SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING ACCESS TO AN ARTICLE OR OPENING OF A PACKAGE

• US 20100164689A1
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT Rhode Island LLC (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: GTECH Rhode Island Corporation (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: NAPOLITANO, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,115,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal

Abstract

A system for detecting access to an article, including an RFID tag, a reader detecting the RFID tag via wireless communication, and a container including conductive material. The container encloses the article, the conductive material surrounding the RFID tag and substantially preventing wireless communication between the RFID tag and the reader unless the container is opened. Detection of the RFID tag indicates that the container has been opened and the article has been accessed. A host computer may be notified of the detection and may receive from the RFID tag information associated with the article for inventory and accounting purposes.

Claims

1. A system for detecting access to an article, comprising:

an RFID tag;

a reader located in the proximity of a vending machine, the reader detecting the RFID tag via wireless communication;

a container including conductive material, the container enclosing the article, the conductive material surrounding the RFID tag and substantially preventing wireless communication between the RFID tag and the reader unless said container is opened;

a memory in the RFID tag, the memory containing information associated with the article;

a memory in the reader, the memory receiving the information associated with the article via wireless communication;

a host computer in communication with the reader, the host computer receiving the information associated with the article from the memory in the reader;

a second reader located inside the vending machine, the second reader detecting the RFID tag only if the RFID tag is placed inside the vending machine; and

a second RFID tag located outside the conductive material, the wireless communication between the external RFID tag and the reader being substantially unaffected by the container being closed or open.

2-56. -56. (canceled)