequently, when the item is scanned via the RFID interrogator 1 14 (step 210), in transit to the storage container (step 214), a transition occurs to state 306, representing a second item status "electronic proof of pickup (EPOPU) inbound". When each storage container is scanned by the interrogator 120 at the storage facility 104, a transition to state 308 occurs, representing a third item status "electronic proof of delivery (EPOD)".

Advantageously, the use of item status OTW, EPOPU inbound and EPOD enables improved efficiency and reliability of removal and storage operations. For example, prior to departing the pickup site {eg a domestic residence) a status

check of all item records within the handheld electronic device 1 12 and/or the database 1 18 (depending upon the time of upload) may be performed. The status of all items at this time should be EPOPLJ inbound. Any item having no status, or a status of OTW, has been incompletely processed at the pickup location, and may not have been properly stored within a storage container. Such an event may be used to prompt a further review of the pickup location by relevant staff, to ensure that the items having incorrect status have not been forgotten. In the event that such items cannot be found at the pickup location, for example because they were placed in a container without being scanned via the transportable RFID interrogator 1 14, this may be identified and flagged when the containers are subsequently scanned by the RFID interrogator 120 at the storage facility 104. In either case, an additional level of automated checking of item location, pickup and delivery is facilitated, enabling improved processing of items, checking of item location and status, and elimination of readily avoidable human error.

As indicated in the state transition diagram 300, processing of items within the storage facility may result in status remaining at EPOD (transition 310), or in a transition 312 to state 314 representing a status of "EPOPU outbound". As will be described in greater detail below, transition to state 314 may occur as a result of a retrieval request, and may subsequently result in removal of the item entry from the records held in the database 1 18 (state 316). Further details of these status changes are described below with additional reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6.

Figure 4 is a flowchart 400 illustrating a preferred method for an item owner to select and retrieve stored items in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, this method is initiated and managed via a Web-based interface, as discussed below with reference to Figures 7 to 10.

At step 402 a user (Ze item owner) selects items held in storage, and which it is desired to retrieve. Once selected, the user is able to request that the items be removed from storage, for pickup or delivery to a destination location. Following a retrieval request, the server 1 16 may generate an alert to an operator identifying the requested items. The location of the requested items (Ze the container, or containers, in which the items are held) is stored within the database 1 18, and accordingly the operator's attention may also be directed to

the relevant locations in the retrieval request. Accordingly, at step 404, the items are physically located and retrieved from the corresponding containers.

At step 406, the retrieved items are scanned via an RFID interrogator, which may be RFID interrogator 120, or a smaller transportable RFID interrogator similar to interrogator 1 14. In any case, the item records held in the database 1 18 are updated to reflect the removal of the items from the corresponding storage containers. Subsequently, at step 408, the item records may be removed from the inventory of items stored on behalf of the item owner, and at step 410 the items are either delivered to a nominated destination location, or picked up from the storage facility 104 by the item owner (or an authorised representative), and acknowledgment of delivery or pickup obtained.

Corresponding with the process represented by flowchart 400, are changes in item status represented by state transitions in the diagram 300. Scanning of items retrieved from containers, at step 406, result in a transition 312 to state 314, representing status "EPOPU outbound". Items having this status are no longer held within storage containers, and are awaiting delivery or pickup. The items may subsequently be removed from the owner inventory (state 316). Following removal and scanning of requested items, correct completion of these operations may be verified by confirming the status of all items in the user request as having changed to "EPOPU outbound", thereby substantially eliminating the possibility of requested items being inadvertently forgotten.

Figure 5 is a flowchart 500 representing a similar process enabling an item owner to select and retrieve entire containers. The process 500 is analogous to the process 400, except that the user does not select individual items, but instead, at step 502, selects and requests some or all of the containers held in storage. The entire containers are scanned, via RFID interrogator 120, at step 504. As a result, all items held within each container are identified, and the status changed to "EPOPU outbound". At step 506, the item records are subsequently removed from the inventory of the item owner. Finally, pickup and/or delivery of the containers is completed and acknowledged, at step 508.

A preferred method of consolidation of stored items, in accordance with the invention, is represented by the flowchart 600 in Figure 6. Consolidation is an important operation within storage facilities, which is advantageously performed

when item owners request retrieval of various items from storage, while leaving other items in storage. It will be appreciated that as a result of one or more such retrieval requests, various containers held in storage on behalf of the item owner may become partially empty, although each container continues to utilise the same volume of storage space. In such circumstances, it may be worthwhile to repack the contents of two or more partially full containers, if this will result in at least one empty container being created. This effectively frees-up storage space within the facility equivalent to the volume of the empty containers. Conventional repacking procedures required the manual recording of the movements and new locations of all repacked items, providing a further opportunity for human error.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, the repacking process consists of the steps of removing all items from the containers to be repacked (step 602), repacking the items into a smaller number of remaining containers (step 604), and then scanning all of the repacked containers (step 606) using the RFID interrogator 120 located at the storage facility 104. In accordance with this preferred method, there is no need to record the individual movements and final locations of each repacked item, since the scanning process automatically identifies the contents of each repacked container, enabling the corresponding item records in database 1 18 to be updated accordingly. The status of all items scanned following repacking is confirmed as "EPOD", corresponding with the notional transition 310 in the state transition diagram 300. That is, the transition 310 logically represents the movement of items within the storage facility 104.

