RFID key rotation system

• US 8,042,737 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Rehman, Samuelson
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/758,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20080302871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/380, 235/435, 235/487, 235/492, 235/494, 707/10, 707/101, 726/9, 726/20, 726/27, 726/30
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

In various embodiments, a method for tracking objects includes receiving an internal identifier associated with an object. A first key or external identifier for a tag is associated with the internal identifier. A second external identifier is generated and the second external identifier is then written to the tag. The second external identifier is associated with the internal identifier associated with the object.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for tracking objects, the method comprising:

receiving, at one or more computer systems that provide one or more applications with tracking information associated with objects, information that associates a first identifier with an object, the first identifier configured to be used by the one or more applications to obtain tracking information associated with the object;

determining, with one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a bit-reducing scheme associated with an organization for generating identifiers to be stored in tags associated with the organization;

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a second identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the second identifier having a predetermined portion corresponding to the organization set according to the bit-reducing scheme, the second identifier further being different than the first identifier;

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, information that associates the first identifier with the second identifier such that the one or more applications obtain first tracking information for the object based on the first identifier associated with the object, the first tracking information derived in part from at least one of one or more tag reading devices reading a subset of bits associated with the second identifier from at least one of one or more tags associated with the object;

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a third identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the third identifier missing the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization and configured to be stored in a first tag associated with the object and readable from the first tag by one or more tag reading devices to recognize the first tag when the first tag is in the presence of the one or more tag reading devices, the third identifier further being different than the first identifier and the second identifier;

determining, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, whether to rotate an identifier currently stored in the first tag with another identifier for the first tag;

based on a positive determination to rotate an identifier currently stored in the first tag with another identifier for the first tag,

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a fourth identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the fourth identifier having the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization set according to the bit-reducing scheme, the fourth identifier further being different than the first identifier, the second identifier, and the third identifier;

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, information that associates the first identifier with the fourth identifier such that the one or more applications obtain second tracking information for the object based on the first identifier associated with the object, the second tracking information derived in part from at least one of one or more tag reading devices reading a subset of bits associated with the fourth identifier from at least one of one or more tags associated with the object;

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a fifth identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the fifth identifier missing the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization and configured to be stored in the first tag and readable from the first tag by one or more tag reading devices to recognize the first tag when the first tag is in the presence of the one or more tag reading devices, the fifth identifier further being different than the first identifier, the second identifier, the third identifier, and the fourth identifier; and

generating, with the processor associated with the computer system, one or more instructions for writing the fifth identifier to the first tag.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, at the one or more computer systems, a policy specifying creation of identifiers for the tags associated with the organization, the policy defining the bit-reducing scheme.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, at the one or more computer systems, a policy specifying creation of identifiers for the tags associated with the organization, the policy defining a rotation scheme indicating when to change identifiers for the tags associated with the organization.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, the second identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme comprises:

receiving, at the one or more computer systems, a window for the bit-reducing scheme indicative of validity of the second identifier, the window specifying a range mask as the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization set according to the bit-reducing scheme, the range mask indicative of a range of bits to be applied to the third identifier to generate the second identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

based on another positive determination to rotate an identifier currently stored in the first tag with another identifier for the first tag,

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a sixth identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the sixth identifier having the predetermined portion set according to the bit-reducing scheme, the sixth identifier being different than the first identifier and each of one or more identifiers previously generated according to the bit-reducing scheme;

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, information that associates the first identifier with the sixth identifier such that the one or more applications obtain third tracking information for the object based on the first identifier associated with the object, the third tracking information derived in part from at least one of one or more tag reading devices reading a subset of bits associated with the sixth identifier from at least one of one or more tags associated with the object;

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a seventh identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the seventh identifier missing the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization and configured to be stored in the first tag and readable from the first tag by one or more tag reading devices to recognize the first tag when the first tag is in the presence of the one or more tag reading devices, the seventh identifier further being different than the first identifier and each of one or more identifiers previously generated according to the bit-reducing scheme; and

generating, with the processor associated with the computer system, one or more instructions for writing the seventh identifier to the first tag.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the tag comprise an RFID tag.

