Radio frequency identification (RFID) system

• US 20060122934A1
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: White, Daniel F., Martin, Desmond A.
• Application Number:
  US11/005,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122934A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/0003 Use of RFID labels
• 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

Abstract

A method of interrogating an RFID label utilises an RFID interrogation system operable by a vendor. The method comprises the steps of: transmitting an interrogation signal which is receivable by RFID labels within an area so as to interrogate any RFID labels in that area. An intelligible return signal from the RFID label is only received when the RFID label was issued by the same vendor.

Claims

1. A method of interrogating an RFID label, utilising an RFID interrogation system operable by a vendor, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting an interrogation signal which is receivable by RFID labels within an area so as to interrogate any RFID labels in that area; and

only receiving an intelligible return signal from an RFID label when the RFID label was issued by the same vendor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the returned data is encrypted.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the method of encryption is chosen from the following:

public key;

private key;

DES;

Triple DES or RSA.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information includes only a vendor specific reference number which can only be usefully interpreted by the vendor who issued the label.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein no signal is returned by the label if interrogated by an interrogator which is not part of the RFID system operated by the vendor who issued the label.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information includes customer specific information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information includes information on the item which is purchased.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the area is a store or Mall.

9. An RFID system including one or more RFID labels attached to one or more products, an RFID interrogator;

and a computer which collates any information obtained from the one or more RFID labels,

the one or more RFID labels being programmed such that access to information stored thereon can be gained only by an authorised RFID interrogator.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein an authorised RFID interrogator is an RFID interrogator operated by the same vendor who issued the RFID label.

11. An RFID label arranged such that access to information stored thereon can be gained only by an authorised RFID system.

12. The RFID label of claim 11, wherein the authorised system is the system which is operated by the vendor who issued the label.

13. The RFID label as claimed in claim 11, in which data thereon is encrypted.

14. The RFID label as claimed in claim 13, wherein the method of encryption is chosen from the following:

public key;

private key;

DES;

Triple DES or RSA.

15. The RFID label of claim 13, wherein the information includes only a vendor specific reference number which can only be usefully interpreted by the vendor who issued the label.

16. The RFID label of claim 13, wherein no signal is returned by the label if interrogated by an interrogator which is not part of the RFID system operated by the vendor who issued the label.