Method and Apparatus for Using a RFID Paging Infrastructure

• US 20080094215A1
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Amador, Erick S., Mullins, Philip K., Pickover, Clifford A., Hamilton, Rick A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,007,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1083 Pager locating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The “RFID Paging Infrastructure” uses RFID technology to provide a low-cost localized message paging system. When a stationary RFID transceiver detects a programmable RFID tag, the transceiver reads an identifier from the RFID tag. The RFID transceiver causes a computer to determine whether a message stored in a database is intended for the RFID tag, and responsive to a determination that a message is intended for the RFID tag, the RFID transceiver transmits the message to the RFID tag. The message is saved in a memory on the programmable RFID tag. The message in the memory on the RFID tag can be read with a hand-held display device or the RFID tag can be coupled with an integrated display device.

Claims

1. A computer implemented process for transmitting a message for storage on a RFID tag, the computer implemented process comprising:

detecting a RFID tag;

reading an identifier from the RFID tag;

determining whether a message is intended for the RFID tag;

responsive to a determination that a message is intended for the RFID tag, transmitting the message to the RFID tag;

saving the message in a memory on the RFID tag; and

displaying the message in the memory on the RFID tag with a display device.

2. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the display device is a hand-held RFID tag reader.

3. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the display device is coupled directly with the RFID tag.

4. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag is affixed to an object.

5. The computer implemented process of claim 4 wherein the message intended for the RFID tag relates to the status of the object.

6. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag is carried by a person.

7. The computer implemented process of claim 6 wherein the message intended for the RFID tag is a communication for the person carrying the RFID tag.

8. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the location of the RFID tag; and

transmitting a message based on the location of the RFID tag.

9. An apparatus for transmitting a message for storage on a RFID tag, the apparatus comprising:

a RFID transceiver;

a RFID tag;

a processor;

a memory connected to the processor;

a database in the memory comprising a table with a listing of a RFID tag identifier corresponding to the RFID tag and a message intended for the RFID tag;

a paging program in the memory operable to detect the RFID tag, read an identifier from the RFID tag, determine that a message is intended for the RFID tag, responsive to a determination that a message is intended for the RFID tag, transmit the message to the RFID tag, and save the message in a memory on the RFID tag; and

a display device operable to display the message in the memory on the RFID tag.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the display device is a hand-held RFID tag reader.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the display device is coupled directly with the RFID tag.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the RFID tag is affixed to an object.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the message intended for the RFID tag relates to the status of the object.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the RFID tag is carried by a person.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the message intended for the RFID tag is a communication for the person carrying the RFID tag.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the paging program is further operable to determine the location of the RFID tag and transmit a message based on the location of the RFID tag.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the RFID tag is carried by a medical patient.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the message intended for the RFID tag contains medical records for the medical patient carrying the RFID tag.

19. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the RFID tag is affixed to a room at a medical facility.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the message intended for the RFID tag contains information related to the contents and occupants of the room.

21. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the paging program is further operable to identify a critically important message in the database intended for a first RFID tag, search for the intended first RFID tag and responsive to not locating the first RFID tag, transmitting the message to a second RFID tag.