Controllable RFID card

• US 8,624,740 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sweeney, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son M
• Application Number:
  US11/049,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20060187040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,259 Days
• Field of Search: 340571-5729, 340/5.6, 340/5.62, 340/10.4, 235/492, 235/451, 345/211
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing personalized information are provided. Based on an identification of a customer through the use of a card, personalized information is selectively produced and wirelessly provided to a display such as a wireless display. The identification of the customer, as well as additional information, can be provided through the use of the card, wherein functions of the card can be enabled or disabled by the customer through the use of on-card switches, buttons, slides and/or bistable domes.

Claims

1. A display system, comprising:

an information reader for generating an RF field to read RFID tags and generating a response to the read RFID tag using pattern recognition, the information reader being configured to determine a proximity of each RFID tag to the system; and

a display screen located in the RF field for receiving power and the response through the RF field of the information reader and generating an output associated with an RFID tag most proximate to the system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the information reader comprises an antenna for transmitting the RF field.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tags are included in cards, each card having at least one control selectable for generating a pattern on a surface of the card.

4. The system of claim 3, comprising:

a network that stores data associated with the pattern and the RFID tag of the card.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the information reader comprises a processor for communicating information associated with the read pattern and the RFID tag of the card over the network, and accessing a data file associated with the pattern and the RFID tag at a location on the network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the information reader compares information provided by the pattern and the RFID tag of the card to predetermined information in the data file.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the RFID tag of the card comprises an antenna.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one control includes multiple controls.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the multiple controls enables or disables the card.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the multiple controls determines an RF operating range of the card.

11. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one control provides a tactile feedback.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one control provides a visible feedback based on a selection state.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein the pattern of the card includes at least one of a shape of the at least one control and a color of the at least one control.

14. The system of claim 3, wherein the information reader comprises a processor for communicating the read physical and RF attributes of the card over a network, and accessing a data file related to the physical and RF attributes of the card at a location on the network.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the information reader is configured to detect a signal strength of an RFID tag.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the information reader is configured to compare the signal strength of the RFID tag with a predetermined signal strength stored in memory, wherein the predetermined signal strength corresponds to a predetermined distance from the system.