Methods and Apparatus for Identification of Container Contents Based on Radio Frequency Identification Technology

Abstract

A method includes acquiring, via an antenna disposed within a container, information associated with a radio frequency identification tag coupled to an object disposed within a container via an antenna. The information is transferred to an exterior radio frequency identification tag disposed outside of the container. The exterior radio frequency identification tag is configured to send an inventory indicator associated with the information to an external interrogator unless the container is open.

1 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 an antenna configured to be disposed within an interior portion of a container and configured to receive an inventory-related information associated with an object disposed within the container; and    a radio frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to an exterior portion of the container and configured to receive the inventory-related information received at the antenna in response to the container being closed.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a radio frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to the interior portion of the container and configured to be coupled to the antenna, the radio frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to the interior portion of the container being configured to acquire the inventory-related information via the antenna in response to the container being closed.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inventory-related information is associated with a radio frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to the object.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inventory-related information is associated with a radio frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to the object, at least one of the radio frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to the object or the object has a specified orientation relative to the antenna.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a data storage component configured to store the inventory-related information, the radio frequency identification tag configured to receive the inventory-related information from the data storage component.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a radio frequency identification interrogator configured to be coupled to the interior portion of the container and including the antenna, the radio frequency identification interrogator configured to be in communication with the radio frequency identification tag.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency identification tag is configured to change from a power-conserving mode to an inventory-acquiring mode when a switch configured to be coupled to the container is toggled in response to the container being closed.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency identification tag is configured to translate the inventory-related information from a signal that is incompatible with an external radio frequency identification interrogator into a signal that is compatible with the external radio frequency identification interrogator.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is configured to receive the inventory-related information in response to at least one of a signal from a motion sensor or a signal produced by a timer.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency identification tag is configured to send an indicator of the inventory-related information to an external radio frequency identification interrogator within a specified time period of a request from the external radio frequency interrogator.  
   
   
       11 . A method, comprising: 
 acquiring, via an antenna disposed within a container, information associated with a radio frequency identification tag coupled to an object disposed within a container; and    transferring the information to an exterior radio frequency identification tag disposed outside of the container, the exterior radio frequency identification tag configured to send an inventory indicator associated with the information to an external interrogator unless the container is open.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the antenna is configured to be coupled to a radio frequency interrogator disposed within the container and in communication with the exterior radio frequency identification tag.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the acquiring includes acquiring during an interrogation time period starting when the container changes from being open to closed.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the container is a first container disposed within a second container, the antenna is a first antenna, the exterior radio frequency identification tag is a first exterior radio frequency identification tag disposed within the second container, 
 the method further comprising:    acquiring information associated with the first exterior radio frequency identification tag via a second antenna disposed within the second container and configured to be disposed exterior to the first container; and    transferring the information associated with the first exterior radio frequency identification tag to a second exterior radio frequency identification tag disposed outside of the second container via the second antenna.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the acquiring includes acquiring at a first time, 
 the method further comprising:    sending the information at a second time to the external interrogator as a beacon signal after a preset time interval has elapsed, the sending being prevented when the container is open, the second time being after the first time.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 receiving at the exterior radio frequency identification tag a polling signal from the external interrogator at a first time when the container is open, the polling signal being a request for the inventory information; and    sending the inventory information at a second time to the external interrogator in response to the container being closed, the second time being after the first time.    
   
   
       17 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 an antenna configured to be disposed within an interior portion of a container and configured to receive an inventory-related information associated with an object disposed within the container; and    a data storage component configured to receive the inventory-related information received at the antenna in response to a signal and after the container is closed.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a radio frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to an exterior portion of the container, the radio frequency identification tag configured to receive the inventory-related information from the data storage component in response to a request from an external interrogator.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a radio frequency identification tag configured to be disposed within the interior portion of the container, the radio frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to the antenna and the data storage component, the inventory-related information being transferred from the antenna to the data storage component via the radio frequency identification tag in response to the container being closed.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a radio frequency identification tag configured to be coupled to an exterior portion of the container and configured to receive the inventory-related information from the data storage component, the data storage component configured to be prevented from transferring the inventory indicator to an external interrogator when the container is open.