Patent Application
20070022012
The present invention relates to a RFID access apparatus and a transaction method using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to utilize a RFID access apparatus having Secure Digital interface and operating in a bandwidth of ultra high frequency; meanwhile the present invention also relates to provide a transaction method that utilizes the RFID access apparatus to purchase a product having a RFID tag.
Radio Frequency Identification technology, a cutting edge technique of wireless system in the century, has gradually change the managing and consuming ways for human beings. RFID system can automatically identify tracks and manages objects via a fast connection between the object and RFID reader. With many advantages comparing to the conventional managing way, RFID system can be adopted in the categories such as aviation baggage management control, automatic production control, warehouse storage control, transportation control, security control, library control, consuming product control, electric financial control and so on. Hence, soon after the future, RFID is capable of replacing the conventional managing ways such as barcode management system.
In mobile communication fields, mobile devices with RFID functionalities such as a RFID tag deposed in the mobile devices or a RFID reader/writer deposed in the mobile devices to complete RFID identification mechanism have been disclosed in the prior arts or patents extensively.
Taking U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,052 for an instance, that discloses a mobile device having RFID reader module and RFID tag and adopting near field communication as a basic communication protocol.
Others such as US2003/0120745 has disclosed an information receiving system which allows user acquisition of product information from a server over a network and displays of the information without awaiting the user's instructions by using an information receiving terminal to access RFID tag attached on the product through radio frequencies.
However, according to the foregoing prior arts, we can conclude the following shortcomings:
Besides, U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,591 also discloses an apparatus of a cellular telephone allowing the cellular telephone to accept input from a credit card-like device. Since the card reader device is attached on the cellular telephone, it is inconvenient to user due to its bulk and additional credit card taking.
Hence, it is necessary to develop a RFID access apparatus and a transaction method using the same to overcome the drawbacks of the foregoing prior arts.
A primary object of the present invention is to utilize a RFID access apparatus coupled to an electrical terminal device so as to achieve an objective of plug-and-play so that user can easily decide circumstances whether to use or not.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a RFID access apparatus whose communication bandwidth is ultra high frequency so as to broaden the communication and accessing range.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a transaction method utilizing the RFID access apparatus for consuming products with RFID tags so as to achieve an objective of electric shopping.
For the purpose to achieve the foregoing objectives, the prevent invention discloses a RFID access apparatus, coupled to a SD card socket disposed in an electrical terminal device including a controller unit coupled to the SD card socket and a radio frequency transceiver coupled to the controller unit, and being capable of accessing data recorded in a RFID tag through operating the electrical terminal device, comprising: a SD interface, coupled to the SD card socket for signal and data communication; a radio frequency access unit, coupled to the SD interface for reading data recorded in the RFID tag and writing data into the RFID tag; and a memory unit, coupled to the SD interface for storing data.
Preferably, the radio frequency access unit is capable of reading and writing the RFID tag through radio frequency emitted from the radio frequency transceiver.
Preferably, the RFID access apparatus further comprises an radio frequency transceiver coupled to the SD interface for transmitting and receiving ultra high frequency signals to access the RFID tag.
Preferably, the electrical terminal device is a mobile phone.
Preferably, the electrical terminal device is a personal assistant device.
Preferably, the data stored in the memory unit further comprises an electric currency.
For the purpose to achieve the foregoing objectives, the prevent invention discloses a transaction method using the RFID access apparatus, being capable of purchasing a product having a RFID tag, comprising the steps of: providing an electrical terminal device comprising a SD card socket; inserting a RFID access apparatus, comprising a memory unit recording an electric currency, into said SD card socket; accessing a price, stored in a RFID tag attached on a product, by operating said electrical terminal device; and making transaction.
a is a schematic illustration of a RFID access apparatus, a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention, coupled to an electrical terminal device.
b is a schematic illustration of a RFID access apparatus that is a second preferred embodiment according to the present invention.
