Master tags

• US 7,646,300 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zest Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
• Inventors: Paley, Daniel Noah, Stewart, Roger Green
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Syed; Nabil H
• Application Number:
  US10/975,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,903 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.6, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.4, 340/825.54, 340/539.2
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/2295 Parent-child type, e.g. where parent has control on child rights

Abstract

A method for creating a hierarchy of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and the resultant system include associating each of a plurality of first RFID tags with an individual object of a plurality of objects, each first RFID tag storing identification information about the object with which it is associated. Identification information about each of the first RFID tags is stored in a second RFID tag that can physically accompany the first RFID tags during transportation.

Claims

1. A method for creating a hierarchy of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:

associating a first RFID tag with an individual object, the first RFID tag storing identification information about the object with which it is associated;

and storing in a second RFID tag information about the first RFID tag;

wherein a reader receives and uses the information from the second RFID tag to retrieve data directly from the first RFID tag.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a password must be provided for accessing the information stored on the second RFID tag.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second RFID tag also stores an access password for the first RFID tags, the access password being required for accessing information stored on the first RFID tag.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising changing the access password of the first RFID tag and storing the changed access passwords in the second RFID tag.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second RFID tag stores secret information about the first RFID tag.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second RFID tag also stores a kill password for disabling access to information stored on the first RFID tag.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising storing in a third RFID tag information about the second RFID tag.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising storing in a fourth RFID tag information about the second and third RFID tags.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the information stored in the fourth RFID tag includes passwords for accessing the second and third RFID tags.

10. A method for creating a hierarchy of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:

associating a first RFID tag with an individual object, the first RFID tag storing identification information about the object with which it is associated;

storing in a second RFID tag information about the first RFID tag; and

physically transporting the second RFID tag with the first RFID tag from one geographic location to another location,

wherein a reader receives and uses the information from the second RFID tag to retrieve data directly from the first RFID tag.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising changing an access password of the first RFID tag after the transporting and storing the changed access password in the second RFID tag.

12. A method for creating a hierarchy of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:

associating a first RFID tag with an individual object, the first RFID tag storing identification information about the object with which it is associated; and

storing in a second RFID tag information about the first RFID tag including an access password for enabling communication with the first RFID tag;

wherein the first tag is a different type of tag than the second tag,

wherein a reader receives the access password from the second RFID tag and uses the password to retrieve data directly from the first RFID tag.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the second tag contains more memory than the first tag.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the first tag is in a different class than the second tag.

15. A hierarchical system of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:

a first RFID tag being associated with an object, the first RFID tag storing information about the object with which it is associated; and

a second RFID tag storing information about the first RFID tag;

a reader for receiving and using the information stored in the second RFID tag to retrieve data directly from the first RFID tag.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the second RFID tag is physically transported with the first RFID tag from one geographic location to another location.

17. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein a password must be provided for accessing the information stored on the second RFID tag.

18. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the second RFID tag also stores an access password for the first RFID tag, the access passwords being required for accessing information stored on the first RFID tag.

19. A system as recited in claim 18, further comprising changing the access password of the first RFID tag and storing the changed access passwords in the second RFID tag.

20. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the second RFID tag stores secret information about the first RFID tag.

21. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the second RFID tag also stores a kill password for disabling access to information stored on the first RFID tag.

22. A system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a third RFID storing information about the second RFID tag.

23. A system as recited in claim 22, further comprising a fourth RFID tag storing information about the second and third RFID tags.

24. A system as recited in claim 23, wherein the information stored in the fourth RFID tag includes passwords for accessing the second and third RFID tags.

25. A hierarchical system of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:

a first RFID tag being associated with an object, the first RFID tag storing information about the object with which it is associated; and

a second RFID tag storing information about the first RFID tag including an access password for enabling communication directly with the first RFID tag;

wherein a reader receives the access password from the second RFID tag and uses the access password to retrieve data directly from the first tag;

wherein the first tag is a different type than the second tag.

26. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the second tag has more memory than the first tag.

27. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the first tag is in a different class than the second tag.

28. A method for physical transportation of identification information, comprising:

associating at least one first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with an individual object, each first RFID tag storing identification information about the object with which it is associated;

storing in a second RFID tag identification information about each of the first RFID tags; and

physically transporting the second RFID tag with the first RFID tags from one geographic location to another location;

wherein a reader receives and uses the information about the first RFID tags from the second RFID tag to retrieve data directly from the first RFID tags.

29. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein a password must be provided for accessing the identification information stored on the second RFID tag.

30. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the second RFID tag also stores access passwords for each of the first RFID tags, the access passwords being required for accessing information stored on the first RFID tags.

31. A method as recited in claim 30, further comprising changing the access passwords of the first RFID tags after the transporting and storing the changed access passwords in the second RFID tag.

32. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the second RFID tag also stores kill passwords for disabling access to information stored on the first RFID tags.

33. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising storing in a third RFID tag identification information about several fourth RFID tags, each of the fourth RFID tags being associated with additional objects, the fourth RFID tags identifying the objects with which associated.

34. A method as recited in claim 33, further comprising storing in a fifth RFID tag information about the second and third RFID tags.

35. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein the information stored in the fifth RFID tag includes passwords for accessing the second and third RFID tags.

36. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein each of the first tags is physically coupled to the object with which it is associated, wherein the second tag is operatively physically coupled to a container holding the first tags during the transporting.

37. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising storing the second RFID tag in a physically secure environment during the transporting.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the secure environment includes a container capable of shielding radio frequency transmissions.

39. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the secure environment includes a container having a physical locking mechanism.

40. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein one of the first RFID tags becomes locked if it removed from physical proximity of the second RFID tag beyond a predetermined distance.

41. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein one of the first RFID tags causes the object with which associated to become physically damaged if the first RFID tag is removed from physical proximity of the second RFID tag beyond a predetermined distance.

42. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the first tags are in a lower class than the second tag.

43. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the first tags are in the same class as the second tag.

44. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the first tags are in a higher class than the second tag.

45. A method for physical transportation of identification information, comprising:

associating each of a plurality of first radio frequency identification (RFID) tags with an individual object of a plurality of objects, each first RFID tag storing identification information about the object with which it is associated;

storing in a second RFID tag identification information about each of the first RFID tags;

physically transporting the second RFID tag with the first RFID tags from one geographic location to another location;

wherein the second RFID tag wherein a reader receives one of the access passwords from the second RFID tag and uses the password to retrieve data directly from one of the first RFID tags also stores access passwords for each of the first RFID tags, the access passwords being required for directly accessing information stored on the first RFID tags;

changing the access passwords of the first RFID tags and storing the changed access passwords in the second RFID tag.

46. A method as recited in claim 45, wherein the second RFID tag also stores kill passwords for each of the first RFID tags, the kill passwords being required for disabling the first RFID tags, wherein one of the first RFID tags causes the object with which associated to become physically damaged if the first RFID tag is removed from physical proximity of the second RFID tag beyond a predetermined distance or upon expiration of a predetermined time period.

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

a first RFID tag protected by a physical locking mechanism, a RF shielding mechanism, and an access password a second RFID tag storing the access password for the first RFID tag, wherein a reader receives the access password from the second RFID tag and uses the access password to retrieve data directly from the first RFID tag.

48. A method as recited in claim 47, wherein the RFID tag stores information about a plurality of other RFID tags.

49. A method for creating a hierarchy of interrelated radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:

associating each of a plurality of first RFID tags with an individual object of a plurality of objects, each first RFID tag storing identification information about the object with which it is associated, each of the first RFID tags having an access password associated therewith, the access passwords being required for accessing the identification information in the first RFID tags; and

storing in a second RFID tag the passwords for each of the first RFID tags, wherein a second RFID tag access password must be provided for wherein a reader receives one of the passwords associated with one of the first RFID tags from the second RFID tag and uses the password to retrieve data directly from the associated first RFID tag accessing the access passwords of the first RFID tags stored on the second RFID tag; and

changing the access passwords of the first RFID tags and storing the changed access passwords in the first RFID tans and the second RFID tag.

50. A method as recited in claim 49, further comprising wherein one of the first RFID tags causes the object with which associated to become physically damaged if the first RFID tag is removed from physical proximity of the second RFID tag beyond a predetermined distance or upon expiration of a predetermined time period.

51. A method as recited in claim 49, wherein the second RFID tag also stores kill passwords for disabling access to information stored on the first RFID tags.

52. A method as recited in claim 49, further comprising storing in a third RFID tag access passwords of several fourth RFID tags, each of the fourth RFID tags being associated with additional objects, the fourth RFID tags identifying the objects with which associated, wherein a third RFID tag access password must be provided for accessing the access passwords of the fourth RFID tags stored on the third RFID tag.

53. A method as recited in claim 52, further comprising storing in a fifth RFID tag the access passwords for the second and third RFID tags.

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

a plurality of first RFID tags each associated with an individual object of a plurality of objects, each first RFID tag storing identification information about the object with which it is associated, each of the first RFID tags having an access password associated therewith, the access passwords being required for accessing the identification information in the first RFID tags, wherein the access passwords of the first RFID tags are changeable; and

a second RFID tag storing the passwords for each of the first RFID tags, wherein a second RFID tag access password must be provided for wherein a reader receives one of the access passwords from the second RFID tag and uses the password to retrieve data directly from the first RFID tag associated with the one of the access passwords accessing the access passwords of the first RFID tags stored on the second RFID tag.

