METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ACCESS OF NETWORK BASED RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION

• US 20130013746A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: CROAK, MARIAN, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Granted Patent: US 8,775,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/01 Customer relationship services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling consumers to scan RFID tags using home based endpoint devices that can transmit the scanned information to network based services are disclosed. Using the RFID scanned information, consumers can then access, retrieve and view additional information regarding products, in which RFIDs are embedded, on video display devices, such as televisions or video display monitors. This product related information can include interactive technical support, companion product information, or instructional guidelines.

Claims

1. A method for providing information in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a request from a subscriber for establishing an application session via said communication network, where said application session is for retrieving information associated with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID);

performing a search to retrieve information associated with said RFID; and

forwarding said information associated with said RFID to said subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication network is a Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises:

receiving said request by a Session Controller; and

establishing said application session between a RFID Information Application Server and said subscriber by said Session Controller.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing comprises:

receiving said RFID from said subscriber; and

executing said search using said RFID to retrieve said information associated with said RFID.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said RFID data is received by a RFID Information Application Server.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said search is executed by a RFID Information Application Server.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said information associated with said RFID comprises at least one of:

product related information, interactive technical support, companion product information, or instructional guidelines.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said RFID comprises at least one of:

a product brand name, a model number, a serial number, a software version, a firmware version, a hardware version, a product code or product identifying information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said RFID is scanned by said subscriber using a RFID scanner that is in communication with a video endpoint device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said application session is displayed in an independent display frame on a video display device used by said subscriber.

11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for providing information in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a request from a subscriber for establishing an application session via said communication network, where said application session is for retrieving information associated with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID);

performing a search to retrieve information associated with said RFID; and

forwarding said information associated with said RFID to said subscriber.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said communication network is a Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said receiving comprises:

receiving said request by a Session Controller; and

establishing said application session between a RFID Information Application Server and said subscriber by said Session Controller.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said performing comprises:

receiving said RFID from said subscriber; and

executing said search using said RFID to retrieve said information associated with said RFID.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said RFID data is received by a RFID Information Application Server.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said search is executed by a RFID Information Application Server.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said information associated with said RFID comprises at least one of:

product related information, interactive technical support, companion product information, or instructional guidelines.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said RFID comprises at least one of:

a product brand name, a model number, a serial number, a software version, a firmware version, a hardware version, a product code or product identifying information.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said RFID is scanned by said subscriber using a RFID scanner that is in communication with a video endpoint device.

20. An apparatus for providing information in a communication network, comprising:

means for receiving a request from a subscriber for establishing an application session via said communication network, where said application session is for retrieving information associated with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID);

means for performing a search to retrieve information associated with said RFID; and

means for forwarding said information associated with said RFID to said subscriber.