Methods and system for identifying lost or stolen RFID devices

• US 20130257618A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Elledge, Dennis D.
• Application Number:
  US13/794,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257618A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10059 transponder driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A system for identifying a lost or stolen device includes a transmitter, a receiver and a computer. The transmitter is coupled to the device and transmits identification information. The receiver receives the identification information transmitted by the transmitter when the transmitter is within a defined distance from the receiver. The computer is coupled to the receiver so as to receive the information from the receiver. The computer has a first secure database which stores data associated with lost or stolen devices and which prevents unauthorized access to the data stored therein. The computer compares the information with the stored data, and generates an alarm if the information matches at least some of the stored data.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method for identifying a lost or stolen radio frequency (RF) device, the method comprising:

receiving a report for a lost or stolen RF device, said lost or stolen RF device having a unique identifier associated therewith;

causing the storing of information associated with the report in a secure database, the stored information being useful for the comparison of a received unique identifier to the information stored in the secure database, the received unique identifier obtained via the transmission of an interrogation signal by at least one reader to an RF device associated with the received unique identifier;

causing the determination that a received unique identifier by the at least one reader is associated with the lost or stolen device; and

causing the notification of the lost or stolen device to personnel associated with the operation of the at least one reader.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the lost or stolen RF device comprises a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the received unique identifier is obtained in a public place.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the public place has a checkpoint associated therewith.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the checkpoint refers to a location in which people and/or items must pass in order to move on to another location.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the causing the notification comprises sending an alarm signal to a computing device associated with the at least one reader.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sending the alarm signal causes the display of an indicator on a display screen.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the display of the indicator on the display screen notifies personnel that the RF device associated with the unique identifier is lost or stolen.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one reader is configured so as to read unique identifiers from only one RF device at a time.

11. A system for identifying a lost or stolen radio frequency (RF) device, the system comprising:

an interrogation device configured to transmit an interrogation signal and in response thereto, receive one or more replies from an RF device;

a computing device in communication with the interrogation device and configured to facilitate operation of the interrogation device, the computing device further comprising a network interface in operative communication with a secure database via a network;

wherein the computing device is further configured to;

cause the interrogation device to transmit a first interrogation signal;

receive information associated with one or more replies received from a lost or stolen RF device in response to the transmitted first interrogation signal;

transmit the received information to the secure database;

receive a message from the secure database that the lost or stolen RF device is in fact lost or stolen; and

cause the display of a notification to a display device that the lost or stolen RF device is lost or stolen.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the lost or stolen RF device comprises a passive RFID tag.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the received information is obtained in a public place.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the public place has a checkpoint associated therewith.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the checkpoint refers to a location in which people and/or items must pass in order to move on to another location.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the notification comprises sending an alarm signal to the computing device associated with the interrogation device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the alarm signal causes the display of an indicator on a display screen of the computing device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the indicator on the display screen notifies personnel that the RF device associated with the received information is lost or stolen.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the interrogation device is configured so as to receive information from only one RF device at a time.

20. A method for locating a lost or stolen device, the method comprising:

receiving a report of a lost or stolen device, the device having transmitter circuitry attached thereto or therein;

causing data associated with the report of the lost or stolen device to be stored into a secure database;

causing the receipt of a unique identifier via the transmission of an interrogation signal;

causing the authentication of the interrogation signal using the transmitter circuitry of at least one detected device; and

comparing the received unique identifier with the data stored in the secure database to locate the lost or stolen device.

21. The method of claim 20, additionally comprising sending an alarm signal to a computing device associated with the receipt of the unique identifier of the lost or stolen device.