Inventory management of plural components at an end user inventory is simplified by tracking components with shipment identification codes used to ship the components from a component vendor through a shipment vendor. A component order module associated with the end user places components orders with a component vendor order engine for shipment by the shipment vendor. The component vendor order engine obtains a shipment identification code for shipment of the component and provides the code to the end user component order module. The component ships in a container having the shipment identification code presented on the exterior as a barcode that is scanned on delivery of the container to the end user. After delivery, an inventory manager tracks the component in the inventory with the shipment identification barcode until the component is used. Removal of the component tracked by a scan of the barcode by the inventory manager may trigger re-order of the component from the component vendor with the component identified by the shipment identification code.

Described is a method and system for detecting a first trigger event using a trigger device, the trigger device including a trigger sensor and a trigger tag. Listening on a predetermined radio frequency band by an interrogator for an activation signal, wherein the activation signal is generated by the trigger tag, the activation signal including a unique identifier of the trigger tag and receiving the activation signal. The activation signal is then validated as being received from an associated trigger tag and the interrogator is activated into an interrogation mode upon validation of the activation signal.

A method of managing inventories of expiration dated products, utilizing a portable programmable electronic code reading device with a keypad for inputting data, a display for displaying data, memory, and data storage, includes the steps of reading a product identification code for a set of product units with the same identification code and same expiration date, entering the expiration date into the device, associating the product identification with the expiration date and storing the associated information in a database, and stocking the product units in inventory. A date is entered into the device to initiate a query of the database for product expiration dates within a preselected range of days from the entered date, generating a sequential listing of product identification and associated expiration dates within the preselected range, enabling a user to check inventory for the presence or absence of product units with the displayed expiration date or dates.

The present invention features an RFID smart shelf reader capable of working with a wide range of antenna types and numbers. The smart shelf reader readily accommodates and accurately reads a diverse range of package shapes, sizes, and contents. Multiple tags in close proximity to one another are accurately read by the smart shelf reader. The reader includes features for optimizing its own interface by periodically recalibrating itself to the current antenna load characteristics caused by varying external conditions, primarily in the type, number, and position of merchandise items on the shelf proximate at least one of the antennas. An external I/O interface is provided for communication with a remote controller.

A rack sensor controller is operable to sense information for assets housed in a rack. The rack sensor controller includes a memory storing a location of the rack and sensor information received from a plurality of sensors. At least some of the sensors include one or more RFID readers operable to read RFID tags attached to assets housed in the rack. A processor is operable to receive the sensor information and generate a message including the sensor information and the location of the rack for transmission to one or more back-end applications via a forwarder. The forwarder is operable to receive the message, determine one or more back-end applications to receive the message, replicate the message for each of the back-end applications, and transmit the message to the back-end applications. The back-end applications use the location of the rack and the sensor information to track the assets.