METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISABLING A DATA TAG DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method of disabling a data tag device, the data tag device having tag circuitry and a battery on the data tag device, the battery being initially coupled to the tag circuitry, the data tag device further having a decoupling feature configured to destructively decouple the battery from the tag circuitry, the method comprising:
- operating the data tag device in an operational mode selected from an active mode and a semi-active mode;
while operating the data tag device in the operational mode, decoupling the battery from the tag circuitry by use of the decoupling feature;
detecting decoupling of the battery from the tag circuitry;
changing tag data stored on the data tag device in response to detecting the decoupling of the battery; and
ceasing operation of the data tag device in the operational mode.
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Abstract
The present invention discloses a data tag device (100) which initially operates in either an active mode or a semi-active mode (604). The data tag device includes tag circuitry including a interface element (104), a controller element (102), and a memory (106) in which tag data (116) is stored. A battery is provided which is initially coupled to the tag circuitry. A decoupling feature (402) is used to destructively decouple the battery from the tag circuitry when it is desired to disable the data tag device and reduce the ability of third parties to obtain the tag data. The data tag device is configured to detect the destructive decoupling (606, 608), and disable the data tag in response.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of disabling a data tag device, the data tag device having tag circuitry and a battery on the data tag device, the battery being initially coupled to the tag circuitry, the data tag device further having a decoupling feature configured to destructively decouple the battery from the tag circuitry, the method comprising:
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operating the data tag device in an operational mode selected from an active mode and a semi-active mode; while operating the data tag device in the operational mode, decoupling the battery from the tag circuitry by use of the decoupling feature; detecting decoupling of the battery from the tag circuitry; changing tag data stored on the data tag device in response to detecting the decoupling of the battery; and ceasing operation of the data tag device in the operational mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of disabling a data tag device, the data tag device having tag circuitry and a battery which is initially coupled to the tag circuitry, the data tag device further having a decoupling feature configured to destructively decoupling the battery from the tag circuitry, the method comprising:
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operating the data tag device in an operational mode selected from an active mode and a semi-active mode, wherein the battery provides power for operating the data tag device in the operational mode; while operating the data tag device in the operational mode, decoupling the battery from the tag circuitry by use of the decoupling feature; detecting decoupling of the battery from the tag circuitry; and ceasing operation of the data tag device in response to detecting decoupling of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A data tag device, comprising:
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tag circuitry disposed on a main portion of the data tag device, and including an interface element, a control element, and a memory element having tag data stored therein; an antenna element coupled to the interface element; a battery coupled to the tag circuitry to provide a voltage to the tag circuitry while coupled to the tag circuitry; and a decoupling feature configured to facilitate destructive decoupling of the battery from the tag circuitry by a user; wherein the control element is configured to detect decoupling of the battery from the tag circuitry and erase the tag data in response. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification