RFID tag chips and tags with alternative behaviors and methods

• US 8,228,175 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2009
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
• Inventors: Diorio, Christopher J., Stanford, Theron, Cooper, Scott A., Lindhorst, Chad A., Rahimi, Kambiz, Heinrich, Harley K., Kavounas, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBINIYI, PAULSON IDOWU
• Application Number:
  US12/404,934
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 340 101- 106, 3405721-5729, 235375-385
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

RFID tags, ICs for RFID tags, and methods are provided. In some embodiments, an RFID tag includes a memory with multiple sections, and a processing block. The processing block may map one of these sections, or another of these sections, for purposes of responding to a first command from an RFID reader. As such, an RFID tag can operate according to the data stored in the section mapped at the time. In some embodiments, a tag can even transition from mapping one of the sections to mapping another of the sections. This can amount to the tag exhibiting alternative behaviors, and permits hiding data on the tag.

Claims

1. An Integrated Circuit (IC) for use with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag having an antenna, comprising:

a first set of memory bits for storing first data;

a second set of memory bits for storing second data, the second set of memory bits not coinciding exactly with the first set; and

a processing block operable to;

receive via the antenna a first command which is according to a protocol, the protocol defining a plurality of distinct called-for protocol states for the tag, the protocol requiring the tag to send in response to the first command a specific code if the processing block is in an internal tag protocol state that is compatible with a certain one of the called-for protocol states, the first command received at sufficient power for the tag to respond with the specific code;

map one of the first and the second set of memory bits for purposes of responding to the first command; and

send, if the processing block is in the compatible internal tag protocol state, in conformance with the protocol, a reply code as the specific code in response to the first command, the reply code being a first code that is derived at least in part from the first data if the processing block maps the first set of memory bits, the reply code alternatively being a second code distinct from the first code, the second code derived at least in part from the second data if the processing block maps the second set of memory bits.

2. The IC of claim 1, further comprising:

a third set of memory bits for storing third data, the third set distinct from the first set and from the second set, and

in which the processing block is further operable to;

transition to mapping the third set of memory bits instead of the first or the second set of memory bits such that, if the processing block were to receive via the antenna the first command while in the compatible internal tag protocol state, it would cause the tag to send in response a third code derived at least in part from the third data.

3. The IC of claim 1, further comprising:

a behavior indicator capable of indicating which of the first set and the second set of memory bits the processing block maps.

4. The IC of claim 3, in which

the behavior indicator is encoded in one or more values stored in respective one or more memory cells of the IC.

5. The IC of claim 4, in which

it is determined whether the processing block maps the first set of memory bits or alternatively the second set of memory bits by a logical address being used together with the one or more values encoding the behavior indicator.

6. The IC of claim 1, in which

when the processing block maps the first set of memory bits, the reply code is not sent unless the first command has been received at a power level higher than a first level, and

when the processing block maps the second set of memory bits, the reply code is not sent unless the first command has been received at a power level higher than a second level which is different from the first level.

7. The IC of claim 1, in which

the processing block is capable of being in one of at least two distinct internal tag protocol states, each of which is a version compatible with a single called-for protocol state,

the processing block maps the first set of memory bits for purposes of responding to the first command when it is in a first one of the two internal tag protocol states, and

the processing block maps the second set of memory bits for purposes of responding to the first command when it is in a second one of the two internal tag protocol states.

8. The IC of claim 1, in which the processing block is further operable to

transition from mapping the first set of memory bits to mapping the second set of memory bits.

9. The IC of claim 8, in which

after transitioning, the processing block can no longer map the first set of memory bits.

10. The IC of claim 8, in which

after transitioning, the processing block is further operable to transition back to mapping the first set of memory bits instead of the second set of memory bits, such that, if the processing block were to receive via the antenna the first command while in the compatible internal tag protocol state, it would cause the tag to send in response the first code.

11. The IC of claim 8, in which

transitioning is performed in response to the processing block gaining power after having lost power.

12. The IC of claim 8, further comprising:

a counter operable to count responsive to events, and

in which transitioning is performed in response to the counter having counted to a limit.

13. The IC of claim 8, further comprising:

a volatile memory cell that can store a value temporarily and then discontinue storing the value, and

in which transitioning is performed in response to the volatile memory cell discontinuing storing the value while the processing block is powered.

14. The IC of claim 8, in which

transitioning is performed in response to the processing block receiving a behavior change command distinct from the first command.

15. The IC of claim 14, in which

when the processing block maps the first set of memory bits, the reply code is not sent unless the first command has been received at a power level higher than a first level, and

transitioning is performed only if the behavior change command is received at a power level higher than a second level which is different from the first level.

16. The IC of claim 15, further comprising:

a behavior indicator capable of indicating which of the first set and the second set the processing block maps, and

in which the behavior indicator changes which of the first set and the second set it indicates in response to the behavior change command being received.

17. The IC of claim 16, in which

the behavior indicator is encoded in one or more values stored in respective one or more memory cells of the IC, and

the behavior change command causes the behavior indicator to be changed by rewriting the one or more values.