6. A method for tracking objects, the method comprising:

receiving, at one or more computer systems that provide one or more applications with tracking information associated with objects, an Electronic Product Code associated with an object, the Electronic Product Code used by the one or more applications to obtain tracking information associated with the object;

generating, with one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a first identifier based on a policy associated with an organization, the first identifier having a first portion identifying the organization and a second portion randomized according to the policy, the first identifier further being different than the Electronic Product Code used by the one or more applications for tracking the object;

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, information associating the Electronic Product Code with the first identifier such that the one or more applications obtain first tracking information for the object based on the Electronic Product Code, the first tracking information derived in part from at least one of one or more tag reading devices reading all or part of the second portion of the first identifier from at least one of one or more tags associated with the object;

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a second identifier based on the policy, the second identifier missing the first portion of the first identifier and configured with all or part of the second portion of the first identifier;

determining, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, whether to rotate an identifier currently stored in a tag associated with the object with another identifier for the tag;

based on a positive determination to rotate an identifier currently stored in the tag associated with the object with another identifier for the tag,

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a third identifier based on the policy associated with the organization, the third identifier having a first portion identifying the organization and a second portion randomized according to the policy, the third identifier further being different than the first identifier, the second identifier, and the Electronic Product Code used by the one or more applications for tracking the object;

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, information associating the Electronic Product Code with the third identifier such that the one or more applications obtain second tracking information for the object based on the Electronic Product Code, the second tracking information derived in part from at least one of one or more tag reading devices reading all or part of the second portion of the third identifier from at least one of one or more tags associated with the object;

generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, a fourth identifier based on the policy, the fourth identifier missing the first portion of the third identifier and configured with all or part of the second portion of the third identifier; and

generating, with the processor associated with the computer system, one or more instructions for writing the fourth identifier to the tag associated with the object.

8. A data processing system for tracking objects, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store a plurality of code modules which when executed by the processor configure the processor to;

receive information that associates a first identifier with an object, the first identifier configured to be used by one or more applications to obtain tracking information associated with the object;

determine a bit-reducing scheme associated with an organization for generating identifiers to be stored in tags associated with the organization;

generate a second identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the second identifier having a predetermined portion corresponding to the organization set according to the bit-reducing scheme, the second identifier further being different than the first identifier;

generate information that associates the first identifier with the second identifier such that the one or more applications obtain first tracking information for the object based on the first identifier associated with the object, the first tracking information derived in part from at least one of one or more tag reading devices reading a subset of bits associated with the second identifier from at least one of one or more tags associated with the object;

generate a third identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the third identifier missing the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization and configured to be stored in a first tag associated with the object and readable from the first tag by one or more tag reading devices to recognize the first tag when the first tag is in the presence of the one or more tag reading devices, the third identifier further being different than the first identifier and the second identifier;

determine whether to rotate an identifier currently stored in the first tag with another identifier for the first tag;

based on a positive determination to rotate an identifier currently stored in the first tag with another identifier for the first tag,

generate a fourth identifier for the object based on the bit-reducing scheme, the fourth identifier having the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization set according to the bit-reducing scheme, the fourth identifier being different than the first identifier, the second identifier, and the third identifier;

generate information that associates the first identifier with the fourth identifier such that the one or more applications obtain second tracking information for the object based on the first identifier associated with the object, the second tracking information derived in part from at least one of one or more tag reading devices reading a subset of bits associated with the fourth identifier from at least one of one or more tags associated with the object;

generate a fifth identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the fifth identifier missing the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization and configured to be stored in the first tag and readable from the first tag by one or more tag reading devices to recognize the first tag when the first tag is in the presence of the one or more tag reading devices, the fifth identifier further being different than the first identifier, the second identifier, the third identifier, and the fourth identifier; and

generate one or more instructions to write the fifth identifier to the first tag.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a policy specifying creation of identifiers for the tags associated with the organization, the policy defining the bit-reducing scheme.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a policy specifying creation of identifiers for the tags associated with the organization, the policy defining a rotation scheme indicating when to rotate identifiers for the tags associated with the organization.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the second identifier based on the bit reducing scheme in response to:

receiving a window for the bit-reducing scheme indicative of validity of the second identifier, the window specifying a range mask as the predetermined portion associated with the organization to be applied to the third identifier to generate the second identifier.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein, based on another positive determination to rotate an identifier for the first tag with another identifier currently stored in the first tag, the processor is further configured to:

generate a sixth identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the sixth identifier having the predetermined portion set according to the bit-reducing scheme, the sixth identifier being different than the first identifier and each of one or more identifiers previously generated according to the bit-reducing scheme;

