Automated preparation of radio-frequency devices for distribution

• US 20050104718A1
• Filed: 11/19/2003
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Scott J., Dewan, Sunil, Walpus, Timothy J., Nowlin, Jeffrey G., Casto, Fred C., Greene, Jay E., Christensen, John E.
• Application Number:
  US10/718,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20050104718A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07716 the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00629 Circuit, e.g. transponder

Abstract

RF devices are received that include embedded radio-frequency transponders. Each RF device is moved sequentially to stations of a preparation device. At one station, an RF identification code assigned to the RF device is encoded. A recipient of the RF device is identified. At another station, a package containing the RF device is labeled with a mailing address for the recipient

Claims

1. A method for automated preparation of radio-frequency devices for distribution, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of such radio-frequency devices, each such device comprising an embedded radio-frequency transponder;

sequentially moving each of the radio-frequency devices to a plurality of stations of a preparation device;

encoding, at a first station, a radio-frequency identification code assigned to the each of the radio-frequency devices;

identifying a recipient for the each of the radio-frequency devices; and

labeling, at a second station, a package containing the each of the radio-frequency devices with a mailing address for the recipient.

2. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising:

reading, at a third station, the radio-frequency identification code from the each of the radio-frequency devices; and

verifying that the read radio-frequency identification code matches the assigned radio-frequency identification code.

3. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising providing radio-frequency shielding around at least the first station.

4. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising providing radio-frequency shielding around the preparation device.

5. The method recited in claim 1 wherein:

receiving the plurality of such radio-frequency devices comprises receiving each such device in an enclosure; and

encoding the radio-frequency identification code is performed without removing the each of the radio-frequency devices from the enclosure.

6. The method recited in claim 5 wherein the package is the enclosure.

7. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising encapsulating the each of the radio-frequency devices in material to produce a structure of a standard size, wherein the preparation device is adapted to move objects of the standard size to the plurality of stations.

8. The method recited in claim 7 wherein encapsulating the each of the radio-frequency devices comprises heat shrink wrapping the each of the radio-frequency devices.

9. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising affixing the each of the radio-frequency devices to a backboard having a standard size, wherein the preparation device is adapted to move objects of the standard size to the plurality of stations.

10. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising inserting the each of the radio-frequency devices into an envelope for mailing to the recipient.

11. The method recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the plurality of such radio-frequency devices comprises receiving a reel that includes the plurality of such radio-frequency devices.

12. The method recited in claim 11 further comprising cutting the reel between radio-frequency devices to separate the radio-frequency devices.

13. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a plurality of magnetic-stripe cards;

reading, at a third station, an identification of each of the plurality of magnetic-stripe cards from a magnetic stripe comprised by the magnetic-stripe card; and

determining the radio-frequency identification code to be assigned to a corresponding one of the radio-frequency devices from the identification of the each of the plurality of magnetic-stripe cards,

wherein the package further contains the magnetic-stripe card corresponding to the each of the radio-frequency devices.

14. The method recited in claim 13 further comprising encapsulating the each of the radio-frequency devices in material to produce a structure of a standard size, wherein the preparation device is adapted to move objects of the standard size to the plurality of stations.

15. The method recited in claim 14 wherein the standard size is approximately equal to a size of the magnetic-stripe cards.

16. A method for automated preparation of radio-frequency devices for distribution, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of such radio-frequency devices, each such device comprising an embedded radio-frequency transponder;

encapsulating each of the radio-frequency devices in material to produce a structure of a standard size; and

encoding a radio-frequency identification code assigned to the each of the radio-frequency devices through the encapsulating material.

17. The method recited in claim 16 further comprising:

reading the radio-frequency identification code from the each of the radio-frequency devices; and

verifying that the read radio-frequency identification code from the each of the radio-frequency devices matches the assigned radio-frequency identification code.

18. The method recited in claim 16 wherein encapsulating the each of the radio-frequency devices comprises heat shrink wrapping the each of the radio-frequency devices.

19. The method recited in claim 16 further comprising inserting the each of the encoded radio-frequency devices into a package labeled with an address of a recipient of the encoded radio-frequency devices.

20. A method for automated preparation of radio-frequency devices for distribution, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of such radio-frequency devices, each such device comprising an embedded radio-frequency transponder;

affixing the each of the radio-frequency devices to a backboard having a standard size; and

encoding a radio-frequency identification code assigned to the each of the radio-frequency devices as the backboard is moved sequentially to a plurality of stations of a preparation device.

21. The method recited in claim 20 further comprising:

reading the radio-frequency identification code from the each of the radio-frequency devices; and

verifying that the read radio-frequency identification code from the each of the radio-frequency devices matches the assigned radio-frequency identification code.

22. The method recited in claim 20 further comprising inserting the each of the encoded radio-frequency devices into a package labeled with an address of a recipient of the encoded radio-frequency devices.

23. A method for automated preparation of radio-frequency devices for distribution, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of such radio-frequency devices, each such device comprising an embedded radio-frequency transponder;

receiving a plurality of magnetic-stripe cards, each such magnetic stripe card having a magnetic-stripe identification encoded thereon;

sequentially moving pairs of the radio-frequency devices and magnetic-stripe cards to a plurality of stations of a preparation device;

encoding the radio-frequency device of each such pair with a radio-frequency identification code corresponding to the magnetic-stripe identification of the magnetic-stripe card of the each such pair at one or more of the stations; and

preparing the each such pair for mailing to a recipient at another of the stations.

24. The method recited in claim 23 further comprising:

reading the radio-frequency identification code from the radio-frequency device of the each such pair at a further station; and

verifying that the radio-frequency identification code corresponds to the magnetic-stripe identification of the magnetic-stripe card of the each such pair.

25. The method recited in claim 23 wherein preparing the each such pair for mailing comprises inserting the each such pair into an envelope addressed to the recipient.

26. A method for automated preparation of radio-frequency devices for distribution, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of enclosures each holding a radio-frequency device, each such device comprising an embedded radio-frequency transponder;

sequentially moving each of the enclosures to a plurality of stations of a preparation device;

encoding, at a first station, a radio-frequency identification code assigned to the each of the radio-frequency devices without removing the each of the radio-frequency devices from its enclosure;

identifying a recipient for the each of the radio-frequency devices; and

labeling, at a second station, the enclosure of the each of the radio-frequency devices with an address for the recipient.

27. The method recited in claim 26 further comprising:

reading, at a third station, the radio-frequency identification code from the each of the radio-frequency devices; and

verifying that the read radio-frequency identification code matches the assigned radio-frequency identification code.

28. The method recited in claim 26 wherein each of the enclosures is a standard size.