Method and system for operating a wireless device with a radio frequency identification tag

• US 20060232437A1
• Filed: 04/14/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gutowski, Gerald J., Benes, Stanley J., Downing, Lawrence A.
• Application Number:
  US11/106,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20060232437A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.690
• 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: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless device (108) having a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag (202) and method to operate the wireless device are disclosed. The wireless device includes a switching circuit (204) coupled to the RFID tag. After an RFID signal is received (402), a switching circuit controls a power state of the wireless device according to the RFID signal (404). After the wireless device is on, the RFID signal may direct the wireless device to send information regarding the identity of the wireless device (406), authenticate the identity of the wireless device (408), scan for available wireless communication systems (410), and send information regarding the location and power status of the wireless device (412) using one or more of the available wireless communication systems.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag; and

a switching circuit coupled to the RFID tag, for controlling a power state of the wireless device according to an RFID signal.

2. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is one of a group consisting of an active RFID tag, a passive RFID tag and a battery-assisted-passive (BAP) RFID tag.

3. The wireless device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitter to send information regarding the wireless device to an RFID activator.

4. The wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding the wireless device includes one or more of a group consisting of:

identity of the wireless device, location of the wireless device and power status of the wireless device.

5. The wireless device according to claim 4, wherein the identity of the wireless device includes one or more of a group consisting of:

a telephone number, an RFID identification number, an Electronic Serial Number (ESN), an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of the wireless device.

6. A method for operating a wireless device having a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, the method comprising:

receiving an RFID signal; and

controlling a power state of the wireless device according to the received RFID signal.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein controlling the power state of the wireless device comprises switching on the wireless device.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein controlling the power state of the wireless device comprises switching off the wireless device.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

sending information regarding the wireless device to an RFID activator.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

sending information regarding the wireless device to a pre-provisioned number.

11. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

scanning available wireless communication networks, when the wireless device is in an ON state.

12. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

making an audible noise.

13. The method according to claim 6, further comprising authenticating the wireless device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein authenticating the wireless device comprises sending an identification number of the RFID tag to an RFID activator.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein authenticating the wireless device comprises sending an identity of the wireless device to an RFID activator.

16. A system for operating at least one wireless device, the system comprising:

an RFID activator, the RFID activator transmitting at least one RFID signal;

an RFID tag in the at least one wireless device, the RFID tag receiving the at least one RFID signal; and

a switching circuit in the at least one wireless device, the switching circuit controlling a power state of the at least one wireless device according to the at least one RFID signal.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the RFID tag is one of a group consisting of:

an active RFID tag, a passive RFID tag and a battery-assisted-passive (BAP) RFID tag.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the RFID tag comprises an identification number for authenticating the at least one wireless device.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one wireless device comprises a transmitter sending information regarding the at least one wireless device to the RFID activator.

20. A method for operating a wireless device having a plurality of wireless links, the method comprising:

receiving a first wireless signal on a first wireless link of the plurality of wireless links; and

controlling a state of the wireless device according to the first wireless signal.