SHELF-MONITORING SYSTEM

摘要

A system and method for monitoring shelf inventory that combines bar code and RFID technologies to permit electronic data entry of item shelf assignments and real time reporting of item removal from display/dispensing storage shelves.

主权项

1. A shelf system for storing removable items, affording electronic data entry of shelved items, and maintaining real-time shelf inventory,
the system including a shelf, at least one array of unique RFID tags distributed over the shelf and an optically readable bar code associated with and adjacent the tag array; an antenna and reader for interrogating the tags of the tag array; a container associated with a removable item, the shelf and container blocking radio wave communication between the antenna and a tag associated with the removable item container while the removable item container is located on the shelf and allowing radio wave communication when moved relative to the shelf to electronically indicate the removable item's removal from the shelf; an electronic controller in communication with the reader including a memory arranged to record the tag array bar code and an identity of tags associated with the tag array bar code and to record the identity of the tags that are responding to interrogation as a result of a displaced removable item container; an optical bar code reader configured to read the tag array bar code and a UPC bar code on removable items located at the tag array and to communicate data the optical bar code reader reads to the electronic controller whereby, through contemporaneous optical reading of the tag array bar code and a UPC bar code on a removable item and communication of this data to the electronic controller, the electronic controller is enabled to electronically record a correlation of removable items and a tag array and whereby changes in the location of the removable item container associated with the tag array representing removal of a removable item are electronically recorded in the memory of the electronic controller.