18. The IC of claim 14, in which

a password is stored in the IC, and

transitioning is performed only if the behavior change command meets a preset condition about the password.

19. The IC of claim 18, in which

the password is a tag access password equivalent to the access password specified in the Gen2 Spec v.1.1.0.

20. The IC of claim 14, in which

the processing block is capable of being in an internal tag protocol state belonging in one of a first subset and a second subset, and

transitioning can be performed if the processing block is in one of the internal tag protocol states of the second subset but not of the first subset.

21. The IC of claim 20, in which

when the processing block maps the first set of memory bits, the reply code is not sent unless the first command has been received at a power level higher than a first level, and

the processing block is capable of entering one of the internal tag protocol states in the second subset if power is received at a second level which is higher than the first level.

22. The IC of claim 20, in which

a password is stored in the IC, and

the processing block is capable of entering one of the internal tag protocol states in the second subset if the behavior change command meets a preset condition about the password.

23. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

an antenna; and

a circuit coupled to the antenna, the circuit comprising;

a first set of memory bits for storing first data;

a second set of memory bits for storing second data, the second set of memory bits not coinciding exactly with the first set; and

a processing block operable to;

receive via the antenna a first command which is according to a protocol, the protocol defining a plurality of distinct called-for protocol states for the tag, the protocol requiring the tag to send in response to the first command a specific code if the processing block is in an internal tag protocol state that is compatible with a certain one of the called-for protocol states, the first command received at sufficient power for the tag to respond with the specific code;

map one of the first and the second set of memory bits for purposes of responding to the first command; and

send, if the processing block is in the compatible internal tag protocol state, in conformance with the protocol, a reply code as the specific code in response to the first command, the reply code being a first code that is derived at least in part from the first data if the processing block maps the first set of memory bits, the reply code alternatively being a second code distinct from the first code, the second code derived at least in part from the second data if the processing block maps the second set of memory bits.

24. The tag of claim 23, in which

when the processing block maps the first set of memory bits, the reply code is not sent unless the first command has been received at a power level higher than a first level, and

when the processing block maps the second set of memory bits, the reply code is not sent unless the first command has been received at a power level higher than a second level which is different from the first level.

25. The tag of claim 23, in which the processing block is further operable to

transition from mapping the first set of memory bits to mapping the second set of memory bits.

26. The tag of claim 25, in which

transitioning is performed in response to the processing block gaining power after having lost power.

27. The tag of claim 25, further comprising:

a volatile memory cell that can store a value temporarily and then discontinue storing the value, and

in which transitioning is performed in response to the volatile memory cell discontinuing storing the value while the processing block is powered.

28. The tag of claim 25, in which

transitioning is performed in response to the processing block receiving a behavior change command distinct from the first command.

29. The tag of claim 28, further comprising:

a behavior indicator capable of indicating which of the first set and the second set the processing block maps, and

in which the behavior indicator changes which of the first set and the second set it indicates in response to the behavior change command being received.

30. The tag of claim 28, in which

a password is stored in the IC, and

transitioning is performed only if the behavior change command meets a preset condition about the password.

31. A method for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag that includes an antenna, a first set of memory bits for storing first data, a second set of memory bits for storing second data, the second set of memory bits not coinciding exactly with the first set, and a processing block, the method comprising:

receiving via the antenna a first command which is according to a protocol, the protocol defining a plurality of distinct called-for protocol states for the tag, the protocol requiring the tag to send in response to the first command a specific code if the processing block is in an internal tag protocol state that is compatible with a certain one of the called-for protocol states, the first command received at sufficient power for the tag to respond with the specific code;

mapping one of the first and the second set of memory bits for purposes of responding to the first command; and

sending, if the processing block is in the compatible internal tag protocol state, in conformance with the protocol, a reply code as the specific code in response to the first command, the reply code being a first code that is derived at least in part from the first data if the processing block maps the first set of memory bits, the reply code alternatively being a second code distinct from the first code, the second code derived at least in part from the second data if the processing block maps the second set of memory bits.

32. The method of claim 31, in which

when the processing block maps the first set of memory bits, the reply code is not sent unless the first command has been received at a power level higher than a first level, and

when the processing block maps the second set of memory bits, the reply code is not sent unless the first command has been received at a power level higher than a second level which is different from the first level.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

transitioning from mapping the first set of memory bits to mapping the second set of memory bits.

34. The method of claim 33, in which

transitioning is performed in response to the processing block gaining power after having lost power.

35. The method of claim 33, in which

transitioning is performed in response to the processing block receiving a behavior change command distinct from the first command.

36. The method of claim 35, in which

a behavior indicator is capable of indicating which of the first set and the second set the processing block maps, and

the behavior indicator changes which of the first set and the second set it indicates in response to the behavior change command being received.

37. The method of claim 35, in which

a password is stored in the IC, and

transitioning is performed only if the behavior change command meets a preset condition about the password.