RFID READER/WRITER DEVICE

• US 20050269407A1
• Filed: 04/26/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Dynamics Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Precision Dynamics Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Harmon, William H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/435
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0873 Details of the card reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0893 the card reader reading the card in a contactless manner
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader

Abstract

The device of the present invention is a stand alone radio frequency identification (RFID) reader/writer device comprising a micro controller having non-volatile data memory, an RFID module, at least one input/output port, and a display. The device of the present invention is fully configurable and may serve as a multi-functional transaction sentry, i.e., a ticket taker, a money or point collector, a money or point dispenser, an access controller, a balance inquiry station, a transaction logger, etc. The method of the present invention comprises steps for configuring, operating and collecting data from the RFID reader/writer device of the present invention. The configuration, operation or data collection from the RFID device of the present invention may be performed by using either the RFID module or the at least one input/output port.

Claims

1. A stand-alone radio frequency identification reader/writer device comprising:

a micro controller having non-volatile data memory;

an RFID module in communication with the micro controller;

at least one input/output port electrically connected to the micro controller; and

a display electrically connected to the micro controller.

2. The reader/writer device of claim 1, further comprising a direct current power source electrically connected to the micro controller.

3. The reader/writer device of claim 1, including a printer connected to the at least one input/output port.

4. The reader/writer device of claim 1, wherein the at least one input/output port comprises a serial communication port.

5. The reader/writer device of claim 1, wherein the at least one input/output port has TTL compatibility.

6. The reader/writer device of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a three-color LED light.

7. The reader/writer device of claim 1, wherein the display comprises an LCD monitor.

8. The reader/writer device of claim 1, further comprising a programmable audible annunciator electrically connected to the micro controller.

9. The reader/writer device of claim 1, further comprising a housing sealed against dust and water for enclosing at least the micro controller and RFID module.

10. The reader/writer device of claim 9, wherein the at least one input/output port passes through the housing.

11. The reader/writer device of claim 9, wherein the display is visible through the housing.

12. The reader/writer device of claim 1, wherein data stored in the non-volatile data memory is encrypted.

13. The reader/writer device of claim 12, wherein the data stored in the non-volatile data memory is encrypted using an encryption key involving a unique identification code of a high frequency transponder.

14. A stand-alone radio frequency identification reader/writer device comprising:

a micro controller having non-volatile data memory, wherein data stored in said non-volatile data memory is encrypted;

a RFID module in communication with the micro controller;

at least one input/output port electrically connected to the micro controller;

a display electrically connected to the micro controller; and

a housing sealed against dust and water for enclosing the micro controller and RFID module.

15. The reader/writer device of claim 14, further comprising a direct current power source electrically connected to the micro controller.

16. The reader/writer device of claim 14, including a printer connected to the at least one input/output port.

17. The reader/writer device of claim 14, wherein the at least one input/output port comprises a serial communication port.

18. The reader/writer device of claim 14, wherein the at least one input/output port has TTL compatibility.

19. The reader/writer device of claim 14, wherein the display comprises a three-color LED light.

20. The reader/writer device of claim 14, wherein the display comprises an LCD monitor.

21. The reader/writer device of claim 14, further comprising a programmable audible annunciator electrically connected to the micro controller.

22. The reader/writer device of claim 14, wherein the at least one input/output port passes through the housing.

23. The reader/writer device of claim 14, wherein the display is visible through the housing.

24. The reader/writer device of claim 14, wherein the data stored in the non-volatile data memory is encrypted using an encryption key involving a unique identification code of a high frequency transponder.

25. A method of operating a stand-alone radio frequency identification reader/writer device having an RFID module and non-volatile data memory, comprising the steps of:

initializing the reader/writer device;

placing a user card having a user ID and user data, in close proximity to the RFID module;

reading and verifying the user ID;

displaying the results of the reading and verification of the user ID;

reading and processing the user data;

displaying the results of the reading and processing of the user data;

storing, in the non-volatile data memory, transactional data about the reading and processing of the user data;

displaying a ready notification on the reader/writer device; and

collecting the transactional data from the non-volatile data memory.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the initializing step comprises the steps of:

presenting a configuration program having a configuration ID and configuration data, to the reader/writer device;

reading and verifying the configuration ID;

displaying the results of the reading and verification of the configuration ID;