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

a plurality of first RFID tags each having an access password associated therewith and stored thereon, the access passwords being required for accessing identification information stored in the first RFID tags, wherein the access passwords of the first RFID tags are changeable; and

a second RFID tag storing the passwords for each of the first RFID tags wherein a reader receives one of the access passwords form the second RFID tag and uses the password to retrieve data directly from the first RFID tag associated with the one of the access passwords.

56. A system as recited in claim 55, wherein a second RFID tag access password must be provided for accessing the access passwords of the first RFID tags stored on the second RFID tag.

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

a first RFID tag having an access password associated therewith and stored thereon, the access password being required for accessing identification information stored in the first RFID tag, wherein the access password of the first RFID tag is changeable; and

a second RFID tag storing the password for the first RFID tag wherein a reader receives the access password from the second RFID tag and uses the password to retrieve data directly from the first tag.

58. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the first tag is in a lower class than the second tag.

59. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the first tag is in the same class as the second tag.

60. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the first tag is in a higher class than the second tag.

61. A method for creating a hierarchy of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:

associating each of a plurality of first RFID tags with an individual object of a plurality of objects, each first RFID tag storing identification information about the object with which it is associated; and

storing in a second RFID tag information about each of the first RFID tags;

wherein the second RFID tag also stores access passwords for each of the first RFID tags, the access passwords being required for accessing information stored on the first RFID tags; and

wherein a reader receives one of the access passwords from the second RFID tag and uses the password to retrieve data directly from the first RFID tag associated with the one of the access passwords;

changing the access passwords of the first RFID tags and storing the changed access passwords in the first RFID tags and the second RFID tag.

62. A hierarchical system of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:

a plurality of first RFID tags, each of the first RFID tags being associated with an individual object of a plurality of objects, each first RFID tag storing information about the object with which it is associated; and

a second RFID tag storing information about each of the first RFID tags;

wherein the second RFID tag also stores access passwords for each of the first RFID tags, the access passwords being required for accessing information stored on the first RFID tags, wherein a reader receives one of the access passwords from the second RFID tag and uses the password to retrieve data directly from the first RFID tag associated with the one of the access passwords;

wherein the access passwords of the first RFID tags are stored on the first RFID tags,

wherein the access passwords stored on the first RFID tags are changeable on the first RFID tags.

63. A method for creating a hierarchy of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:

associating each of a plurality of first RFID tags with an individual object of a plurality of objects, each first RFID tag storing identification information about the object with which it is associated; and

storing in a second RFID tag information about each of the first RFID tags;

wherein the second RFID tag also stores kill passwords for each of the first RFID tags, the kill passwords being required for disabling access to only some information stored on the first RFID tags wherein a reader receives one of the kill passwords from the second RFID tag and uses the password to communicate directly with the first RFID tag associated with the one of the kill passwords.

64. A hierarchical system of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:

a plurality of first RFID tags, each of the first RFID tags being associated with an individual object of a plurality of objects, each first RFID tag storing information about the object with which it is associated; and

a second RFID tag storing information about each of the first RFID tags;

wherein the second RFID tag also stores kill passwords for each of the first RFID tags, the kill passwords being required for disabling access to only some information stored on the first RFID tags wherein a reader receives one of the kill passwords from the second RFID tag and uses the password to communicate directly with the first RFID tag associated with the one of the kill passwords.

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

a RFID tag; and

a reader;

wherein one password is used to encrypt a transmission of a second password there between wherein the reader receives the second password from the RFID tag and uses the second password to communicate directly with a second RFID tag associated with the second password.

66. A method as recited in claim 65, wherein the second password is a block password.

67. A method as recited in claim 65, wherein the second password is an access password for the second tag.

68. A method as recited in claim 65, wherein the second password is a kill password for the second tag.

69. A method for forming a group of tagged objects, comprising:

coupling first radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to a plurality of objects;

programming each of the first RFID tags with a password and identification information;

creating a physical assembly of the objects with the first tags coupled thereto;

transferring information about the first tags to a second tag,

wherein the information about the first tags includes access passwords and block passwords stored on the first tags,

wherein the access passwords stored on the first tags are changeable,

wherein the block passwords stored on the first tags are changeable,

wherein each block password is for permitting access to data stored in a block of wherein a reader receives one of the passwords from the second RFID tag and uses the password to communicate with one of the first RFID tags memory on the tag storing the block password.

70. A method as recited in claim 69, further comprising locking the second tag.

71. A method as recited in claim 69, further comprising coupling the second tag to the physical assembly of objects.

72. An RFID device with memory, a password stored in said memory, other non-password information stored in said memory, wherein access to one part or all of said memory is conditioned on both the password and non-password information stored in another part of said memory.

73. A device as recited in claim 72, wherein the additional information is selected from a group consisting of temperature, temperature history, pressure, timer, ownership data, authorization data, proximity data.