Enabling/enhancing a feature of an electronic device using radio frequency identification technology

• US 7,057,492 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rakers, Patrick L., Collins, Timothy James, Wodka, Joseph F., Jackson, Miles R., Lill, Mark Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/092,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20020093426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/5.65, 340/10.4, 340/10.42, 340/10.1, 235/380
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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 19/07788 the antenna being of the capacitive type
• 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 7/10069 the collision being resolved in the frequency domain, e.g. by hopping from one frequency to the other frequency hopping or spread spectrum techniques H04B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10326 the antenna being of the very-near field type, e.g. capacitive
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 : together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 : having a radio frequency identification chip

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (“RFID”) device (102) having stored thereon an expiration and a set of data bits which, when presented to a processing device (602) via a RFID reader (206), causes the processing device (602) to enable a feature that would otherwise be disabled in an electronic device (600), and disable the feature when the expiration reaches a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A promotional material comprising a visual aid that identifies a consumer product other than the promotional material, the promotional material further comprising a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) device having stored thereon an expiration and a set of data bits which, when presented to a processing device via a RFID reader. causes the processing device to enable at least one feature that would otherwise be disabled in an electronic device having a plurality of features, and disable the at least one feature when the expiration reaches a predetermined value, wherein the at least one feature is an improvement to a performance or a characteristic of the electronic device.

2. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the set of data bits is programmed into the RFID device at the point of sale of the product.

3. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the predetermined value is based on a number of uses of the electronic device.

4. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the predetermined value is based on a period of time.

5. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the predetermined value is based on an event that occurs in the electronic device.

6. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the RFID reader is capable of powering the RFID device, receiving data transmitted by the RFID device, and sending the data to the processing device.

7. The promotional material of claim 6 wherein the RFID reader is also capable of transmitting modulated data.

8. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is selected from a group consisting of:

an electronic game console, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, and a pager.

9. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the set of data bits comprises an access code that would enable at least one of the plurality of features.

10. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the RFID device is attached to an item selected from a group consisting of:

a game piece, a collector'"'"'s card, a game card, and a token.

11. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the RFID device is capacitively coupled to the RFID reader.

12. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the RFID device is inductively coupled to the RFID reader.

13. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the RFID device is coupled to the RFID reader via a contacted interface.

14. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the RFID device comprises an antenna element and a circuit coupled to the antenna element, and wherein the RFID device and the RFID reader are coupled to a common return path.

15. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the RFID device couples to the RFID reader in a dipole configuration.

16. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the RFID device couples to the RFID reader in a monopole configuration.

17. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the RFID device is associated with a product, and wherein the set of data bits is programmed into the RFID device at a point of decision to purchase the product of a user.

18. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the RFID device is associated with a product, and wherein the set of data bits is programmed into the RFID device at a point of possession of the product of a user.

19. The promotional material of claim 1 wherein the RFID device is associated with a product, and wherein the set of data bits is programmed into the RFID device at a point of distribution of the product.

20. A promotional material comprising a visual aid that identifies a consumer product other than the promotional material, the promotional material further comprising a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) device having stored thereon a counter and a set of data bits which, when presented to a processing device via a RFID reader, causes the processing device to disable at least one feature that would otherwise be enabled in an electronic device having a plurality of features, and enable the at least one feature when the counter reaches a predetermined value, wherein the at least one feature is an improvement to a performance or a characteristic of the electronic device.

21. A promotional material comprising a visual aid that identifies a consumer product other than the promotional material, the promotional material further comprising a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) device having stored thereon a counter and a set of data bits which, when presented to a processing device via a RFID reader, causes the processing device to enhance at least one feature in an electronic device having a plurality of features, wherein the at least one feature is an improvement to a performance or a characteristic of the electronic device.

22. The promotional material of claim 21 wherein the enhancement to the feature is disabled when the counter reaches a predetermined value.

23. The promotional material of claim 22 wherein the predetermined value is based on one of the following events:

a number of uses, and a period of time.