System and method for disabling data on radio frequency identification tags

• US 6,933,848 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RUIZHANG TECHNOLOGY LIMITED COMPANY
• Original Assignee: Alien Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Stewart, Roger G., Rolin, John, Carrender, Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/141,489
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/10.1, 340/10.51, 340/568.1, 340/870.16, 340/10.5, 713/200, 369/13.02, 365/9
• US Class Current: 340/572.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/207 Tax processing

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments of the present invention are used to permanently disable or destruct an RFID so that it is no longer possible to read some or all of the data encoded on the RFID tag. In one method for disabling data on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, an RFID tag is identified and its identity is confirmed. Verification that a prerequisite event has occurred is obtained, occurrence of which is required prior to disablement of the data. A destruct instruction is transmitted to the RFID tag. The RFID tag verifies that the destruct instruction is valid and disables the data upon verifying validity of the destruct instruction. The tag may disable the data by erasing the data, disabling the data, auto-destructing, or performing any operation that makes the data unreadable.

Claims

1. A method for disabling at least a portion of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

identifying an RFID tag having data thereon;

confirming an identity of the RFID tag;

verifying that a prerequisite event has occurred, occurrence of the prerequisite event being required prior to disablement of the data; and

transmitting a destruct instruction to the RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag verifies that the destruct instruction is valid, whereupon at least a portion of the RFID tag is disabled.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising verifying authorization of a user to order disabling of the data.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data of the RFID tag is associated with an item, wherein the prerequisite event is a purchase of the item.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising requiring receipt of a request for disablement prior to disabling the data.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein a request for disablement is automatically generated upon occurrence of the prerequisite event.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising disabling receipt or processing of further destruct commands by the RFID tag for a predetermined period of time after an unsuccessful attempt to disable the data.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the destruct instruction includes a destruct code unique to the RFID tag.

28. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is powered by radio frequency waves from the transceiver.

8. A system for disabling data on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

logic for identifying an RFID tag having data thereon;

logic for confirming an identity of the RFID tag;

logic for verifying that a prerequisite event has occurred, occurrence of the prerequisite event being required prior to disablement of the data; and

logic for transmitting a destruct instruction to the RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag verifies that the destruct instruction is valid, whereupon at least a portion of the RFID tag is disabled.

29. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the RFID tag is powered by radio frequency waves from the transceiver.

9. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for disabling data on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

computer code for identifying an RFID tag having data thereon;

computer code for confirming an identity of the RFID tag;

computer code for verifying that a prerequisite event has occurred, occurrence of the prerequisite event being required prior to disablement of the data; and

computer code for transmitting a destruct instruction to the RFID) tag, wherein the RFID tag verifies that the destruct instruction is valid, whereupon at least a portion of the RFID tag is disabled.

10. A method for disabling at least a portion of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

transmitting identification information from an RFID tag, wherein the identity of the RFID tag is confirmed;

receiving a destruct instruction;

verifying that the destruct instruction is valid; and

disabling at least a portion of the tag if the destruct instruction is valid.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the portion of the RFID tag is associated with an item, wherein the the portion of the RFID tag is disabled upon purchase of the item.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the disablement includes locking the portion of the tag such that the tag cannot be written to.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the disablement includes destroying the portion of the tag.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising requiring receipt of a request for disablement prior to disabling the portion of the tag.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising receiving verification that a prerequisite event has occurred, occurrence of the prerequisite event being required prior to execution of the destruct instruction by the RFID tag.

16. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising disabling receipt or processing of further destruct commands for a predetermined period of time after an unsuccessful attempt to disable the portion of the tag.

17. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the destruct instruction includes a unique destruct code.

30. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the RFID tag is powered by radio frequency waves from the transceiver.

18. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a circuit for transmitting identification information from an RFID tag, wherein the identity of the RFID tag is confirmed;

a circuit for receiving a destruct instruction;

a circuit for verifying that the destruct instruction is valid; and

a circuit for disabling at least a portion of the tag if the destruct instruction is valid.

31. The tag as recited in claim 18, wherein the RFID tag is powered by radio frequency waves form the transceiver.

19. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system, comprising:

an RFID tag having data stored thereon, the RFID tag permanently disabling at least a portion of the data upon receipt of a destruct instruction;

a communication circuit for communicating with the RFID tag, a transceiver transmitting a destruct instruction to the RFID tag;

an identification circuit coupled to the communication circuit for identifying the RFID tag; and

a confirmation circuit coupled to the communication circuit for confirming an identity of the RFID tag.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the RFID tag verifies that the destruct instruction is valid.

21. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein occurrence of a prerequisite event is required prior to transmission of the destruct instruction to the RFID tag.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein the data of the RFID tag is associated with an item, wherein the prerequisite event is a purchase of the item.

23. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein an authorization of a user to order disabling of the data is verified.

24. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein receipt of a request for disablement is required prior to disabling the data.

25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein a request for disablement is automatically generated upon occurrence of a prerequisite event.

26. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein receipt or processing of further destruct commands is disabled for a predetermined period of time after an unsuccessful attempt to disable the data.

27. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the RFID tag is powered by radio frequency waves from the transceiver.