Mobile rfid container and distribution method

Abstract

A transportable container is enabled with radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technologies to maintain automated inventory levels of those items that are inside the container. The inventory data is communicated via wireless methods, such as cellular or Wi-Fi, to a remote device such as enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system. The ERP system may use the inventory data received from the remote device to automatically update appropriately and generate appropriate records (e.g., container inventory, restocking, invoicing, etc.). In some embodiments, automated RFID scans are triggered when the container is opened and subsequently closed. The container may include RF containment/screening to prevent inadvertent scanning of RFID tags outside of the container. The container may also include a location device to allow the location of the container to be readily determined.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for distributing products, each product having an RFID tag, the method comprising:
 a. providing a mobile RFID container, the container comprising:
 a housing comprising an interior compartment and a door that can be opened to provide access to the interior compartment; 
 a sensor configured to detect movement of the door; 
 an RFID detector configured to conduct an RFID scan of the interior compartment and collect scan data concerning the products contained within the compartment; 
 a controller coupled to the sensor and the at least RFID detector, the controller being configured to trigger an RFID scan via the RFID detector in response to the sensor detecting that the door has closed and transmitting scan data collected during the RFID scan to a remote device; 
   b. stocking the mobile RFID container with one or more products at a first location, the step of stocking comprising:
 1. opening the door of the mobile RFID container to provide access to the interior compartment; 
 2. placing one or more products in the interior compartment of the mobile RFID container; and 
 3. closing the door of the mobile RFID container; 
   c. conducting a first RFID scan of the interior compartment of the mobile RFID container in response to the opening and closing of the door during the stocking step;   d. transmitting scan data collected via the first RFID scan from the mobile RFID container to a remote device;   e. changing the contents of the RFID container at a second location by:
 1. opening the door of the mobile RFID container to provide access to the interior compartment; 
 2. adding or removing one or more products to or from the interior compartment of the mobile RFID container; and 
 3. closing the door of the mobile RFID container; 
   f. conducting a second RFID scan of the interior compartment of the mobile RFID container in response to the opening and closing of the door during the changing step;   g. transmitting scan data collected via the second RFID scan from the mobile RFID container to the remote device;   h. updating inventory data based on the first and second scan data.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of updating inventory and/or credit date further comprises identifying one or more products that have been removed from the mobile RFID container. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of updating inventory and/or credit date further comprises identifying one or more products that have been added to the mobile RFID container. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the mobile RFID container further comprises at least one sensor for monitoring an environmental condition of the internal compartment of the mobile RFID container; and wherein the method further comprises collecting sensor data from the at least one sensor and transmitting the collected sensor data to the remote device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the sensor data is indicative of at least one of a temperature, a humidity, or an atmospheric pressure of the internal compartment of the mobile RFID container. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising collecting data from the sensor at predetermined time intervals. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising collecting data from the sensor in response the sensor detecting a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the predetermined condition is one of a predetermined temperature, a predetermined humidity, or a predetermined atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the mobile RFID container comprises a GPS location device for generating location data indicative of the location of the mobile RFID container and the method further comprising transmitting location data from the mobile RFID container to the remote device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an accelerometer. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first location comprises a distribution center and the second location comprises an end user, and wherein the method further comprises returning the mobile RFID container from the end user to the distribution center and restocking the container with products at the distribution center, and wherein the step of restocking is based on scan data transmitted by the mobile container prior to the RFID container reaching the distribution center.