LONG RANGE RFID DEVICE USED WITH DISPLAY, AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS IMPLEMENTING SAME

• US 20080157925A1
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
• Inventors: Batra, Naresh
• Application Number:
  US11/619,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20080157925A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Abstract

A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based display system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an electronic display device having a visual display device; and an RFID device having a memory, the RFID device being in electrical communication with the electronic display device via a direct physical connection, wherein data received by the RFID device from a remote device is stored in the memory of the RFID device, the data being communicated to the electronic, display device via the direct physical connection. Methods are also presented.

Claims

1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based display system, comprising:

an electronic display device having a visual display device; and

an RFID device having a memory, the RFID device being in electrical communication with the electronic display device via a direct physical connection,

wherein data received by the RFID device from a remote device is stored in the memory of the RFID device, the data being communicated to the electronic display device via the direct physical connection.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the RFID device sets a flag indicating that data has been written to the RFID device memory.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein setting the flag includes sending an electronic signal detectable by the electronic display device via the direct physical connection.

4. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein setting the flag includes setting the state of a bit or bits in the memory.

5. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the electronic display device periodically checks a status of the flag.

6. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the electronic display device continuously checks a status of the flag.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the RFID device is a semi-passive RFID tag.

8. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the RFID device further comprises a battery.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the RFID device further comprises a supplemental power source.

10. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the RFID device draws power from a power source of the electronic display device.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the RFID device is detachably mounted to the electronic display device.

12. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the RFID device is physically integrated with the electronic display device.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein a controller of the RFID device is located on a same printed circuit board as a controller of the electronic display device.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the RFID device enters a hibernation state during at least some periods when the RFID device is not actively communicating with the electronic display device or the remote device.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the electronic display device selectively wakes the RFID device from the hibernation state.

16. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the remote device selectively wakes the RFID device from the hibernation state.

17. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic display device includes a sensor.

18. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic display device further comprises a memory for storing data received from the RFID device memory.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving data from a remote device via an air interface using a Radio Frequency Identification protocol;

storing the data in local memory; and

sending the data to an electronic display device via a direct physical connection.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising receiving a confirmation from the electronic display device that the data has been received, and storing the confirmation in the memory.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising sending the confirmation to the remote device upon receiving a query therefore from the remote device.

22. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the data received from the remote device correlates to a value stored in a pricing system database.

23. A method for updating a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based display, comprising:

receiving identification of an item;

receiving updated display information relating to the item; and

sending the updated display information to an RFID device via an air interface, the RFID device being coupled to an electronic display device.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the item is identified based on user-selection of a name of the item from a list displayed on a graphical user interface,

25. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the item is identified based on a scan of a bar code associated with the item.

26. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the item is identified based on an RFID-based code retrieved from an RFID tag associated with the item.

27. A method as recited in claim 23, further comprising receiving a confirmation from the RFID device that the data has been received and stored in a memory thereof.

28. A method as recited in claim 23, further comprising receiving a confirmation from the RFID device that the data has been successfully transferred to the electronic display device.

29. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the display information correlates to a price of the item, wherein at least a portion of the updated display information is stored in a pricing system database.