Method and system for preventing unauthorized removal and use of an RFID apparatus

• US 7,388,493 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bartronics Hong Kong Limited
• Original Assignee: Bartronics America, Inc. (Systems America Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lerch, John W., Girvin, Joshua M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUGG, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US11/245,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07381 with deactivation or otherwise incapacitation of at least a part of the circuit upon detected tampering
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07726 the record comprising means for indicating first use, e.g. a frangible layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2454 Checking of authorisation of a person accessing tagged items in an EAS system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• 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 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A method for authorizing use of a disabling RFID apparatus includes attaching the apparatus to a wearer, verifying credentials associated with use of the apparatus, and tightening the apparatus to the wearer to prevent unauthorized removal of the apparatus. Optionally, an additional security method can include updating a data field indicating the credentials have been verified and the apparatus has been tightened to the wearer. In one embodiment, the RFID apparatus can include a band having a series of holes along a length thereof and an electrically conductive loop disposed in the band, wherein severance of the electrically conductive loop disables the apparatus. In another embodiment, the RFID apparatus can further include a tightening mechanism for attaching the apparatus to the wearer. The tightening mechanism can include a series of projections positioned to allow the apparatus to be tightened and not loosened. The series of projections can sever the electrically conductive loop on an attempt to loosen the band.

Claims

1. A method for authorizing use of a disabling RFID apparatus, comprising:

adjustably attaching the RFID apparatus to a wearer via a fastening device configured to allow adjustment only in a direction that tightens the RFID apparatus on the wearer;

verifying credentials of the wearer associated with authorization for a particular use of the RFID apparatus; and

only if the credentials are verified, updating a data field associated with the RFID apparatus that indicates the credentials have been verified and tightening the RFID apparatus to the wearer by adjusting the fastening device in the allowed direction to prevent unauthorized removal of the RFID apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

checking the validity of the RFID apparatus prior to use; and

authorizing use of the RFID apparatus upon validation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said RFLD apparatus includes a tamper detecting mechanism for indicating that said RFID apparatus has been tampered with and further including checking whether the RFID apparatus has been tampered with.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein checking whether the RFID apparatus has been tampered with includes one of visually inspecting the tamper detecting mechanism by an authorized person and electronically inspecting the tamper detecting mechanism using an RFID reading system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein electronically inspecting said tamper detecting mechanism includes:

placing the RFID apparatus in proximity to an RFID reader;

if the RFID apparatus is functional, reading a data field from the RFID apparatus;

examining the data field to determine if the data field has been updated indicating the credentials have been verified and the apparatus has been tightened to the wearer; and

if the data field has been updated, allowing use of the RFID apparatus.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the RFID apparatus includes a band, and said tamper detecting mechanism including an electrically conductive loop disposed in the band, wherein severance of the electrically conductive loop disables the functionality of the RFID apparatus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the tightening mechanism includes a series of projections, positioned to allow the apparatus to be tightened and not loosened.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID apparatus includes:

an RFID circuit disposed in the RFID apparatus; and

an antenna also disposed in the RFID apparatus, the RFID circuit, the antenna, and the electrically conductive loop coupled in a series, wherein severance of the electrically conductive loop disables the functionality of the RFID circuit.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the credentials associated with use of the apparatus include at least one of the age of the wearer, authorization for access to a restricted area, and a reentry request of the wearer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID apparatus includes an RFID chip;

the data field being stored on an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory within one of the RFID chip or in an external database.

11. A system of using an RFID apparatus, comprising:

an authorized person for verifying credentials associated with authorization for a particular use of an RFID apparatus;

the RFID apparatus including a fastening device configured to allow adjustment in only one direction such that the RFID apparatus may be attached to a wearer and then further tightened to the wearer only after the wearer'"'"'s credentials have been verified, the RFID apparatus not loosening without permanently disabling the RFID apparatus; and

a data field associated with the RFID apparatus and configured to be updated to indicate that the wearer'"'"'s credentials have been verified.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising an activation mechanism for activating the RFID apparatus once the credentials have been verified and the RFID apparatus has been further tightened to the wearer.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the activation mechanism comprises:

an RFID reader for determining if the RFID apparatus is functional and for reading identification information associated with the activated RFID apparatus; and

a database storing the data field associated with the further tightening of the RFID apparatus.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the RFID apparatus includes an electrically conductive loop disposed in the RFID apparatus, wherein severance of the electrically conductive loop disables the RFID apparatus.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the RFID apparatus includes:

an RFID circuit disposed in the RFID apparatus; and

an antenna also disposed in the RFID apparatus, the RFID circuit, the antenna, and the electrically conductive loop coupled in a series, wherein severance of the electrically conductive loop disables the RFID circuit.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein an RFID reader activates the RFID apparatus by updating a data field stored on at least one of an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory within an RFID chip, or in an external database.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the credentials associated with use of the apparatus include at least one of the age of the wearer, authorization for access to a restricted area, and a reentry request.

18. A method for authorizing use of a disabling RIND apparatus, comprising the steps of:

adjustably attaching the RFID apparatus to the wearer to prevent removal or loosening of the RFID apparatus without permanently disabling the RFID apparatus;

verifying credentials associated with a specific use of the REID apparatus; and

only if the credentials are verified, updating a data field associated with the REID apparatus and verifying the appropriate attachment of the REID apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein verifying the appropriate attachment comprises the step of tightening the REID apparatus to the wearer.