System and method to record environmental condition on an RFID tag

• US 20060261946A1
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jeffries, Clark Debs, Peyravian, Mohammad, Himberger, Kevin David
• Granted Patent: US 7,327,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• 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

Abstract

System and method for recording temperature on an RFID tag. A first RFID tag is attached to a container. The first RFID tag includes a temperature sensor. The container contains a multiplicity of packages. A multiplicity of second RFID tags are attached to the multiplicity of packages, respectively. The first RFID tag transmits temperature information to the multiplicity of second RFID tags. In response, the multiplicity of second RFID tags record the temperature information. Consequently, there is no need for expensive temperature sensors on the multiplicity of RFID tags on the packages. According to features of the present invention, the first RFID tag is an active RFID tag, and the multiplicity of second RFID tags are passive RFID tags. The first RFID tag also transmits other information to the multiplicity of second RFID tags to enable the second RFID tags to authenticate the temperature information. Other types of environmental sensors such as a humidity sensor or vibration sensor can substitute for the temperature sensor.

Claims

1. A method of recording temperature on an RFID tag, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a container with a first RFID tag attached to said container, said first RFID tag including a temperature sensor, said container containing a multiplicity of packages, a multiplicity of second RFID tags attached to said multiplicity of packages, respectively; and

said first RFID tag transmitting temperature information to said multiplicity of second RFID tags, and in response, said multiplicity of second RFID tags recording said temperature information.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said first RFID tag is an active RFID tag; and

said multiplicity of second RFID tags are passive RFID tags.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

said first RFID tag also transmitting other information to said multiplicity of second RFID tags to enable said second RFID tags to authenticate said temperature information.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

storing a shared secret in said first RFID tag and said multiplicity of second RFID tags;

said first RFID tag also transmitting to said multiplicity of second RFID tags a hash value based on said shared secret stored in said first RFID tag and said temperature information which is transmitted;

said multiplicity of second RFID tags independently computing a hash value based on said shared secret stored in said multiplicity of second RFID tags and said temperature information received from said first RFID tag, and

if the transmitted hash value matches said independently computed hash value, said multiplicity of second RFID tags recording said temperature information, and

if the transmitted hash value does not match said independently computed hash value, said multiplicity of second RFID tags not recording said temperature information.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

storing in said multiplicity of second RFID tags an identity of said first RFID tag;

said first RFID tag also transmitting to said multiplicity of second RFID tags said identity of said first RFID tag;

said multiplicity of second RFID tags comparing the identity transmitted by said first RFID tag to said identity of said first RFID tag stored in said multiplicity of second RFID tags; and

if the identity transmitted by said first RFID tag matches said identity of said first RFID tag stored in said multiplicity of second RFID tags, said multiplicity of second RFID tags recording said temperature information, and

if the identity transmitted by said first RFID tag does not match said identity of said first RFID tag stored in said multiplicity of second RFID tags, said multiplicity of second RFID tags not recording said temperature information.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said temperature information is an indication whether said temperature exceeded a predetermined upper temperature limit.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein:

said first RFID tag is an active RFID tag; and

said multiplicity of second RFID tags are passive RFID tags.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 further comprising:

means for storing a shared secret in said first RFID tag and said multiplicity of second RFID tags;

said first RFID tag also including means for transmitting to said multiplicity of second RFID tags a hash value based on said shared secret stored in said first RFID tag and said temperature information which is transmitted;

said multiplicity of second RFID tags including means for independently computing a hash value based on said shared secret stored in said multiplicity of second RFID tags and said temperature information received from said first RFID tag, and

if the transmitted hash value matches said independently computed hash value, said multiplicity of second RFID tags recording said temperature information, and

if the transmitted hash value does not match said independently computed hash value, said multiplicity of second RFID tags not recording said temperature information.

7. An assembly for recording temperature on an RFID tag, said assembly comprising:

a container with a first RFID tag attached to said container, said first RFID tag including a temperature sensor, said container containing a multiplicity of packages, a multiplicity of second RFID tags attached to said multiplicity of packages, respectively; and

means within said first RFID tag for transmitting temperature information to said multiplicity of second RFID tags, and means, responsive to said transmission, within said multiplicity of second RFID tags for recording said temperature information.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 further comprising:

means for storing in said multiplicity of second RFID tags an identity of said first RFID tag;

said means within said first RFID tag also transmitting to said multiplicity of second RFID tags said identity of said first RFID tag;

said multiplicity of second RFID tags including means for comparing the identity transmitted by said first RFID tag to said identity of said first RFID tag stored in said multiplicity of second RFID tags; and

if the identity transmitted by said first RFID tag matches said identity of said first RFID tag stored in said multiplicity of second RFID tags, said multiplicity of second RFID tags recording said temperature information, and

if the identity transmitted by said first RFID tag does not match said identity of said first RFID tag stored in said multiplicity of second RFID tags, said multiplicity of second RFID tags not recording said temperature information.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said temperature information is an indication whether said temperature exceeded a predetermined upper temperature limit.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim wherein:

said means within said first RFID tag also transmits other information to said multiplicity of second RFID tags to enable said second RFID tags to authenticate said temperature information.

13. A method of recording an environmental condition on an RFID tag, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a container with a first RFID tag attached to said container, said first RFID tag including an environmental condition sensor, said container containing a multiplicity of packages, a multiplicity of second RFID tags attached to said multiplicity of packages, respectively; and

said first RFID tag transmitting environmental information to said multiplicity of second RFID tags, and in response, said multiplicity of second RFID tags recording said environmental information.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein:

said first RFID tag is an active RFID tag; and

said multiplicity of second RFID tags are passive RFID tags.

15. A method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising the step of:

said first RFID tag also transmitting other information to said multiplicity of second RFID tags to enable said second RFID tags to authenticate said environmental information.

16. A method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

storing a shared secret in said first RFID tag and said multiplicity of second RFID tags;

said first RFID tag also transmitting to said multiplicity of second RFID tags a hash value based on said shared secret stored in said first RFID tag and said environmental information which is transmitted;

said multiplicity of second RFID tags independently computing a hash value based on said shared secret stored in said multiplicity of second RFID tags and said environmental information received from said first RFID tag, and

if the transmitted hash value matches said independently computed hash value, said multiplicity of second RFID tags recording said environmental information, and

if the transmitted hash value does not match said independently computed hash value, said multiplicity of second RFID tags not recording said environmental information.

17. A method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

storing in said multiplicity of second RFID tags an identity of said first RFID tag;

said first RFID tag also transmitting to said multiplicity of second RFID tags said identity of said first RFID tag;

said multiplicity of second RFID tags comparing the identity transmitted by said first RFID tag to said identity of said first RFID tag stored in said multiplicity of second RFID tags; and

if the identity transmitted by said first RFID tag matches said identity of said first RFID tag stored in said multiplicity of second RFID tags, said multiplicity of second RFID tags recording said environmental information, and

if the identity transmitted by said first RFID tag does not match said identity of said first RFID tag stored in said multiplicity of second RFID tags, said multiplicity of second RFID tags not recording said environmental information.

18. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said environmental information is an indication whether said environmental condition exceeded a predetermined upper environmental condition limit.

19. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said environmental condition is humidity.

20. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said environmental condition is vibration or shock.