System for identifying a personal item, such as an item of clothing, an accessory or a portable device

• US 6,897,778 B1
• Filed: 10/25/2000
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paolo Borlenghi
• Original Assignee: Paolo Borlenghi
• Inventors: Borlenghi, Paolo
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US10/111,362
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.12, 340/539.15, 340/539.32, 340/572.4, 340/575.1, 340/573.4, 340/571
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• 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 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 2001/085 Partner search devices

Abstract

A personal item (3), such as an item of clothing, an accessory or a portable device, is fitted with an identification tag (2) having memory means (11) for recording an individual code assigned to the tag (2), and emitting means (12) for emitting a signal representing the individual code; a portable detecting device (4) has enabling means (16) for enabling the emitting means (12) and for transmitting an inquiry signal to the tag (2) and receiving, in response, the signal representing the individual code and emitted by the emitting means (12) of the tag (2); and the individual code so detected may then be used as an E-mail box address on a dedicated internet web site to contact the owner of the tag (2), thus providing a straightforward, effective way of establishing interpersonal relationships between strangers, while at the same time ensuring their anonymity.

Claims

1. A system for establishing deferred interpersonal relationships between individuals meeting by chance, comprising

an identification tag (2) applied to a personal item (3);

said tag (2) having means for recording (11) an individual code assigned to said tag (2), and means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12);

a portable detecting devise (4) having means for receiving (20) said signal representing said individual code emitted by said means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12); and

a dedicated internet web site having an E-mail box associated to said individual code and assigned to an owner of said item, wherein said E-mail box is accessible directly, given said individual code, via said dedicated internet web site, while ensuring the anonymity of the owner of said item.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said personal item is a cell phone (5) comprising both said detecting device (4) and said tag (2).

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting device (4) also comprises means for enabling (16) said means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12), said means for enabling (16) being associated with said means for receiving (20) to transmit an inquiry signal to said tag (2) and to receive, in response to said inquiry signal, said signal representing said individual code emitted by said means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12).

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12) only emit said signal representing said individual code in response to an inquiry signal generated by the means for enabling (16) of said detecting device (4).

5. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for enabling (16) are radio-frequency signals.

6. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for enabling (16) are infrared signals.

7. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tag (2) also comprises means for signal processing (21) associated with said means for recording (11), to process the inquiry signal emitted by said detecting device (4) and to compare it with a series of parameters recorded in said means for recording (11);

said means for signal processing (21) only activating said means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12) when said inquiry signal meets predetermined criteria governing compatibility with said parameters recorded in said means for recording (11).

8. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tag (2) also comprises means for emitting an indication signal in response to the inquiry signal sent by said detecting device (4);

said inquiry signal simultaneously activating said means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12) and said means for emitting an indication signal.

9. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said detecting device (4) also comprises means for displaying said individual code (19).

10. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said detecting device (4) is integrated in a cell phone (5).

11. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said personal item is an item of clothing.

12. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said personal item is a cell phone (5) comprising both said detecting device (4) and said tag (2).

13. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for enabling (16) generate said inquiry signal in a predetermined direction.

14. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for enabling (16) are radio-frequency signals.

15. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for enabling (16) are infrared signals.

16. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said tag (2) also comprises means for signal processing (21) associated with said means for recording (11), to process the inquiry signal emitted by said detecting device (4) and to compare it with a series of parameters recorded in said means for recording (11);

said means for signal processing (21) only activating said means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12) when said inquiry signal meets predetermined criteria governing compatibility with said parameters recorded in said means for recording (11).

17. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said tag (2) also comprises means for emitting an indication signal in response to the inquiry signal sent by said detecting device (4);

said inquiry signal simultaneously activating said means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12) and said means for emitting an indication signal.

18. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said detecting device (4) also comprises means for displaying said individual code (19).

19. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said detecting device (4) is integrated in a cell phone (5).

20. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cell phone (5) comprises a dedicated control button (17) for activating said means for enabling (16);

and a display (19) for displaying said individual code.

21. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said personal item is an item of clothing.

22. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said personal item is a cell phone (5) comprising both said detecting device (4) and said tag (2).

23. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12) comprise a passive transponder activated by said means for enabling (16).

24. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for enabling (16) are radio-frequency signals.

25. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for enabling (16) are infrared signals.

26. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said tag (2) also comprises means for signal processing (21) associated with said means for recording (11), to process the inquiry signal emitted by said detecting device (4) and to compare it with a series of parameters recorded in said means for recording (11);

said means for signal processing (21) only activating said means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12) when said inquiry signal meets predetermined criteria governing compatibility with said parameters recorded in said means for recording (11).

27. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said tag (2) also comprises means for emitting an indication signal in response to the inquiry signal sent by said detecting device (4);

said inquiry signal simultaneously activating said means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12) and said means for emitting an indication signal.

28. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said detecting device (4) also comprises means for displaying said individual code (19).

29. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said detecting device (4) is integrated in a cell phone (5).

30. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said personal item is an item of clothing.

31. A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said means for enabling (16) are radio-frequency signals.

32. A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said means for enabling (16) are infrared signal.

33. A method for establishing deferred interpersonal relationships between individuals meeting by chance, comprising the steps of

applying an identification tag (2) to a personal item (3), said tag (2) having means for recording (11) an individual code assigned to said tag (2), and means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12);

assigning an individual code to said tag (2);

recording on said means for recording (11) said individual code assigned to said tag (2);

emitting a signal representing said individual code (12) from said tag (2) to a portable detecting device (4) having means for receiving (20) said signal representing said individual code that is emitted by said means for emitting a signal representing said individual code (12);

receiving said signal representing said individual code by said means for receiving (20); and

providing a dedicated internet web site having an E-mail box associated to said individual code and assigned to an owner of said item, wherein said E-mail box is accessible directly, given said individual code, via said dedicated internet web site, while ensuring the anonymity of the owner of said item.