Secure RFID Packaging

• US 20070010213A1
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dewan, Sunil
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07327 Passive means, e.g. Faraday cages Faraday-type protection of electric circuits in general H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for preparing radio-frequency devices for secure distribution. Multiple such radio-frequency devices are received. Each device has an embedded radio-frequency transponder. Each radio-frequency devices is moved sequentially to stations of a preparation device. At a first station, a radio-frequency identification code assigned to the radio-frequency device is encoded to personalize the radio-frequency device with recipient-specific radio-frequency identification data. At a second station, the radio-frequency devices is packaged within a package such that the radio-frequency device within the package is electromagnetically shielded at radio frequencies.

Claims

1. A method of preparing radio-frequency devices for distribution, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of such radio-frequency devices, each such device comprising an embedded radio-frequency transponder;

sequentially moving each of the radio-frequency devices to a plurality of stations of a preparation device;

encoding, at a first station, a radio-frequency identification code assigned to the each of the radio-frequency devices to personalize the each of the radio-frequency devices with recipient-specific radio-frequency identification data; and

packaging, at a second station, the each of the radio-frequency devices within a package such that the each of the radio-frequency devices within the package is shielded from electromagnetic radiation at radio frequencies.

2. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a recipient for the each of the radio-frequency devices; and

labeling, at a third station, a package containing the each of the radio-frequency devices with a mailing address for the recipient.

3. The method recited in claim 1 wherein packaging the each of the radio-frequency devices within the package comprises:

affixing the each of the radio-frequency devices to a carrier printed with metallic ink; and

inserting the carrier in the package.

4. The method recited in claim 1 wherein:

the package has an interior electromagnetic shield at radio frequencies; and

packaging the each of the radio-frequency devices comprises inserting the each of the radio-frequency devices in the package.

5. The method recited in claim 4 wherein the interior is printed with metallic ink.

6. The method recited in claim 1 wherein packaging the each of the radio-frequency devices within the package comprises:

inserting the each of the radio-frequency devices within a sleeve that includes shielding material that shields an interior of the sleeve from electromagnetic radiation at radio frequencies; and

inserting the each of the sleeved radio-frequency devices in the package.

7. The method recited in claim 1 wherein the radio-frequency identification code is unencrypted.

8. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a plurality of magnetic-stripe cards;

reading, at a third station, an identification of each of the plurality of magnetic-stripe cards from the each of the magnetic-stripe cards; and

determining the radio-frequency identification code to be encoded onto a corresponding one of the radio-frequency devices from the identification of the each of the plurality of magnetic-stripe cards,

wherein packaging the each of the radio-frequency devices within the package further comprises packaging the magnetic-stripe card corresponding to the each of the radio-frequency devices.

9. The method recited in claim 8 wherein packaging the each of the radio-frequency devices comprises:

affixing the each of the radio-frequency devices and the magnetic-stripe card corresponding to the each of the radio-frequency devices to a carrier printed with metallic ink; and

inserting the carrier in the package.

10. A system comprising:

a plurality of stations;

a controller in communication with the plurality of stations; and

a memory coupled with the controller, the memory comprising a computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for operating the system to prepare radio-frequency devices for distribution, the computer-readable program including;

instructions to receive a plurality of such radio-frequency devices, each such device comprising an embedded radio-frequency transponder;

instructions to move each of the radio-frequency devices to the plurality of stations;

instructions to encode, at a first station, a radio-frequency identification code assigned to the each of the radio-frequency devices to personalize the each of the radio-frequency devices with recipient-specific radio-frequency identification data; and

instructions to package, at a second station, the each of the radio-frequency devices within a package such that the each of the radio-frequency devices within the package is electromagnetically shielded at radio frequencies.

11. The system recited in claim 10 wherein the instructions to package the each of the radio-frequency devices within the package comprise:

instructions to affix the each of the radio-frequency devices to a carrier printed with metallic ink; and

instructions to insert the carrier in the package.

12. The system recited in claim 10 wherein:

the package has an interior electromagnetic shield at radio frequencies; and

the instructions to package the each of the radio-frequency devices comprises instructions to insert the each of the radio-frequency devices in the package.

13. The system recited in claim 12 wherein the interior is printed with metallic ink.

14. The system recited in claim 10 wherein the instructions to package the each of the radio-frequency devices within the package comprises:

instructions to insert the each of the radio-frequency devices within a sleeve that includes shielding material that shields an interior of the sleeve from electromagnetic radiation at radio frequencies; and

instructions to insert the each of the sleeved radio-frequency devices in the package.