System And Method For RFID Tag Hole Puncher

• US 20080030337A1
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pickover, Clifford A., Moskowitz, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,479,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0739 the incapacitated circuit being part of an antenna

Abstract

A system including an RFID tag reader and a hole punch apparatus to punch a hole in an RFID tag. The hole punch punches a hole in the RFID tag to affect the functioning of said RFID tag. The system may also interrogate the RFID tag before and after the hole punching to confirm the affect on the RFID tag.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an RFID tag reader; and

a hole punch apparatus to punch a hole in an RFID tag;

wherein said hole punch punches a hole in said RFID tag to affect the functioning of said RFID tag.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said hole is at least one hole punched through an antenna of an RFID tag to reduce the read distance of said RFID tag.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said hole is at least one hole punched to disable a chip on said RFID tag

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said hole punch punches at least one hole in a first RFID tag that is one of different shape and size from holes punched in a second RFID tag.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said punch employs multiple punching elements to produce holes of different physical characteristics.

6. The system of claim 1 farther comprising a point of sale terminal associated with a database which records physical characteristics associated with holes punched in RFID tags and sales of particular items.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said system is one of a handheld device, self-checkout machine, cash register, exit door, and kiosk.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising an inking mechanism associated with said hole puncher, wherein ink is transferred to said RFID tag upon said punching.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said hole is at least one hole punched through an antenna of an RFID tag to reduce the write distance of said RFID tag.

10. A system comprising:

an RFID tag with an antenna;

at least one location index on said RFID tag indicating at least one position for a hole to be punched in said RFID tag.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising said at least one position being punched through said RFID tag.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said RFID tag with at least one position punched is one of a fare token card, sporting event admission, entertainment event admission, cultural event admission, and discount coupon for retail purchases.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said RFID tag with at least one position punched is employed by a library, hospital, parking-lot access control, and rental car lot control.

14. A method comprising:

reading an RFID tag;

making a first determination of the read distance of said RFID tag;

punching at least one hole in said RFID tag;

providing an indication that the tag has a specific read distance.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising making another determination of said read distance and punching another hole in said tag.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said determination of said read distance of said RFID tag is followed by punching of a further hole in said RFID tag, followed by another determination of said read distance.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising storing in a database the physical characteristics of said at least one hole and associating said physical characteristics with the particulars of a sale.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said particulars of said sale are one of location of store, checkout location, checkout clerk, time, date, price, details of the item, and identification of the purchaser.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising employing said database to confirm the details of a sale for one of a returned and recalled item.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said reading of said RFID tag triggers said punching of said at least one hole in said RFID tag.