Control of Data Exchange
First Claim
1. A control device for controlling data exchange between entities and item identification devices associated with said control device, each of said entities having associated therewith a data exchange means for exchanging data with one or more of a plurality of item identification devices with which said control device is associated, said data exchange means being arranged to provide authentication data indicative of the entity with which they are associated or indicative of a category of entity with which they are associated, said control device comprising:
- access policy storing means for storing data indicative of access policies for one or more entities or categories of entities, said access policies relating to the extent to which an entity or category of entities is to be permitted to exchange data with one or more of a plurality of item identification devices with which said control device is associated;
communication receiving means for receiving authentication data from a data exchange means;
authentication means for establishing from received authentication data and from said access policy storing means an access policy applicable to the entity or category of entities with which said data exchange means is associated;
communication providing means for providing access data to said data exchange means sufficient to enable exchange of data between said item identification devices and the entity with which said data exchange means is associated in accordance with the applicable access policy for that entity.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control device, method and system for controlling data exchange between entities and item identification devices associated with said control device; said entities having an associated data exchange means for exchanging data with item identification devices; said data exchange means being arranged to provide authentication data indicative of the entity with which they are associated; and said control device comprising means for enabling exchange of data between said item identification devices and the entity with which said data exchange means is associated in accordance with an applicable access policy for that entity.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A control device for controlling data exchange between entities and item identification devices associated with said control device, each of said entities having associated therewith a data exchange means for exchanging data with one or more of a plurality of item identification devices with which said control device is associated, said data exchange means being arranged to provide authentication data indicative of the entity with which they are associated or indicative of a category of entity with which they are associated, said control device comprising:
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access policy storing means for storing data indicative of access policies for one or more entities or categories of entities, said access policies relating to the extent to which an entity or category of entities is to be permitted to exchange data with one or more of a plurality of item identification devices with which said control device is associated; communication receiving means for receiving authentication data from a data exchange means; authentication means for establishing from received authentication data and from said access policy storing means an access policy applicable to the entity or category of entities with which said data exchange means is associated; communication providing means for providing access data to said data exchange means sufficient to enable exchange of data between said item identification devices and the entity with which said data exchange means is associated in accordance with the applicable access policy for that entity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for controlling data exchange between entities and item identification devices associated with said control device, each of said entities having associated therewith a data exchange means for exchanging data with one or more of a plurality of item identification devices with which said control device is associated, said data exchange means being arranged to provide authentication data indicative of the entity with which they are associated or indicative of a category of entity with which they are associated, said method comprising steps of:
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storing data indicative of access policies for one or more entities or categories of entities, said access policies relating to the extent to which an entity or category of entities is to be permitted to exchange data with one or more of a plurality of item identification devices with which said control device is associated; receiving authentication data from a data exchange means; establishing from received authentication data and from stored access policies an access policy applicable to the entity or category of entities with which said data exchange means is associated; providing access data to said data exchange means sufficient to enable exchange of data between said item identification devices and the entity with which said data exchange means is associated in accordance with the applicable access policy for that entity.
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21. A system for controlling data exchange between entities and item identification devices, said system comprising a control device associated with a plurality of item identification devices, and one or more data exchange means each associated with one or more entities or categories of entities;
- wherein the or each data exchange means comprises;
means for exchanging data with one or more of a plurality of item identification devices with which said control device is associated; and means for providing authentication data indicative of an entity with which the data exchange means is associated or indicative of a category of entity with which the data exchange means is associated; and wherein said control device comprises; access policy storing means for storing data indicative of access policies for one or more entities or categories of entities, said access policies relating to the extent to which an entity or category of entities is to be permitted to exchange data with one or more of said item identification devices with which said control device is associated; communication receiving means for receiving authentication data from said data exchange means; authentication means for establishing from received authentication data and from said access policy storing means an access policy applicable to the entity or category of entities with which said data exchange means is associated; and communication providing means for providing access data to said data exchange means sufficient to enable exchange of data between said item identification devices and the entity with which said data exchange means is associated in accordance with the applicable access policy for that entity.
- wherein the or each data exchange means comprises;
Specification