SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RFID SURVEILLANCE

• US 20110273294A1
• Filed: 09/12/2007
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Harwell, Janis
• Granted Patent: US 8,077,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A RFID monitoring system, which can be used to track and identify RFID tags and tag readers as they are used, can include a computing device including an RFID tag database for storing a list of authorized RFID tags that have been licensed by an intellectual property owner or licensee. The monitoring system may be configured to receive transmitted RFID tag data relating to the location, date, and/or time of detection of tags and other devices. Based on a statistical analysis of this data, the system can determine whether RFID tags and devices are authorized by a rights holder. Other features and embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag monitoring system for tracking multiple RFID tags as they are used, the system comprising:

a radio frequency reader for collecting data from at least one RFID tag associated with an item, wherein the radio frequency reader comprises;

a radio;

a memory for storing instructions; and

a processor for processing the stored instructions;

wherein the stored instructions configure the radio frequency reader to;

transmit a signal from the radio frequency reader to the RFID tag;

receive by the radio frequency reader a reply signal from the RFID tag, wherein the reply signal includes at least one RFID tag record pertaining to an identity of the RFID tag and directly or indirectly to an identify of a manufacturer and/or owner of the RFID tag;

provide location and/or time data associated with a location of the radio frequency reader, or associated with a time and date of receiving the RFID tag record;

transmit from the radio frequency reader, by wireless or wired means, the RFID tag record and the location and/or time data related to the associated location or time and date;

a computing device that comprises;

computer memory for storing computer instructions;

an RFID tag database comprising a list of authorized RFID tags that have been licensed by an intellectual property owner or licensee; and

,

at least one computer processor coupled to the computer memory and to the RFID tag database, and configured to receive the transmitted the RFID tag record and the location and/or time data related to the associated location or time and date;

wherein the stored computer instructions configure the computing device to;

compare the RFID tag record with the list of authorized RFID tags;

analyzed the location and/or time data related to the associated location or time and date, wherein the analyzing includes reviewing data from previously reported RFID tags; and

,

determine whether the RFID tag is authorized by a rights holder based at least in part on the comparing and the analyzing.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

determining based on the current location data and on previous location data whether the RFID tag has been cloned or duplicated.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag record comprises a serial number of the RFID tag that only indirectly identifies the manufacturer of the RFID tag, but the RFID tag database directly identifies the manufacturer of the RFID tag based on the serial number.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the stored computer instructions further configure the computing device to calculate or estimate an amount of compensation due for a manufacture or a sale of the RFID tag based at least in part on the RFID tag record.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag record comprises a serial number of the RFID tag that only indirectly identifies the owner of the RFID tag, but the RFID tag database directly identifies the owner of the RFID tag based on the serial number.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the stored computer instructions further configure the computing device to calculate or estimate an amount of compensation due for a use of the RFID tag based at least in part on the RFID tag record.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the stored computer instructions further configure the computing device to select the RFID tag or a group of RFID tags for inspection, segregation or destruction based at least in part on the RFID tag record and the location and/or time data related to the associated location or time and date.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the stored computer instructions further configure the computing device to select the RFID tag or a group of RFID tags for inspection, segregation or destruction as potentially counterfeit based at least in part on data identifying current and previous locations of the RFID tag.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the stored computer instructions further configure the computing device to identify the RFID tag or a group of RFID tags as at least potentially counterfeit based on data of the time and date of receiving the RFID tag record alone or in combination with other data.

10. A method of operating a wireless surveillance system having a radio frequency reader for collecting data from a wireless memory device associated with an item and at least one data object identifying the wireless memory device, the method comprising:

at a computer device, receiving from the radio frequency reader at least one data object pertaining to an identity of the wireless memory device, wherein the at least one data object pertaining to the identity of the wireless memory device is provided to the wireless memory device by the wireless memory device;

at the computer device, comparing the at least one data object pertaining to the identity of the wireless memory device with a list of data objects of wireless memory devices that have been licensed by an intellectual property owner or a licensee of the intellectual property owner, wherein the intellectual property owner owns intellectual property associated with technology in or used by the wireless memory device; and

,

determining whether the wireless memory device is a licensed wireless memory device based on the comparing.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the data object pertaining to the identity of the wireless memory device is used alone or in combination with other data to identify a manufacturer of the wireless memory device.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the data object pertaining to the identity of the wireless memory device is used alone or in combination with other data to automatically calculate or estimate amount of compensation due for manufacture or sale of the wireless memory device.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the data object pertaining to the identity of the wireless memory device is used alone or in combination with other data to identify an owner of the wireless memory device.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the data object pertaining to the identity of the wireless memory device is used alone or in combination with other data to calculate or estimate amount of compensation due for the use of the wireless memory device.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the wireless memory device is a radio frequency tag, insert, or chip.

16. A computer-readable medium storing or encoding instructions that when implemented on a computer perform a method to determine authenticity of a wireless memory device read by a radio frequency reader that collects data from the wireless memory device, the method comprising:

receiving, directly or indirectly from the wireless memory device, a signal having at least one data object associated with an origin or identity of the wireless memory device;

associating additional data with the at least one data object associated with the wireless memory device, wherein the additional data comprises evidence of wireless memory device usage;

comparing the data object associated with the wireless memory device with data of authorized wireless memory devices;

analyzing the evidence of wireless memory device usage with data of wireless memory devices that already have been previously reported; and

determining whether the wireless memory device is an authorized wireless memory device based at least in part on the comparing and the analyzing.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 further comprising:

determining whether a location of the wireless memory device is similar to a location of previously reported wireless memory devices.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the evidence of wireless memory device usage comprises a location of the wireless memory device based on a location of the radio frequency reader that provided the signal or a fixed network appliance that provided the signal and that was in wireless communications with the radio frequency reader.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the evidence of wireless memory device usage comprises a time and date related to receipt of the at least one data object associated with the wireless memory device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising determining whether a location of the wireless memory device is similar to a location of previously reported wireless memory devices under a statistical analysis of aggregated device usage data.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the radio frequency reader comprises an associated wireless memory device, the associated wireless memory device storing data uniquely identifying the radio frequency reader to the computer.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the wireless memory device is a radio frequency tag, radio frequency insert, or radio frequency chip.

23. An apparatus for operating a wireless surveillance system having a wireless radio frequency reader for collecting data from a wireless memory device and an access point associated with the wireless radio frequency reader, the method comprising:

means for receiving, over a computer or telecommunications network, at least one data object pertaining to an identity of the reader, to an identity of the wireless memory device, or both;

means, coupled to the means for receiving, for respectively comparing the data object pertaining to the identity of the reader, to an identity of the wireless memory device, or both, with a list of data objects of wireless radio frequency readers that have been licensed by an intellectual property owner or licensee, a list of data objects of wireless memory devices that have been licensed by an intellectual property owner or licensee, or both; and

means, coupled to the means for comparing, for determining whether the wireless radio frequency reader is a licensed wireless memory device, the wireless memory device is a licensed wireless memory device, or both.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the means for determining comprises means for employing statistical analysis to determine whether the wireless radio frequency reader is a licensed wireless memory device, the wireless memory device is a licensed wireless memory device, or both.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the means for determining comprises means for establishing whether a threshold number of potential unlicensed wireless memory devices or unlicensed wireless memory devices have been detected before implementing further action.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the data object is used alone or in combination with other data to identify an owner or manufacturer of the wireless memory device or wireless memory device, and wherein the data object is used alone or in combination with other data to calculate or estimate an amount of compensation due for the use or manufacture of the wireless memory device or wireless memory device.

27. A wireless memory apparatus for use in a wireless surveillance system, wherein the wireless surveillance system includes at least one wireless radio frequency reader for collecting data from the wireless memory apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a tag antenna for wirelessly receiving signals from and transmitting signals to a remote tag reader;

an analog circuit for transferring data to the tag antenna;

a non-volatile tag memory for storing a unique tag serial number identification, wherein the non-volatile tag memory further stores a unique user identification number assigned to end users, a unique manufacturer identification number assigned to manufacturers, or both; and

a digital circuit for transferring the unique tag serial number identification from the memory to the analog circuitry in preparation for transmission by the tag antenna;

wherein the digital circuit is further configured for transferring the unique user identification number assigned to end users, the unique manufacturer identification number assigned to manufacturers, or both, to the analog circuitry in preparation for transmission by the tag antenna.