Method for operating a transponder, and a transponder device

Abstract

A method for operating a transponder, and a transponder device is disclosed. Data are wirelessly and bidirectionally transmitted between the transponder and a base station through a first interface that is based on an electromagnetic far-field coupling. According to the invention, data are additionally transmitted wirelessly and bidirectionally between the transponder and the base station through at least one second interface that is based on inductive coupling.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an RFID system with a base station and a transponder; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a timing diagram of a selection process.

Claims

1. A method for operating a transponder, the method comprising: transmitting data wirelessly and bidirectionally between the transponder and a base station through a first interface that is based on an electromagnetic far-field coupling; andtransmitting data wirelessly and bidirectionally between the transponder and the base station through at least one second interface that is based on inductive coupling.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein security-related data are transmitted exclusively through the second interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein passwords are transmitted exclusively through the second interface.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein an authentication operation is carried out exclusively through the second interface.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a DES encryption method, a triple DES encryption method, or an AES encryption method is performed during data transmission through the second interface.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the base station executes an anticollision routine through the first interface, and wherein, when the transponder is selected, the first interface is deactivated and data transmission is performed exclusively through the second interface.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transponder is supplied with operating power through the first interface and/or through the second interface.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein data are transmitted from the transponder to the base station through the first interface on the basis of backscatter.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first interface is operated in a frequency range from 400 MHz to 6 GHz.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second interface is operated in a frequency range from 100 kHz to 150 kHz, or 10 MHz to 20 MHz.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein both the first and second interfaces are activated after an initialization of the transponder, and when a command is received, only the interface through which the command is received remains activated.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein a field strength measurement is performed at the first and second interfaces, and the interface at which the greater field strength is present is activated, while the other interface is deactivated.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein a bit error rate is measured at the first and second interfaces, and the interface at which the lower bit error rate is measured is activated, while the other interface is deactivated.

14. A transponder comprising: a first interface for bidirectional, wireless data transmission between the transponder and a base station, wherein the first interface is based on electromagnetic far-field coupling; anda second interface for bidirectional, wireless data transmission between the transponder and the base station, wherein the second interface is based on inductive coupling.

15. The transponder according to claim 14, further comprising an interface selection unit for selecting the second interface for data transmission in the event of security-related data to be transmitted.