US Patent 10037509 Efficient monitoring of inventory items

Described is a system and method for efficiently tracking inventory using RFID tags (e.g., RFID tags). For example, an RFID tag reader may perform an inventory mode to receive RFID tag identifiers from RFID tags located within a range of an antenna element of the RFID tag reader. Those RFID tag identifiers may be included on an inventory table associated with the antenna element. In a second mode, the RFID tag reader may perform a targeted read. During a targeted read mode, the RFID tag reader, utilizing the antenna element, may issue a request for a selected RFID tag identified in the inventory table to reply to the request.