CA2575437A1 - Systems and methods for using radio frequency identification tags to communicate sorting information - Google Patents

Systems and methods for using radio frequency identification tags to communicate sorting information

Info

Publication number
CA2575437A1
CA2575437A1 CA002575437A CA2575437A CA2575437A1 CA 2575437 A1 CA2575437 A1 CA 2575437A1 CA 002575437 A CA002575437 A CA 002575437A CA 2575437 A CA2575437 A CA 2575437A CA 2575437 A1 CA2575437 A1 CA 2575437A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
sorting
item
location
indicia
locations
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CA002575437A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2575437C (en
Inventor
John A. Olsen, Iii
Gerald R. Colglazier
David L. Bradley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
United Parcel Service of America Inc
Original Assignee
United Parcel Service Of America, Inc.
John A. Olsen, Iii
Gerald R. Colglazier
David L. Bradley
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by United Parcel Service Of America, Inc., John A. Olsen, Iii, Gerald R. Colglazier, David L. Bradley filed Critical United Parcel Service Of America, Inc.
Publication of CA2575437A1 publication Critical patent/CA2575437A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2575437C publication Critical patent/CA2575437C/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07CPOSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C7/00Sorting by hand only e.g. of mail
    • B07C7/005Computer assisted manual sorting, e.g. for mail

Abstract

A system for sorting an item, said item having sorting indicia associated therewith comprising: a plurality of RFID tags equipped with lights that illuminate in response to a communication; a plurality of sorting locations, wherein each of said sorting locations is associated with one of said plurality of RFID tags; a data capture device configured to capture said sorting indicia from said item; a sort assist tool that receives said sorting indicia from said data capture device and associates a sorting instruction;
and an interrogator that receives said sorting instruction and communicates with one of said plurality of RFID tags based at least in part on said sorting instruction such that said light on said one of said plurality of RFID tags illuminates; according method and use of the RFID tags for indication of a location.

Claims (23)

1. A system for sorting an item, said item having sorting indicia associated therewith comprising:
a plurality of RFID tags equipped with lights that illuminate in response to a communication;

a plurality of sorting locations, wherein each of said sorting locations is associated with one of said plurality of RFID tags;

a data capture device configured to capture said sorting indicia from said item;

a sort assist tool that receives said sorting indicia from said data capture device and associates a sorting instruction identifying a target sorting location from said plurality of sorting locations;

an interrogator configured to receives said sorting instruction and to communicates with the RFID tag associated with said target sorting location based at least in part on said sorting instruction such that said light on said RFID
tags associated with said target sorting location illuminates; and one or more signaling devices positioned proximate said plurality of sorting locations and configured to detect and signal the presence of said item as it passes into said target sorting location.
2. The system for sorting an item in Claim 1, wherein said RFID tags have unique identifiers and said sort instruction identifies an RFID unique identifier.
3. The system for sorting an item in Claim 2, wherein said unique identifier includes the name of said associated sorting location.
4. The system for sorting an item in Claim 1 further comprising a conveyor.
5. The system for sorting an item in Claim 1, wherein said data capture device is a barcode scanner.
6. The system for sorting an item in Claim 1, wherein said data capture device is a RFID reader.
7. The system for sorting an item in Claim 1, wherein said data capture device is a CCD camera and associated recognition software.
8. The system for sorting an item in Claim 1, wherein said light flashes when said reader communicates with said tag.
9. The system for sorting an item in Claim 1, wherein said RFID tag is configured to allow adjustment of LED illumination duration.
10. The system for sorting an item in Claim 1, wherein said item is a package and said plurality of locations are sort locations.
11. The system for sorting an item of Claim 10, wherein said sorting indicia includes a destination zip code.
12. The system for sorting an item in Claim 10, wherein said sorting indicia includes a service level.
13. The system for sorting an item in Claim 10, wherein said sort location assist tool associates a sorting instruction to said package by querying a sort instruction database with said sorting indicia.
14. The system for sorting an item in Claim 10, wherein said sorting instruction database includes a list of sorting locations and associated RFID
identifiers indexed by shipping indicia.
15. The system for sorting an item of Claim 1, wherein the signaling device is a light curtain.
16. The system for sorting an item of Claim 1, wherein said at least some of said plurality of locations are chutes.
17. A method for sorting a package comprising the steps of:
capturing shipping indicia from said package;

identifying a sorting location based at least in part on said captured indicia;
communicating with an RFID tag associated with said identified sort location;

illuminating a light associated with said RFID tag in response to said communication; and monitoring a location proximate said sorting location to detect an item passing into said sorting location; and extinguishing said light in response to said detection in said monitoring step.
18. The method for sorting a package of Claim 17, wherein said step of identifying a sorting location includes identifying a unique RFID identifier associated with said sorting location.
19. The method for sorting a package of Claim 17, wherein said step of identifying a sorting location includes the step of querying a sorting instruction database to obtain said sorcing location.
20. The method for sorting a package of Claim 19, wherein said sorting instruction database is indexed according to said shipping indicia.
21. The method for sorting a package of 17, wherein said step of monitoring is performed by a light curtain.
22. An system for identifying the location of an item comprising:
a plurality of storage locations associated with a plurality of RFID tags, wherein said tags are equipped with an LED;
a location tool configured to identify one of said plurality of storage locations wherein said one storage location houses said item;
an interrogator that receives the one storage location identity and communicates with an RFID tag associated with said one storage location and illuminates the associated tag's light emitting device; and an item detection device configured to sense when said item crosses the threshold of said one storage location.
23. The system for identifying the location of an item of Claim 22, wherein said RFID tags have unique identifiers and said location tool identifies the one storage location by the unique identifier of the RFID tag associated with the one storage location.
CA2575437A 2004-08-02 2005-07-07 Systems and methods for using radio frequency identification tags to communicate sorting information Expired - Fee Related CA2575437C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/910,167 US7221276B2 (en) 2004-08-02 2004-08-02 Systems and methods for using radio frequency identification tags to communicating sorting information
US10/910,167 2004-08-02
PCT/US2005/024097 WO2006019589A1 (en) 2004-08-02 2005-07-07 Systems and methods for using radio frequency identification tags to communicating sorting information

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2575437A1 true CA2575437A1 (en) 2006-02-23
CA2575437C CA2575437C (en) 2010-04-27

Family

ID=34978986

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2575437A Expired - Fee Related CA2575437C (en) 2004-08-02 2005-07-07 Systems and methods for using radio frequency identification tags to communicate sorting information

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US7221276B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1789206A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2008508165A (en)
CN (1) CN101001703B (en)
CA (1) CA2575437C (en)
MX (1) MX2007001504A (en)
WO (1) WO2006019589A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US7221276B2 (en) 2007-05-22
CN101001703B (en) 2010-12-08
WO2006019589A1 (en) 2006-02-23
CA2575437C (en) 2010-04-27
MX2007001504A (en) 2007-03-27
CN101001703A (en) 2007-07-18
EP1789206A1 (en) 2007-05-30
JP2008508165A (en) 2008-03-21
US20060022824A1 (en) 2006-02-02

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