a, a schematic illustration of a RFID access apparatus coupled to an electrical terminal device, is shown that a RFID access apparatus 2 coupled to a SD card socket 12 disposed in an electrical terminal device 1 including a controller unit 11 coupled to the SD card socket 12, a radio frequency transceiver 13 coupled to the controller unit 11, a display unit 14 coupled to the controller unit 11, and a operating unit 15 coupled to the controller unit 11. The users can control the RFID access apparatus 2 to read the data stored in a RFID tag or write data into the RFID tag through the operating unit 15 to control the electrical terminal devices 1. The electrical terminal device 1, for example, can be a personal digital assistant or cellular phone.
The RFID access apparatus 2 comprises a SD interface 21, a radio frequency access unit 22 and a memory unit 23. The SD interface 21 is coupled to the SD card socket 12 for signal and data communication. The radio frequency access unit 22 is coupled to the SD interface 21 for reading data recorded in the RFID tag and writing data into the RFID tag, and the memory unit 23 is coupled to the SD interface 21 for storing data such as an electric currency for electric transaction or trading, personal information, trading date and so on.
The RFID access apparatus 2 is inserted into the SD card socket 12 to couple to the electrical terminal device 1 and is capable of performing the ability of hot plugging. In this embodiment, the RFID access apparatus 2 transmits and receives radio frequency signals via the radio frequency transceiver 13 of the electrical terminal device 1 using ultra high frequency, i.e. 860M˜930 MHz as its communication medium to access the RFID tag for the purpose of enlarging the communication distance.
b is another embodiment of a RFID access apparatus 2 further comprising a radio frequency transceiver 24 coupled to the SD interface 21 for transmitting and receiving ultra high frequency signals to access the RFID tag.
Returning the
Referring to
The present invention provide a transaction method using RFID access apparatus 2, being capable of purchasing a product 6 having a RFID tag 61, comprising the steps of following: at first processing the step 31 to provide a SD card socket disposed in an electrical terminal device 1 including a controller unit 11 coupled to the SD card socket 12 and a radio frequency transceiver 13 coupled to the controller unit 11. Then, as illustrated in step 32, providing a RFID access apparatus 2 comprises a memory unit recording an electric currency, coupled to the SD card socket 12. Thereafter, user operates the electrical terminal device 1 to read a price 621, stored in a RFID tag 61 attached on a product 6. Finally, the transaction is processed.
The RFID access apparatus 2 recorded the electric currency making the RFID access apparatus 2 have functionality similar to a stored value card, in other words, the user can stored an amount of money into the RFID access apparatus 2 to consume products in way of electrical trading. By means of step 31 and step 32, the electrical terminal device 1 becomes a device that is capable of consuming the product 6 having the RFID tag 61 which records price 621 in its memory unit 62. After user manipulates the electrical terminal device 1 to retrieve the price 621 recorded in the RFID tag 61 of the product 6, the electrical terminal device 1 will process the transaction.
Referring to
The step 346 can make sure a security procedure once the product purchased by the user is lost. If the product is found, the product can be identified immediately according to the data recorded in the RFID tag of the product to confirm who is the owner of the product. In cases of the user found a suspect product that might belongs to the user, he or she can operate the electrical terminal device to retrieve the data of private information recorded in the RFID tag attached on the suspect product to confirm whether the suspect product is the one he or she lost or not. Besides, the private information of user is also available to be used as the identification of the product service so that the user and maker can both gain the benefits with each other. For example, the consuming date can be recorded into the RFID tag after the user purchases the product. Once the product has problem, the service center of the maker can easily recognize the product to confirm whether the guarantee of the product is expired or not.
The RFID access apparatus and transaction method according to the present invention provide many conveniences for users to consume products without cashes. Meanwhile users who use RFID access apparatus and transaction method according to the present invention can avoid credit card skimming while making transaction.
While the invention has been described with reference to various illustrative embodiments, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting scope. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as may fall within the scope of the invention defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94124817 | Jul 2005 | TW | national |
