US Patent 7205897 Product flow based auto-ID infrastructure

A system includes a memory for storing a predetermined path through a plurality of data reading points in a auto-ID system, a plurality of auto-ID tracking devices operable to track an asset at the data reading points, and a processor. The processor is operable to receive data provided from the tracking devices about progress of the asset through the auto-ID system and operable to determine, based on received data indicating that the asset has passed through fewer than all of the plurality of data reading points in the predetermined path, whether or not the progress of asset through the auto-ID system has followed the predetermined path.