Dynamically programmable RFID transponder

• US 8,692,655 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloomberg Finance LP (Bloomberg LP)
• Original Assignee: Bloomberg Finance LP (Bloomberg LP)
• Inventors: Zimman, Christopher William, Hook, James William
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY III, EDWIN C
• Application Number:
  US11/744,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20080278325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,528 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.51, 340/5.53, 340/5.82, 340/5.83, 340/5.61, 340/5.25, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0718 the sensor being of the biometric kind, e.g. fingerprint sensors fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/13; biometric access-control systems in general, see G07C9/00
• 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 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861

Abstract

A radio frequency transponder, or a device that comprises a radio frequency transponder, wherein the radio frequency transponder is operative in invoking self-programming of data stored in the radio frequency transponder. In some implementations the radio frequency transponder selectively enables the transmission of a unique identifier by selectively programming the unique identifier stored in the radio frequency transponder. In various implementations, the radio frequency transponder programs data stored in the transponder by generating a signal that is reactively coupled to the antenna of the radio frequency transponder.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification unit, comprising:

a radio frequency identification transponder which comprises a memory and an antenna which is operable to receive interrogation signals and transmit response signals, wherein the transponder is operable to transmit via the antenna, in response to an interrogation signal received by the antenna, a response signal including data from the memory; and

circuitry included within the unit which comprises a reactive coupling to the antenna, the circuitry being operable to generate data to be included in response signals and program the transponder with the generated data, via the reactive coupling and the antenna, such that the memory includes generated data to be included in a respective response signal;

the transponder being operable to transmit via the antenna in response to respective interrogation signals a plurality of response signals, wherein at least one of the plurality of response signals includes different data including generated data from the memory in accordance with programming or the transponder by the circuitry.

2. The radio frequency identification unit according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is operable to generate the data to be included in a response signal of the plurality of response signals according to a unique identifier associated with the radio frequency identification unit.

3. The radio frequency identification unit according to claim 2, comprising a biometric sensor coupled to condition the programming of data by the circuitry according to the unique identifier based upon a result of a biometric authentication of a user by the biometric sensor.

4. The radio frequency identification unit according to claim 1, comprising a biometric sensor coupled to condition the programming of data by the circuitry based upon a result of a biometric authentication of a user by the biometric sensor.

5. The radio frequency identification unit according to claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a winding and the reactive coupling comprises a winding coupled to the antenna winding.

10. The radio frequency identification unit according to claim 1, comprising integrated circuit which includes at least the transponder.

11. The radio frequency identification unit according to claim 1, comprising an integrated circuit which includes at least the transponder, wherein:

the antenna comprises a winding coupled to the transponder;

the reactive coupling comprises a winding coupled to the antenna winding;

the memory in the integrated circuit stores data to be transmitted in a response signal; and

the circuitry is operable to store, via the winding of the reactive coupling and the winding of the antenna, data to be transmitted in a response signal in the memory in the integrated circuit.

12. The radio frequency identification unit according to claim 1, comprising an integrated circuit which includes at least the transponder, wherein:

the antenna comprises a winding coupled to the transponder;

the reactive coupling comprises a winding coupled to the antenna winding;

the memory in the integrated circuit stores data to be transmitted in a response signal; and

the circuitry is operable to designate, via the winding of the reactive coupling and the winding of the antenna, data to be transmitted in a response signal which is stored in the memory in the integrated circuit.

6. A method of controlling data transmitted by an RFID unit that comprises an RFID transponder which includes a memory and an antenna which is operable to receive interrogation signals and transmit response signals, wherein the transponder is operable to transmit via the antenna, in response to an interrogation signal received by the antenna, a response signal including data from in the memory, the method comprising:

the circuitry within the RFID unit programming the transponder with data which is to be included in response signals, the programming comprising generating data which is to be included in response signals and providing the generated data to the memory, via a reactive coupling in the circuitry and the antenna, such that the memory includes generated data to be included in a respective response signal; and

the transponder transmitting via the antenna in response to respective interrogation signals a plurality of response signals, wherein at least one of the plurality of response signals includes different data including generated data from the memory in accordance with programming of the transponder by the circuitry.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising performing biometric authentication of a user and conditioning the programming of the RFID transponder on biometric authentication of the user.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein programming the transponder comprises programming the transponder with data that includes a valid access code, and a predetermined time period thereafter programming the transponder with data that does not comprise a valid access code.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising the circuitry programming the transponder after expiration of the predetermined time period with data which comprises an invalid access code.