Abstract: Some embodiments provide RFID tag reading systems comprising: multiple sets of RFID readers at a retail shopping facility; a tag evaluation control circuit communicatively coupled with the multiple sets of RFID readers and at least one memory, and configured to: receive RFID tag information from the RFID readers; obtain and apply a first set of rules and identify a transition area within the retail shopping facility based on the received RFID tag information; identify a first set of RFID readers configured to read RFID tags as they move through the identified transition area; obtain and apply a second set of rules and establish a first null area adjacent the transition area configured to enable RFID tags crossing through the first null area and prior to entering the transition area to be in a predefined state when entering the transition area.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided to track objects at a retail store, comprising: a mobile RFID transmitter system comprising an array of RFID tags; multiple RFID tag readers; a tracking control circuit communicatively coupled with the multiple RFID tag readers, and configured to: receive, from a sub-set of RFID tag readers, RFID tag information of each detected first set of RFID tags of the array of RFID tags; obtain a first set of rules and evaluate over time the received RFID tag information and identify over time threshold changes from a set of base information of received RFID signals from the array of RFID tags, wherein the threshold change is consistent with a first object traveling between the array of RFID tags and a corresponding one of the first sub-set of RFID tag readers; and track the first object.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to updating an inventory database. In some embodiments, a system for updating an inventory database comprises an array of RFID readers positioned at different locations about the retail facility, where the RFID readers are configured to read RFID tags associated with products, and a control circuit, the control circuit configured to receive, from one or more RFID readers, identifiers, wherein the identifiers are associated with the RFID tags, determine, based on the identifiers, a flow of RFID tags, identify, without reference to a structural map of the retail facility, a transition point from the stockroom to the sales floor, determine, based on an RFID read, that a product has passed through the transition point from the stockroom to the sales floor, and update the inventory database to indicate that the product is located on the sales floor.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to monitoring RFID tags in a retail facility. In some embodiments, a system comprises an RFID tag, a first RFID reader monitoring a first zone and configured to determine, based on a signal received from the RFID tag, that the RFID tag is moving toward the second zone, transmit, to a second RFID reader monitoring the second zone, a notification indicating that the RFID tag is moving toward the second zone, and in response to receipt of a confirmation message from the second RFID reader, instruct the RFID tag to remain in its current state, and cease communication with the RFID tag, the second RFID reader configured to receive, from the first RFID reader, the notification, transmit, to the first RFID reader, the confirmation message, and transmit, to the RFID tag, a signal.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining an amount of material remaining in a spool are provided herein. The system includes a radiofrequency identification (RFID) reader that is configured to read an RFID tag disposed at an end of a core of the spool. The RFID reader is provided on or in a vicinity of a support surface configured to hold at least a portion of the material. The system further includes a computer system in communication with the RFID reader, the computer system being configured to compute an amount of remaining material in the spool based on a thickness of the material and based on a number of revolutions of the spool. The number of revolutions is determined by a number of times the RFID tag on the spool comes in a reading vicinity of the RFID reader.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to monitoring condition compliance. In some embodiments, an RFID tag comprises a first chip and a second chip, an antenna, a switch, wherein the switch is configured to switchably connect the first chip and the second chip to the antenna based on occurrence of a condition, a memory device, and a control circuit configured to write, in response to a connection between the first chip and the antenna, a first marker and an indication of a first state to the memory device, write, in response to a connection between the second chip and the antenna, a second marker and an indication of a second state to the memory device, determine an amount of time in which compliance was not met, and transmit, to an RFID reader, an indication of the amount of time in which compliance was not met.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to monitor a shopping facility. The shopping facility can include an array of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers distributed throughout the facility to thereby receive and read signals generated from RFID tags within the facility. RFID tags can advantageously be coupled to and associated with products within the facility so that readings of the tags can be used to monitor the status of the products. A control circuit can be coupled to the RFID readers to thereby analyze the readings and compile readings over time. With this, the control circuit can monitor the shopping facility to identify scenarios requiring follow up. Upon identification of one of the scenarios, the control circuit can instruct an automated ground vehicle (AGV) to inspect an identified product at a location within the facility. The AGV can operate a sensor thereof to determine a status of the identified product.