reading the configuration data;

writing the configuration data to the non-volatile data memory;

verifying the configuration data written to the non-volatile data memory; and

displaying the results of the reading, writing and verification of the configuration data.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein presenting a configuration program comprises placing an RFID configuration card having a configuration ID and configuration data in close proximity to the RFID module.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein presenting a configuration program comprises connecting a configuration device having a configuration ID and configuration data to an input/output port on the reader/writer device.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the initializing step further comprises the step of restarting the initialization step until the verification of the configuration ID is positive prior to reading the configuration data.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the initializing step further comprises the step of restarting the initialization step until the verification of the configuration data is positive prior to displaying the results of the reading, writing and verification of the configuration data.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein processing the user data comprises the steps of:

analyzing and modifying the user data;

writing the modified user data to the user card; and

verifying the modified user data written to the user card.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the collecting step comprises the steps of:

presenting a data collection device, having a data collection ID, to the reader/writer device;

reading and verifying the data collection ID;

displaying the results of the reading and verification of the data collection ID;

writing the transactional data to the data collection device;

verifying the transactional data written to the data collection device;

displaying the results of the writing and verification of the transactional data; and

marking the transactional data in the non-volatile data memory.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein presenting a data collection device comprises placing a data collection card having a data collection ID in close proximity to the RFID module.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein presenting a data collection device comprises connecting a data collection device having a data collection ID to an input/output port on the reader/writer device.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the collecting step further comprises the step of restarting the collection step until the verification of the data collection ID is positive prior to writing the transactional data to the data collection card.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the collecting step further comprises the step of restarting the collection step until the verification of the transactional data written to the data collection device is positive prior to marking the transactional data.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein the collecting step further comprises the step of printing the transactional data from the non-volatile data memory prior to marking the transactional data.

38. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of pausing for a configurable duration of time prior to displaying the ready notification.

39. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of printing a hard copy printout of the results of the reading and processing of the user data prior to displaying the ready notification.

40. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of printing a receipt showing the results of the reading and processing of the user data prior to displaying the ready notification.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the initializing step further comprises the step of restarting the initialization step until the verification of the configuration ID is positive prior to reading the configuration data.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the initializing step further comprises the step of restarting the initialization step until the verification of the configuration data is positive prior to displaying the results of the reading, writing and verification of the configuration data.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the collecting step further comprises the step of restarting the collection step until the verification of the data collection ID is positive prior to writing the transactional data to the data collection card.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein the collecting step further comprises the step of restarting the collection step until the verification of the transactional data written to the data collection card is positive prior to marking the transactional data.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the collecting step further comprises the step of printing the transactional data from the non-volatile data memory prior to marking the transactional data.

47. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of pausing for a configurable duration of time prior to displaying the ready notification.

48. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of printing a hard copy printout of the results of the reading and processing of the user data prior to displaying the ready notification.

49. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of printing a receipt showing the results of the reading and processing of the user data prior to displaying the ready notification.

41. A method of operating a stand-alone radio frequency identification reader/writer device having an RFID module and non-volatile data memory, comprising the steps of:

initializing the reader/writer device by, placing a configuration card having a configuration ID and configuration data, in close proximity to the RFID module, reading and verifying the configuration ID, displaying the results of the reading and verification of the configuration ID, reading the configuration data, writing the configuration data to the non-volatile data memory, verifying the configuration data written to the non-volatile data memory, and displaying the results of the reading, writing and verification of the configuration data;

placing a user card having a user ID and user data, in close proximity to the RFID module;

reading and verifying the user ID;

displaying the results of the reading and verification of the user ID;

reading the user data;

processing the user data by, analyzing and modifying the user data, writing the modified user data to the user card, and verifying the modified user data written to the user card;

displaying the results of the reading and processing of the user data;

storing transactional data about the reading and processing of the user data in the non-volatile data memory;

displaying a ready notification on the reader/writer device; and

collecting the transactional data from the non-volatile data memory by, placing a data collection card, having a data collection ID, in close proximity to the RFID module, reading and verifying the data collection ID, displaying the results of the reading and verification of the data collection ID, writing the transactional data to the data collection card, verifying the transactional data written to the data collection card, displaying the results of the writing and verification of the transactional data, and marking the transactional data in the non-volatile data memory.