RFID disablement detection of tampering

• US 20070008121A1
• Filed: 06/09/2005
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Hart, Matt
• Application Number:
  US11/149,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008121A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0739 the incapacitated circuit being part of an antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2414 using inductive tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag

Abstract

Radio Frequency identification (“RFID”) tags are affixed to objects in such a way as to reliably change state in response to a trigger event. The change in state of an RFID tag based on a trigger event is used to indicate a change in state of an object associated with the RFID tag. The state of an RFID tag can be remotely detected with an RFID reader. Thus, the change in state of the object associated with the RFID tag can also be remotely detected.

Claims

1. A device for signaling a change in state of an object, the device comprising:

a radio frequency identification tag; and

a component for disabling the radio frequency identification tag responsive to a change in state of the object.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an antenna and wherein the component for disabling the radio frequency identification tag disables the antenna.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an integrated circuit and wherein the component for disabling the radio frequency identification tag disables the integrated circuit.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an energy receptor and wherein the component for disabling the radio frequency identification tag disables the energy receptor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises a power source and wherein the component for disabling the radio frequency identification tag disables the power source.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an antenna, an integrated circuit, and an energy receptor, and wherein the component for disabling the radio frequency identification tag disconnects at least one of the antenna, the integrated circuit, and the energy receptor.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an integrated circuit and a power source, and wherein the component for disabling the radio frequency identification tag disconnects the power source from the integrated circuit.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the change in state of the object is one selected from the group consisting of an unsealing, an opening, an unattachment, a level of wear, and a level of contents.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a container and wherein the component disables the RFID tag responsive to the container being opened.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a product packaging and wherein the component disables the RFID tag responsive to the product packaging being opened.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a CD case and wherein the component disables the RFID tag responsive to the CD case being opened.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a tire and wherein the component disables the RFID tag responsive to the tire attaining a level of wear.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is affixed to the object.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a portion of the object.

15. A device for signaling a change in state of an object, the device comprising:

a radio frequency identification tag; and

a component for enabling the radio frequency identification tag responsive to a change in state of the object.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an antenna and wherein the component for enabling the radio frequency identification tag enables the antenna.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an integrated circuit and wherein the component for enabling the radio frequency identification tag enables the integrated circuit.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an energy receptor and wherein the component for enabling the radio frequency identification tag enables the energy receptor.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises a power source and wherein the component for enabling the radio frequency identification tag enables the power source.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an antenna, an integrated circuit, and an energy receptor, and wherein the component for enabling the radio frequency identification tag connects at least one of the antenna, the integrated circuit, and the energy receptor.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an integrated circuit and a power source, and wherein the component for enabling the radio frequency identification tag connects the power source and the integrated circuit.

22. The device of claim 15, wherein the change in state of the object is one selected from the group consisting of an unsealing, an opening, an unattachment, a level of wear, and a level of contents.

23. The device of claim 15, wherein the object comprises a container and wherein the component enables the RFID tag responsive to the container being opened.

24. The device of claim 15, wherein the object comprises a product packaging and wherein the component enables the RFID tag responsive to the product packaging being opened.

25. The device of claim 15, wherein the object comprises a CD case and wherein the component enables the RFID tag responsive to the CD case being opened.

26. The device of claim 15, wherein the object comprises a tire and wherein the component enables the RFID tag responsive to the tire attaining a level of wear.

27. The device of claim 15, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is affixed to the object.

28. The device of claim 15, wherein the component comprises a portion of the object.

29. A method of detecting a change in state of an object, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from a radio frequency identification tag; and

receiving an indication that the radio frequency identification tag has been disabled responsive to a change in state of the object.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an antenna and wherein disabling the radio frequency identification tag comprises disabling the antenna.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an integrated circuit and wherein disabling the radio frequency identification tag comprises disabling the integrated circuit.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an energy receptor and wherein disabling the radio frequency identification tag comprises disabling the energy receptor.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises a power source and wherein disabling the radio frequency identification tag comprises disabling the power source.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an antenna, an integrated circuit, and an energy receptor, and wherein disabling the radio frequency identification tag comprises disconnecting at least one of the antenna, the integrated circuit, and the energy receptor.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises an integrated circuit and a power source, and wherein the disabling the radio frequency identification tag comprises disconnecting the power source from the integrated circuit.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the change in state of the object is one selected from the group consisting of an unsealing, an opening, an unattachment, a level of wear, and a level of contents.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the object comprises a container and wherein receiving an indication that the radio frequency identification tag has been disabled is responsive to the container being opened.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein the object comprises a product packaging and wherein receiving an indication that the radio frequency identification tag has been disabled is responsive to the product packaging being opened.

39. The method of claim 29, wherein the object comprises a CD case and wherein receiving an indication that the radio frequency identification tag has been disabled is responsive to the CD case being opened.

40. The method of claim 29, wherein the object comprises a tire and wherein receiving an indication that the radio frequency identification tag has been disabled is responsive to the tire attaining a level of wear.

41. The method of claim 29, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is affixed to the object.