INVENTORY SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD USING ARTICLES WITH RFIDTAGS

摘要

An article inventory control system for articles (22), such as books, uses RFID tags attached to each article (22). Each tag has a unique identification or serial number for identifying the individual articl e (22). An inventory database tracks all of the tagged articles (22) and maintains circulation status information for each article (22). Articles are checked out of the library (10) using a patron self-checkout system. Checked out articles (22) are returned to the library by being deposited into an exterior smart book drop (32) which reads the RFID tag and automatically checks the article back in. Article data from the exterior smart book drop are used to generate reshelving reports for efficiently reshelving the articles. Articles which are used in the library (10), but not checked out, are returned to interior smart book drops (34) within the library (10) for reshelving. The interior smart book drops (34) capture data regarding in-house use of articles. The data are used to generate historical usage reports. The uncirculated article s (22) are stored on shelves of the library (10). The shelves are periodically scanned with an RFID scanner for updating inventory status.