TIME-BASED OPERATIONAL WINDOW FOR RFID TAGS

• US 20100039236A1
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ryan, Anne I., Hunt, Christian L., Greenlee, Kenneth L.
• Application Number:
  US12/191,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20100039236A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

The present invention provides a time-based operational window for RFID tags. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: associating an operational window with the RFID tag; determining if a current time is within the operational window; operating the RFID tag if the current time is within the operational window; and not operating the RFID tag if the current time is outside the operational window.

Claims

1. A method for time-based operation of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

associating an operational window with the RFID tag;

determining if a current time is within the operational window;

operating the RFID tag if the current time is within the operational window; and

not operating the RFID tag if the current time is outside the operational window.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the RFID tag with logic programmed with the operational window.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the RFID tag comprises a power supply for powering the logic.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operational window comprises at least one predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the RFID tag comprises responding to an RF signal emitted by the RFID reader.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the RFID tag comprises broadcasting an RF signal to the RFID reader.

7. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

an operational window;

a system for determining if a current time is within the operational window; and

a system for operating the RFID tag if a current time is within the operational window, wherein the RFID tag does not operate if the current time is outside the operational window.

8. The RFID tag of claim 7, further comprising:

logic programmed with the operational window.

9. The RFID tag of claim 8, further comprising:

a power supply for powering the logic.

10. The RFID tag of claim 7, wherein the operational window comprises at least one predetermined period of time.

11. The RFID tag of claim 7, wherein operating the RFID tag comprises responding to an RF signal emitted by the RFID reader.

12. The RFID tag of claim 7, wherein operating the RFID tag comprises broadcasting an RF signal to the RFID reader.

13. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system, comprising:

an RFID reader;

an RFID tag comprising an operational window;

a system for determining if a current time is within the operational window; and

a system for operating the RFID tag if a current time is within the operational window, wherein the RFID tag does not operate if the current time is outside the operational window.

14. The RFID system of claim 13, further comprising:

logic on the RFID tag programmed with the operational window.

15. The RFID system of claim 14, further comprising:

a power supply on the RFID tag for powering the logic.

16. The RFID system of claim 13, wherein the operational window comprises at least one predetermined period of time.

17. The RFID system of claim 13, wherein operating the RFID tag comprises responding to an RF signal emitted by the RFID reader.

18. The RFID system of claim 13, wherein operating the RFID tag comprises broadcasting an RF signal to the RFID reader.