Abstract: Retail product inventory tracking systems are provided. The systems, in some embodiments, comprise: multiple sets of RFID tags positioned relative to product support systems; multiple RFID tag readers; and an inventory estimation control circuit configured to: receive detected RFID tag information and an RFID tag identifier of each read RFID tag of a first set of non-product RFID tags; obtain and use a first set of rules to evaluate, for each read RFID tag, the RFID tag information relative to the RFID tag information of two or more of the other read RFID tags of the first set of RFID tags; obtain and use a second set of rules to determine, based on the evaluation of the RFID tag information, a quantity of items of a first product that continue to be supported by a first product support system.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide RFID tag reading systems comprising: multiple sets of RFID readers at a retail shopping facility; a tag evaluation control circuit communicatively coupled with the multiple sets of RFID readers and at least one memory, and configured to: receive RFID tag information from the RFID readers; obtain and apply a first set of rules and identify a transition area within the retail shopping facility based on the received RFID tag information; identify a first set of RFID readers configured to read RFID tags as they move through the identified transition area; obtain and apply a second set of rules and establish a first null area adjacent the transition area configured to enable RFID tags crossing through the first null area and prior to entering the transition area to be in a predefined state when entering the transition area.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatus and methods are provided herein useful to improve store management by reducing the instances that may cause lost sales or result in a customer assistance inquiry. The solutions disclosed herein allow users to start with sales frequency to identify potential alerts or anomalies and then optionally allows for further customization and/or prioritization regarding the potential anomalies in a way that will address specific needs or concerns of a particular system user and allows for the system to be tuned or changed over time as desired.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to monitor a shopping facility. The shopping facility can include an array of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers distributed throughout the facility to thereby receive and read signals generated from RFID tags within the facility. RFID tags can advantageously be coupled to and associated with products within the facility so that readings of the tags can be used to monitor the status of the products. A control circuit can be coupled to the RFID readers to thereby analyze the readings and compile readings over time. With this, the control circuit can monitor the shopping facility to identify scenarios requiring follow up. Upon identification of one of the scenarios, the control circuit can instruct an automated ground vehicle (AGV) to inspect an identified product at a location within the facility. The AGV can operate a sensor thereof to determine a status of the identified product.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to monitoring condition compliance. In some embodiments, an RFID tag comprises a first chip and a second chip, an antenna, a switch, wherein the switch is configured to switchably connect the first chip and the second chip to the antenna based on occurrence of a condition, a memory device, and a control circuit configured to write, in response to a connection between the first chip and the antenna, a first marker and an indication of a first state to the memory device, write, in response to a connection between the second chip and the antenna, a second marker and an indication of a second state to the memory device, determine an amount of time in which compliance was not met, and transmit, to an RFID reader, an indication of the amount of time in which compliance was not met.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to monitoring a plurality of RFID tags in a remote location. In some embodiments, a garment for monitoring a plurality of RFID tags in a remote location comprises a garment body, an RFID reader attached to the garment body, the RFID reader configured to read the plurality of RFID tags in the remote location, an antenna attached to the garment body, and a control circuit attached to the garment and configured to receive, from the RFID reader, one or more identifiers, wherein the one or more identifiers are associated with the plurality of RFID tags, generate, based on the one or more identifiers, emulated identifiers, determine that the garment is within a designated area separate from the remote location, and in response to determining that the garment is within the designated area, cause the emulated identifiers to be transmitted.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided herein useful to determining qualities of a line at a POS terminal in a retail establishment. In some embodiments, a systems comprises one or more RFID tags, wherein the one or more RFID tags are located near the POS terminal, an RFID reader configured to read signals transmitted from the one or more RFID tags, and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the RFID reader, the control circuit configured to receive, from the RFID reader, an indication of the signals transmitted from the one or more RFID tags, determine, based on the indication of the signals from the one or more RFID tags, properties of the signals transmitted by the one or more RFID tags, and estimate, based on the properties of the signals transmitted from the one or more RFID tags, a number of people in line at the POS terminal.