RFID APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPARTMENT OCCUPANCY DETECTION IN A SHELF

An RFID apparatus for compartment occupancy detection in a shelf, the RFID apparatus including an antenna, an RF transceiver connected to the antenna and a control and evaluation unit for communicating with an RFID transponder via the RF transceiver and the antenna by means of an RFID signal and for a detection and localization of changes in the compartment occupancy. The RFID apparatus further includes a plurality of reference transponders to be arranged on the shelf at known positions, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to localize, upon a change of a detectable RFID transponder population, an RFID transponder which is removed or added based on the position of a reference transponder where communication characteristics of the RFID communication have changed together with the change of the detectable RFID transponder population.