System and method to record environmental condition on an RFID tag

• US 7,489,246 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jeffries, Clark Debs, Peyravian, Mohammad, Himberger, Kevin David
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/766,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20070241905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.8, 340/870.16, 340/870.17, 340/5.9, 340/5.92, 340/584, 340/585, 340/588, 340/601, 340/602, 235/375, 235/440, 235/462.43, 235/462.46, 235/487, 235/98.R
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• 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

Abstract

System and method for recording temperature on an RFID tag. A first RFID tag is attached to a container. The first RFID tag includes a temperature sensor. The container contains a multiplicity of packages. A multiplicity of second RFID tags are attached to the multiplicity of packages, respectively. The first RFID tag transmits temperature information to the multiplicity of second RFID tags. In response, the multiplicity of second RFID tags record the temperature information. Consequently, there is no need for expensive temperature sensors on the multiplicity of RFID tags on the packages. According to features of the present invention, the first RFID tag is an active RFID tag, and the multiplicity of second RFID tags are passive RFID tags. The first RFID tag also transmits other information to the multiplicity of second RFID tags to enable the second RFID tags to authenticate the temperature information. Other types of environmental sensors such as a humidity sensor or vibration sensor can substitute for the temperature sensor.

Claims

1. A method of recording temperature on RFID tags, the method comprising:

attaching a first RFID tag to a container, the first RFID tag including a temperature sensor, the container containing a plurality of packages, each of a plurality of second RFID tags attached to a respective one of the plurality of packages;

responsive to the first RFID tag transmitting temperature information to the plurality of second RFID tags, the plurality of second RFID tags recording the temperature information;

storing in the plurality of a second RFID tags an identity of the first RFID tag;

the first RFID tag also transmitting to the plurality of second RFID tags the identity of the first RFID tag;

the plurality of second RFID tags comparing the identity transmitted by the first RFID tag to the identity of the first RFID tag stored in the plurality of second RFID tags;

if the identity transmitted by the first RFID tag matches the identity of the first RFID tag stored in the plurality of second RFID tags, the plurality of second RFID tags recording the temperature information, and

if the identity transmitted by the first RFID tag does not match the identity of the first RFID tag stored in the plurality of second RFID tags, the plurality of second RFID tags not recording the temperature information.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the first RFID tag is an active RFID tag; and

the plurality of second RFID tags are passive RFID tags.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

the first RFID tag also transmitting other information to the plurality of second RFID tags to enable the plurality of second RFID tags to authenticate the temperature information.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

storing a shared secret in the first RFID tag and the plurality of second RFID tags;

the first RFID tag also transmitting to the plurality of second RFID tags a transmitted hash value based on the shared secret stored in the first RFID tag and the temperature information which is transmitted;

the plurality of second RFID tags independently computing a hash value based on the shared secret stored in the plurality of second RFID tags and the temperature information received from the first RFID tag, and

if the transmitted hash value matches the independently computed hash value, the plurality of second RFID tags recording the temperature information, and

if the transmitted hash value does not match the independently computed hash value, the plurality of second RFID tags not recording the temperature information.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the temperature information is an indication whether the temperature exceeded a predetermined upper temperature limit.

6. An assembly for recording temperature on an RFID tag, the assembly comprising:

a container with a first RFID tag attached to the container, the first RFID tag including a temperature sensor, the container containing a multiplicity of packages, a multiplicity of second RFID tags attached to the multiplicity of packages, respectively; and

means within the first RFID tag for transmitting temperature information to the multiplicity of second RFID tags, and means, responsive to the transmission, within the multiplicity of second RFID tags for recording the temperature information;

means for storing a shared secret in the first RFID tag and the multiplicity of second RFID tags;

the first RFID tag also including means for transmitting to the multiplicity of second RFID tags a transmitted hash value based on the shared secret stored in the first RFID tag and the temperature information which is transmitted;

the multiplicity of second RFID tags including means for independently computing a hash value based on the shared secret stored in the multiplicity of second RFID tags and the temperature information received from the first RFID tag, and

if the transmitted hash value matches the independently computed hash value, the multiplicity of second RFID tags recording the temperature information, and

if the transmitted hash value does not match the independently computed hash value, the multiplicity of second RFID tags not recording the temperature information.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein:

the first RFID tag is an active RFID tag; and

the multiplicity of second RFID tags are passive RFID tags.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein:

the means within the first RFID tag also transmits other information to the multiplicity of second RFID tags to enable the multiplicity of second RFID tags to authenticate the temperature information.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 further comprising:

means for storing in the multiplicity of second RFID tags an identity of the first RFID tag;

the means within the first RFID tag also transmitting to the multiplicity of second RFID tags the identity of the first RFID tag;

the multiplicity of second RFID tags including means for comparing the identity transmitted by the first RFID tag to the identity of the first RFID tag stored in the multiplicity of second RFID tags; and

if the identity transmitted by the first RFID tag matches the identity of the first RFID tag stored in the multiplicity of second RFID tags, the multiplicity of second RFID tags recording the temperature information, and

if the identity transmitted by the first RFID tag does not match the identity of the first RFID tag stored in the multiplicity of second RFID tags, the multiplicity of second RFID tags not recording the temperature information.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the temperature information is an indication whether the temperature exceeded a predetermined upper temperature limit.

11. A method of recording an environmental condition on RFID tags, the method comprising:

attaching a first RFID tag to a container, the first RFID tag including an environmental condition sensor, the container containing a plurality of packages, each of a plurality of second RFID tags attached to a respective one of the plurality of packages;

responsive to the first RFID tag transmitting environmental information to the plurality of second RFID tags, the plurality of second RFID tags recording the environmental information;

storing in the plurality of second RFID tags an identity of the first RFID tag;

the first RFID tag also transmitting to the plurality of second RFID tags the identity of the first RFID tag;

the plurality of second RFID tags comparing the identity transmitted by the first RFID tag to the identity of the first RFID tag stored in the plurality of second RFID tags; and

if the identity transmitted by the first RFID tag matches the identity of the first RFID tag stored in the plurality of second RFID tags, the plurality of second RFID tags recording the environmental information, and

if the identity transmitted by the first RFID tag does not match the identity of the first RFID tag stored in the plurality of second RFID tags, the plurality of second RFID tags not recording the environmental information.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein:

the first RFID tag is an active RFID tag; and

the plurality of second RFID tags are passive RFID tags.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising:

the first RFID tag also transmitting other information to the plurality of second RFID tags to enable the plurality of second RFID tags to authenticate the environmental information.

14. A method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising:

storing a shared secret in the first RFID tag and the plurality of second RFID tags;

the first RFID tag also transmitting to the plurality of second RFID tags a transmitted hash value based on the shared secret stored in the first RFID tag and the environmental information which is transmitted;

the plurality of second RFID tags independently computing a hash value based on the shared secret stored in the plurality of second RFID tags and the environmental information received from the first RFID tag, and

if the transmitted hash value matches the independently computed hash value, the plurality of second RFID tags recording the environmental information, and

if the transmitted hash value does not match the independently computed hash value, the plurality of second RFID tags not recording the environmental information.

15. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the environmental information is an indication whether the environmental condition exceeded a predetermined upper environmental condition limit.

16. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the environmental condition is humidity.

17. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the environmental condition is vibration or shock.