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to monitor a shopping facility. The shopping facility can include an array of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers distributed throughout the facility to thereby receive and read signals generated from RFID tags within the facility. RFID tags can advantageously be coupled to and associated with products within the facility so that readings of the tags can be used to monitor the status of the products. A control circuit can be coupled to the RFID readers to thereby analyze the readings and compile readings over time. With this, the control circuit can monitor the shopping facility to identify scenarios requiring follow up. Upon identification of one of the scenarios, the control circuit can instruct an automated ground vehicle (AGV) to inspect an identified product at a location within the facility. The AGV can operate a sensor thereof to determine a status of the identified product.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to monitoring condition compliance. In some embodiments, an RFID tag comprises a first chip and a second chip, an antenna, a switch, wherein the switch is configured to switchably connect the first chip and the second chip to the antenna based on occurrence of a condition, a memory device, and a control circuit configured to write, in response to a connection between the first chip and the antenna, a first marker and an indication of a first state to the memory device, write, in response to a connection between the second chip and the antenna, a second marker and an indication of a second state to the memory device, determine an amount of time in which compliance was not met, and transmit, to an RFID reader, an indication of the amount of time in which compliance was not met.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided herein useful to determining qualities of a line at a POS terminal in a retail establishment. In some embodiments, a systems comprises one or more RFID tags, wherein the one or more RFID tags are located near the POS terminal, an RFID reader configured to read signals transmitted from the one or more RFID tags, and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the RFID reader, the control circuit configured to receive, from the RFID reader, an indication of the signals transmitted from the one or more RFID tags, determine, based on the indication of the signals from the one or more RFID tags, properties of the signals transmitted by the one or more RFID tags, and estimate, based on the properties of the signals transmitted from the one or more RFID tags, a number of people in line at the POS terminal.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to updating an inventory database. In some embodiments, a system for updating an inventory database comprises an array of RFID readers positioned at different locations about the retail facility, where the RFID readers are configured to read RFID tags associated with products, and a control circuit, the control circuit configured to receive, from one or more RFID readers, identifiers, wherein the identifiers are associated with the RFID tags, determine, based on the identifiers, a flow of RFID tags, identify, without reference to a structural map of the retail facility, a transition point from the stockroom to the sales floor, determine, based on an RFID read, that a product has passed through the transition point from the stockroom to the sales floor, and update the inventory database to indicate that the product is located on the sales floor.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to monitoring condition compliance. In some embodiments, an RFID tag comprises a first chip and a second chip, an antenna, a switch, wherein the switch is configured to switchably connect the first chip and the second chip to the antenna based on occurrence of a condition, a memory device, and a control circuit configured to write, in response to a connection between the first chip and the antenna, a first marker and an indication of a first state to the memory device, write, in response to a connection between the second chip and the antenna, a second marker and an indication of a second state to the memory device, determine an amount of time in which compliance was not met, and transmit, to an RFID reader, an indication of the amount of time in which compliance was not met.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided to track objects at a retail store, comprising: multiple RFID tag readers to detect a set of different RFID tags each associated with a different item; and a tracking control circuit configured to: receive, from RFID tag readers, RFID tag information of each RFID tag of a subset of the RFID tags; obtain and use a first set of rules to evaluate, over time and for each of the subset of RFID tags, the RFID tag information and identify threshold changes from a set of base information, wherein the threshold change at each of the set of RFID tag readers is consistent with an object moving proximate the RFID tag reader and items corresponding to the RFID tags; and track the object along travel areas as a function of timing of the detected changes from the base information.