generate information that associates the first identifier with the sixth identifier such that the one or more applications obtain third tracking information for the object based on the first identifier associated with the object, the third tracking information derived in part from at least one of one or more tag reading devices reading a subset of bits associated with the sixth identifier from at least one of one or more tags associated with the object;

generate a seventh identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the seventh identifier missing the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization and configured to be stored in the first tag and readable from the first tag by one or more tag reading devices to recognize the first tag when the first tag is in the presence of the one or more tag reading devices, the seventh identifier further being different than the first identifier and each of one or more identifiers previously generated according to the bit-reducing scheme; and

generate one or more instructions to write the seventh identifier to the first tag.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the first identifier associated with the object comprises an Electronic Product Code identifier.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the tag comprise an RFID tag.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-executable code for tracking objects, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for receiving information that associates a first identifier with an object, the first identifier configured to be used by one or more applications to obtain tracking information associated with the object;

code for receiving a bit-reducing scheme associated with an organization for generating identifiers to be stored in tags associated with an organization;

code for generating a second identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the second identifier having a predetermined portion corresponding to the organization set according to the bit-reducing scheme, the second identifier further being different than the first identifier;

code for generating information that associates the first identifier with the second identifier such that the one or more applications obtain first tracking information for the object based on the first identifier associated with the object, the first tracking information derived in part from at least one of one or more reading devices reading a subset of bits associated with the second identifier from at least one of one or more tags associated with the object;

code for generating a third identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the third identifier missing the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization and configured to be stored in a first tag associated with the object and readable from the first tag by one or more tag reading devices to recognize the first tag when the first tag is in the presence of the one or more tag reading devices, the third identifier further being different than the first identifier and the second identifier;

code for determining whether to rotate an identifier currently stored in the first tag with another identifier for the first tag;

code for, based on a positive determination to rotate an identifier currently stored in the first tag with another identifier for the first tag,

generating a fourth identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the fourth identifier having the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization set according to the bit-reducing scheme, the fourth identifier being different than the first identifier, the second identifier, and the third identifier;

generating information that associates the first identifier with the fourth identifier such that the one or more applications obtain second tracking information for the object based on the first identifier associated with the object, the second tracking information derived in part from at least one of one or more tag reading devices reading a subset of bits associated with the fourth identifier from at least one of one or more tags associated with the object;

generating a fifth identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the fifth identifier missing the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization and configured to be stored in the first tag and readable from the first tag by one or more tag reading devices to recognize the first tag when the first tag is in the presence of the one or more tag reading devices, the fifth identifier further being different than the first identifier, the second identifier, the third identifier, and the fourth identifier; and

generating one or more instructions for writing the fifth identifier to the first tag.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

code for receiving a policy specifying creation of identifiers for the tags associated with the organization, the policy defining the bit-reducing scheme.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

code for receiving a policy specifying creation of identifiers for the tags associated with the organization, the policy defining a rotation scheme indicating when to change identifiers for the tags associated with the organization.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the code for generating the second identifier based on the bit reducing scheme comprises:

code for receiving a window for the bit-reducing scheme indicative of validity of the second identifier, the window specifying a range mask as the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization set according to the bit-reducing scheme, the range mask indicative of a range of bits to be applied to the third identifier to generate the second identifier.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising code for, based on another positive determination to rotate an identifier currently stored in the first tag with another identifier for the first tag:

generating a sixth identifier according to the bit-reducing scheme, the sixth identifier having the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization set according to the bit-reducing scheme, the sixth identifier being different than the first identifier and each of one or more identifiers previously generated according to the bit-reducing scheme;

generating information that associates the first identifier with the sixth identifier such that the one or more applications obtain third tracking information for the object based on the first identifier associated with the object, the third tracking information derived in part from at least one of one or more tag reading devices reading a subset of bits associated with the sixth identifier from at least one of one or more tags associated with the object;

generating a seventh identifier based on the bit-reducing scheme, the seventh identifier missing the predetermined portion corresponding to the organization and configured to be stored in the first tag and readable from the first tag by one or more tag reading devices to recognize the first tag when the first tag is in the presence of the one or more tag reading devices, the seventh identifier further being different than the first identifier and each of one or more identifiers previously generated according to the bit-reducing scheme; and

generating one or more instructions for writing the seventh identifier to the first tag.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the first identifier associated with the object comprises an Electronic Product Code identifier.