System and method for supporting multiple reader-tag configurations using multi-mode radio frequency tag
First Claim
1. A tag comprising:
- operational tag circuitry configured to provide information in response to being activated by one or more reader devices;
at least two antenna circuits coupled to the operational tag circuitry, wherein each of the at least two antenna circuits is configured to operate at a different reader-tag distance, and wherein the at least two antenna circuits comprises;
a) a first antenna circuit that causes the operational tag circuitry to provide point-of-sale tracking information in response to a far-range, point-of-sale, activation signal; and
b) a second antenna circuit that causes the operational tag circuitry to provide at least one of consumption and post-consumption tracking information in response to a near-range activation signal; and
at least one disabling circuit coupled to the operational tag circuitry and to at least one of the at least two antenna circuits, wherein the at least one disabling circuit is configured to disable operation of the first antenna circuit in response to a point of sale disable signal.
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Abstract
A system, apparatus and method for supporting multiple reader-tag configurations and reader-tag distances using a single multi-mode tag. A multi-mode radio frequency (RF) transponder is provided, which includes operational tag circuitry configured to provide information in response to being activated by a reader device(s). Multiple antenna circuits are coupled to the operational tag circuitry, where each of the antenna circuits is configured to operate at a different reader-tag distance. At least one disabling circuit is coupled to the operational tag circuitry and to at least one of the antenna circuits, where the disabling circuit is configured to disable operation of at least one of the antenna circuits to which it is coupled.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tag comprising:
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operational tag circuitry configured to provide information in response to being activated by one or more reader devices; at least two antenna circuits coupled to the operational tag circuitry, wherein each of the at least two antenna circuits is configured to operate at a different reader-tag distance, and wherein the at least two antenna circuits comprises;
a) a first antenna circuit that causes the operational tag circuitry to provide point-of-sale tracking information in response to a far-range, point-of-sale, activation signal; and
b) a second antenna circuit that causes the operational tag circuitry to provide at least one of consumption and post-consumption tracking information in response to a near-range activation signal; andat least one disabling circuit coupled to the operational tag circuitry and to at least one of the at least two antenna circuits, wherein the at least one disabling circuit is configured to disable operation of the first antenna circuit in response to a point of sale disable signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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associating a radio frequency identification tag with an item, wherein the radio frequency identification tag includes at least two antenna circuits each operable at a different reader-tag distance; communicating first information from a first of the at least two antenna circuits to one or more first reader devices operable at a first reader-tag distance, wherein the first reader-tag distance comprises a far-range, point-of-sale tracking distance, and wherein the first information comprises point-of-sale tracking information; disabling the first antenna circuit in response to a disable signal at a point of sale; and communicating second information from the second antenna circuit to one or more second reader devices operable at a second reader-tag distance, wherein the second reader-tag distance comprises a near-range distance, and wherein the second information comprises at least one of consumption and post-consumption tracking information. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A tag, comprising:
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means for receiving a first radio frequency signal from a first reader device via a first antenna, wherein the first radio frequency signal comprise a far-range, point-of-sale tracking signal; means for transmitting first information to the first reader device in response to receiving the first radio frequency signal, wherein the first information comprises point-of-sale tracking information; means for disabling the first antenna in response to a disable signal at a point of sale; means for receiving a second radio frequency signal from a second reader device, wherein the second signal device comprises a near-range RF signal; and means for transmitting second information to the second reader device in response to receiving the second radio frequency signal, wherein the second information comprises at least one of consumption and post-consumption tracking information.
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Specification