METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING RFID TAG TAMPERING

• US 20100207769A1
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guard Rfid Solutions Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Guard Rfid Solutions Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Pokrajac, Dalibor
• Granted Patent: US 8,552,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/600
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article

Abstract

The invention provides an RFID tag with means for determining when such tag has been tampered and means for securing the tag to an object. The tag may use an optical or infrared transmitter/receiver pair for detecting active tag removal from the object to which it is attached; and a method of attaching the tag holder to rounded objects regardless of object diameter while still preserving tamper capability of the active tag. Alternatively the tag may use an infrared radiation sensor to determine a change infrared radiation that occurs when the tag is removed from a person, and a light sensor to determine when tag has been tampered.

Claims

1. An RFID tag, comprising:

a wireless network interface;

a processor;

a power supply; and

an infrared radiation sensor, said radiation sensor sensitive to changes in infrared radiation;

wherein said tag signals an alarm condition when said infrared radiation sensor senses a change in infrared radiation over a predetermined level.

2. The tag of claim 1 further comprising a light sensor,

3. The tag of claim 2 wherein said RFID tag is covered by a light blocking material such that when said RFID tag is removed from a person, said light sensor is exposed to light and a tamper condition is signalled by said tag.

4. The tag of claim 2 further comprising a wrap to position said tag around a body part, wherein said RFID tag is covered by a light blocking material such that when said wrap is lifted away from said body part, or said RFID tag is removed from said body part, said light sensor is exposed to light and a tamper condition is signalled by said tag.

5. The tag of claim 1 wherein said change in radiation occurs in less than a predetermined time for said tag to signal an alarm condition.

6. The tag of claim 1 wherein said tag is positioned within a tag holder, said tag holder positioned within an elongated wrap having a first side having a hook connection and a second side having a loop connection, such that said wrap can be positioned around a body part and held in place with a hook and loop connection.

7. The tag of claim 1 wherein said tag is positioned within a tag holder, said tag holder positioned within an elongated cylindrical sock, said sock positionable around a body part.

8. The tag of claim 1 wherein said tag is positioned within a tag holder, said tag holder having first and second slots for receiving a band to secure said tag holder to a body part.

9. The tag of claim 1 wherein said tag in inactive until placed on a person'"'"'s body wherein the change in infrared radiation is detected by said infrared sensor and said tag is initiated.

10. The tag of claim 9 wherein said tag is activated by after said tag is initiated and said optical sensor does not detect light within a predetermined time period after initiation.

11. An RFID tag, comprising

a wireless network interface;

a processor;

a power supply; and

an optical transmitter paired with an optical receiver,

wherein when said optical receiver does not receive light emitted from said optical transmitter, a tamper alarm is signalled by said tag.

12. The RFID tag of claim 11 wherein said optical transmitter and optical receiver are not active unless activated by said processor.

13. The RFID tag of claim 12 further comprising a reflective label placed on an object to reflect light from said transmitter to said receiver.

14. The RFID tag of claim 13 wherein said tag is stored within a tag holder adhered to said reflective label.

15. The RFID tag of claim 11 wherein said object is curved, and said tag is mounted to said object using first and second flaps to adhere said tag to said object.

16. An RFID tag, comprising

a wireless network interface;

a processor;

a power supply; and

an infrared transmitter paired with an infrared receiver,

wherein when said infrared receiver does not receive infrared signal emitted from said infrared transmitter, a tamper alarm is signalled by said tag.

17. The RFID tag of claim 16 wherein said infrared transmitter and infrared receiver are not active unless activated by said processor or an independent timer.

18. The RFID tag of claim 16 further comprising a reflective label placed on an object to reflect infrared signal from said infrared transmitter to said infrared receiver.

19. The RFID tag of claim 17 wherein said tag is stored within a tag holder adhered to said reflective label.

20. The RFID tag of claim 16 wherein said object is curved, and said tag is mounted to said object using first and second flaps to adhere said tag to said object.