Patent Application
20100039236
The present invention relates generally to RFID tags, and more particularly to a time-based operational window for RFID tags.
With the widespread use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in many industries, including transportation, retail, and health care, countless RFID tags with enormous amounts of data are used and then forgotten about in homes, warehouses, stores, and hospitals. Although it could be argued that much of the data on the RFID tags is no longer relevant, such as data of expired food or already delivered packages, many consumers would not like the idea that the RFID tags on many items will still be readable after purchase; the RFID tag data on an item could then be read by another party and associated with the purchaser. This information could then be collected and used by marketers, for example, in ways consumers would eschew if they were aware of them.
One way to delete data on an RFID tag is to permanently disable the tag at the point of sale with a “kill” command. This, however, requires a command issued from an RFID reader and would require an extra step for each tagged item in an RFID system. Further, killing the RFID tag on items would also terminate RFID benefits to consumers. For example, smart appliances such as RFID refrigerators or medicine cabinets would be rendered un-useful. Further, if an RFID chip is killed, returning an item to a store would require re-activation of the chip or retagging of the item, which would be a burden to the consumer.
Another way of disabling an RFID tag is to buy a device known as an RFID-zapper, which allows consumers to wipe tag data individually. Further, an RFID tag can be disabled by physically removing and/or destroying the tag. However, removing RFID tags can be quite a difficult task, since some RFID tags are very small (less than a half-millimeter square, and as thin as a sheet of paper), while others may be hidden or embedded inside a product where consumers cannot see them. In addition, new technologies allow RFID tags to be “printed” right on a product and may not be removable at all.
The present invention provides a time-based operational window for RFID tags.
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for time-based operation of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising: associating an operational window with the RFID tag; determining if a current time is within the operational window; operating the RFID tag if the current time is within the operational window; and not operating the RFID tag if the current time is outside the operational window.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising: an operational window; a system for determining if a current time is within the operational window; and a system for operating the RFID tag if a current time is within the operational window, wherein the RFID tag does not operate if the current time is outside the operational window.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, comprising: an RFID reader; an RFID tag comprising an operational window; a system for determining if a current time is within the operational window; and a system for operating the RFID tag if a current time is within the operational window, wherein the RFID tag does not operate if the current time is outside the operational window.
These and other features will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention provides a time-based operational window for RFID tags.
In the following discussion, it is assumed that the reader has an understanding of the operation of RFID tags/readers commensurate with one skilled in the art. To this extent, a detailed discussion of the operation of RFID tags/readers is not provided herein.
An embodiment of the present invention is depicted in
Another embodiment of the present invention is depicted in
In general, the operational window 12 is application specific. As such, any suitable operational window 12 can be used in the practice of the present invention.
As depicted in
The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