Turning now to Figure 7, there is illustrated a Web-based interface 700 for identification and selection of stored items according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, and as previously noted, the system 100 includes a Web server 122 which has access to the database 1 18. The Web server is connected to the Internet 124, and is accordingly accessible via client computer systems, such as personal computer 126 running conventional Web browser software. The Web server 122 is configured to serve Web pages comprising an interface to the system 100, and a back-end transfers relevant data to and from the database 1 18, and/or the server 1 16. Accordingly, operations performed via a Web browser executing on a personal computer, eg 126, are able to interact

with the system 100, and in particular with the item information stored within the database 1 18. The Web-based interface may be utilised by item owners, for example to search, view items, select items, and request retrieval of items. However, the interface may also be utilised by operators within the storage facility 104, for management of movement of items, including receiving retrieval requests from item owners, and tracking items through the retrieval, pickup and/or delivery processes. In the following discussion, operation of the Web-based interface will be described with particular reference to use by an item owner, however it will be understood that corresponding operations may be performed by operators associated with the storage facility 104, who may be provided with different levels of access and/or authorisation to interact with the system 100, and information held within the database 1 18.

A user of computer 126 (either an item owner or an operator associated with the storage facility) first logs into the system, for example by providing a user name and password in a conventional manner (not shown in the drawings). The actions that may subsequently be performed by the user may depend upon a level of access or authorisation determined by the user's identity, in accordance with the supplied user ID. For example, an item owner may be enabled to search, view items, select items, and request retrieval of items, which belong to that particular owner, but otherwise be restricted in their access to information held within the database 1 18. Operators associated with the storage facility may also be able to search, view and/or select items belonging to any item owner, receive and review retrieval requests, and initiate item retrieval, delivery, and other internal operations. The Web-based interface 700 includes a region 702 into which the user may enter a search request. For example, a search may be initiated on the basis of any information that may be associated with an item, including the item name, item description (eg keyword searches), the originating location (eg room) of the item, the originating site (eg address of a domestic residence), a unique item number allocated within the database 1 18, or on the basis of any other information that may be maintained in relation to stored items. The results of a search are displayed in the region 704. In an exemplary embodiment, 15 search results are displayed per page, wherein each search result shows three attributes

of the corresponding item, namely a thumbnail of the captured image, the item description, and an item number.

Selecting a particular item within the search results, for example by using a mouse pointer to "click" on a particular result, causes item detail information 800 to be displayed via the Web-based interface. The item details information includes a larger (high resolution) image 802 of the item, as well as a complete listing of all relevant item attributes, such as name, description, originating location, and so forth.

Check-boxes 706, 806 are provided in the top right-hand corner of individual search results and item detail displays, enabling the user to mark the corresponding item for subsequent action. In particular, item owners are able to add items identified in this way to a list of items 902, as shown in the corresponding Web-based interface 900 illustrated in Figure 9. The user may subsequently request, for example simply by selecting a corresponding button or icon within the interface 900, that the items in the list 902 be retrieved from storage, for pickup and/or delivery. Each item in the list 902 is provided with a check-box, eg 904, which may be used to select the item for removal from the list.

Figure 10 illustrates a Web-based retrieval request form that may be presented following completion of selection of items in the list 902, and which may be completed by the item owner to initiate retrieval and pickup/delivery of stored items. The interface 100 includes a first form area 102 which includes text entry fields into which the item owner enters delivery request and contact details. Alternatively, or additionally, a further area 1004 includes text entry fields into which the item owner can enter information in relation to pickup details, for example to have the items for removal from storage set aside, and to nominate a person who will be responsible for collection of such items.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, once the item owner has completed and submitted the request form an electronic document is generated, for example in PDF document format, including a list of the requested items to be removed from storage, along with their location within containers held in the storage facility 104. The electronic document also includes descriptions and copies of the captured images of the selected items. The document is preferably printed out, such that it is available to staff within the storage facility

104, for ready reference during the retrieval process. This enables the items to be easily located within the storage facility 104, and readily identified, by reference to the descriptions and images, once the relevant containers are accessed. As described above with reference to Figures 4 and/or 5, items identified on the request printout are removed from the corresponding containers, and placed in an area from which they are passed by the RFID interrogator 120 in order to record that they are no longer in storage, and accordingly update the database 1 18. Updates of information, and status changes, are recorded as previously described, with particular reference to Figures 3 to 5. Items that have been removed from storage are accordingly no longer accessible for search and viewing via the Web-based interface 700.

If desired, following retrieval of items from storage consolidation may be performed, for example in accordance with the process described above with reference to Figure 6. To assist in the process of consolidation, an operator may utilise the Web-based interface to the database 100 in order to identify containers now having the smallest number of items contained therein, in order to maximise the space reclaimed within the storage facility 104.

Further variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts. For example, alternative means for item owners and/or other users to access information held within the database 1 18, other than a Web-based interface, such as a suitable database client application, may be provided. Other possible variations include the use of different types of portable electronic device for recording relevant information, and/or the use of different imaging devices for capturing images of items entering into storage. Accordingly, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but rather the scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.