Systems and methods for wirelessly monitoring inventory

Abstract

Systems and methods for automated monitoring of inventory are disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure, automated monitoring is achieved through the use of active tags, such as RFID tags, that are coupled to inventory and tracked by communication nodes. The tags are designed to consume a low amount of power while ensuring robust wireless communication. Indeed, the tags are capable of communicating with remote nodes even when the tags are buried in stacks of inventory items, and the system is scalable to handle a large number of tags.

1 . A system for tracking inventory items at a location, comprising:
 a plurality of tags, each of the tags coupled to a respective one of a plurality of inventory items, the plurality of tags including at least a first tag having a software-defined radio configured to wirelessly transmit at a frequency greater than 1.0 Giga-Hertz (GHz) and a range of at least 100 meters in free space;   a plurality of nodes configured to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of tags, at least one of the nodes configured to wirelessly transmit a beacon to the plurality of tags, wherein the first tag is configured to receive the beacon and wirelessly transmit a tag identifier identifying the first tag to at least one of the nodes via the software-defined radio in response to the beacon; and   a server configured to receive the tag identifier from the at least one of the nodes and to determine that the inventory item coupled to the first tag is at the location in response to the tag identifier.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of inventory items comprises a case containing at least one of the group including: theatrical lights, lighting support equipment, lighting accessories, and sound equipment. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the software-designed radio is configured to consume less than 20 milli-Amps of current when communicating. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the tag has a battery for powering the software-defined radio, and wherein the tag is configured such that the battery has a life of at least seven years. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the software-defined radio is configured to wirelessly transmit the tag identifier through a channel at a data rate less than 200 kilo-bits-per-second. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the frequency is between 2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the software-designed radio is configured to consume less than 20 milli-Amps of current when communicating. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the tag has a battery for powering the software-defined radio, and wherein the tag is configured such that the battery has a life of at least seven years. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein a bandwidth of the channel is at least 1 Mega-Hertz (MHz). 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to a determination to transmit the tag identifier, the first tag is configured to check for traffic on a channel for transmitting the tag identifier and in response to a detection of traffic on the channel (1) transition to a sleep state, (2) schedule an awakening from the sleep state at a random interval, and (3) attempt transmission of the tag identifier upon waking from the sleep state. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mobile device configured to read an equipment identifier from an inventory item coupled to the first tag, wherein the mobile device is configured to automatically transmit a radio frequency (RF) sense signal for awakening the first tag in response to a reading of the equipment identifier by the mobile device, and wherein the first tag is configured to awaken from a sleep state and automatically transmit the tag identifier in response to the RF sense signal. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first tag is configured to select a channel for transmitting the tag identifier based on the beacon. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first tag is configured to randomly select a channel from a predefined set of channels for transmitting the tag identifier. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first tag is configured to listen on a predefined channel for information identifying at least one channel for communicating with the plurality of nodes, and wherein the first tag is configured to transmit the tag identifier via the at least one channel based on the information. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tags and the plurality of nodes form a wireless mesh network, and wherein the server is configured to communicate with the plurality of nodes via a network different than the wireless mesh network. 
     
     
         18 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for tracking inventory items at a location, comprising:
 transmitting a beacon from at least one node of a plurality of nodes at the location;   receiving the beacon at a tag;   communicating between the tag and the plurality of nodes, the communicating comprising transmitting, in response to the beacon, a wireless signal from a software-defined radio of the tag to at least one of the plurality of nodes at a frequency greater than 1.0 Giga-Hertz (GHz), wherein the wireless signal has a range of at least 100 meters in free space and defines a message having a tag identifier identifying the tag;   transmitting the tag identifier from at least one of the nodes to a server; and   tracking the tag, at the server, based on the tag identifier.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the software-designed radio consumes less than 20 milli-Amps of current during the transmitting the wireless signal. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the software-defined radio is configured to transmit the wireless signal at a rate less than 200 kilo-bits-per-second. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the frequency is between 2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz. 
     
     
         26 - 29 . (canceled)