IC tag

• US 20050156707A1
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kudo, Tomotaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,358,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.910
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits

Abstract

An integrated circuit tag includes an item information storage unit that stores item information related to the item, an item information controller that provides control to change the item information, and an item information display unit that displays the item information stored, wherein if the item information controller provides control to change the item information stored based on an instruction wirelessly transmitted from a control device, then the item information display unit displays the item information changed.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit tag that is attached to an item of merchandise, comprising:

an item information storage unit that stores item information related to the item;

an item information controller that provides control to change the item information; and

an item information display unit that displays the item information stored, wherein

if the item information controller provides control to change the item information stored based on an instruction wirelessly transmitted from a control device, then the item information display unit displays the item information changed.

2. The integrated circuit tag according to claim 1, wherein the item information includes discount information of an item, and the item information display unit displays the discount information.

3. The integrated circuit tag according to claim 2, further comprising:

a discount information updating unit that updates the discount information.

4. The integrated circuit tag according to claim 1, wherein

the item information further includes encryption information that indicates whether the item information is to be encrypted, and

if the encryption information indicates that the item information is to be encrypted, the item information controller provides control to encrypt the item information at a time when the item is sold, based on an instruction from the control device.

5. An integrated circuit tag that is attached to an item of merchandise, comprising:

an item information storage unit that stores item information including a Best Before date of the item, the item information being wirelessly transmitted from a control device;

an expiration detector that detects, whether the Best Before date of the item has expired, using a timer; and

an item information display processor that displays the item information stored, wherein

if the expiration detector detects that the Best Before date has expired, the item information display processor displays a message to that effect.

6. The integrated circuit tag according to claim 5, further comprising:

a display color changing unit that changes a color of the expiration information displayed, if the Best Before date has expired.

7. An integrated circuit tag that is attached to an item of merchandise, comprising:

an item information storage unit that stores item information including a Best Before date of the item,,the item information being wirelessly transmitted from a control device;

an expiration determining unit that determines whether the Best Before date of the item has expired, based on a present time acquired periodically from the control device and; and

an item information display unit that displays a message if the expiration determining unit determines that the Best Before date has expired.

8. The integrated circuit tag according to claim 7, further comprising:

a display color changing unit that changes a color of the expiration information displayed, if the Best Before date has expired.