Method for field programming radio frequency identification return forms

• US 20040074963A1
• Filed: 05/07/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG), Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Romansky, Brian M., Obrea, Andrei, Foth, Thomas J., Pierce, Jeffrey D., Chhatpar, Anand
• Granted Patent: US 6,840,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/067 Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07716 the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

A method that allows one to mark information with a pencil on a label equipped with a RFID type circuit, and have the marked information provided to the RFID circuit, or have the written information cause the RFID circuit to supply information regarding the returned goods. The marked entered information may be corrected by erasing the written information with a pencil eraser and writing new information on the paper with a pencil. Information may also be marked into a RFID circuit or have the marked information cause the RFID circuit to perform some function by utilizing a standard ink jet computer printer to print lines on paper equipped with a RFID type circuit, by having the printed lines perform the function of wires. The aforementioned printed information may be modified by having an individual connect different printed wires by drawing a penciled line between the wires or by punching holes in the printed lines.

Claims

1. A method for a buyer to return goods to a seller, said method includes the steps of:

A) packing buyer ordered goods in a container addressed to the buyer;

B) exposing on a material data bits of a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit in a manner that the data bits will represent goods that have been ordered by the buyer, the RFID circuit having a number generation portion that is activated when the RFID circuit is read, the number generation portion identifying the buyer, the container and its contents;

C) placing the RFID circuit in the container;

D) delivering the container to the buyer;

E) altering on the material the data bits of the number generation portion of the RFID circuit in a manner that the altered bits will represent goods that are being returned to the seller; and

F) returning the RFID circuit, the returned goods and the container to the seller.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein step E) further includes the step of:

altering on the material the data bits of the number generation portion of the RFID circuit in a manner that the altered bits will represent the reason why the goods are being returned to the seller.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the number generation portion of the RFID circuit contains a unique identification.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the RFID number generation portion of the RFID circuit can be set to a unique identification by exposing data bits of the RFID circuit.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein step E) further includes the step of:

altering on the material the data bits of the number generation portion of the RFID circuit in a manner that the altered bits will represent the condition of the goods that are being returned to the seller.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the altering step further includes the step of:

marking information on the material with a pencil to alter the bits.

7. The method claimed in claim 6, wherein the pencil is a graphite pencil.

8. The method claimed in claim 6, wherein the marked information performs the function of wires.

9. The method claimed in claim 6, further including the step of:

10. The method claimed in claim 6, further including the step of:

punching holes in the marked information to modify the information.

11. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the marked information forms a bar code.

12. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recording step further includes the step of:

marking information on the material with a ink jet printer to alter the bits.

13. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recording step further includes the step of:

marking information on the material with a laser printer to alter the bits.

14. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recording step further includes the step of:

marking information on the material with a ballpoint pen to alter the bits.

15. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the material is paper.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a container;

at least one item of goods within the container;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit within the container, the RFID circuit having a number generation portion that is activated when the RFID circuit is read, the number generation portion identifying the at least one item of goods, a buyer to whom the at least one item of goods was sent, and the container; and

a sheet of material within the container, the RFID circuit being coupled to the sheet of material;

wherein at least one data bit of the number generation portion has been altered by a pen or pencil mark on the sheet of material to identify the at least one item of goods.

17. The apparatus claimed in claim 16, wherein the container is a shipping box.

18. The apparatus claimed in claim 16, wherein the material is paper.