Method and device for storing and distributing information in an RFID tag

• US 20040046643A1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Meyers, David W., Becker, Robert C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,573,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• 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 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface

Abstract

An RFID tag has a memory, an RF transceiver that supports long range RF communications with a long range reader, and an interface that supports short range communications with a short range reader over a secure link. The RF transceiver can be used to transmit an ID stored in the memory of the tag to a long range reader, and the interface can be used to transmit sensitive history information to a short range reader over the secure link. The ID uniquely identifies an article to which the tag is attached, and the history information provides environmental data, and/or maintenance data, and/or shipping data, and/or inventory data, and/or production data, etc. about the article.

Claims

1. An RFID tag comprising:

a memory arranged to store data;

an RF transceiver arranged to support long range RF communications with a long range reader; and

,

an interface arranged to support short range communications with a short range reader over a secure link.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1 further comprising a sensor, wherein the memory is arranged to store a condition sensed by the sensor.

3. The RFID tag of claim 2 wherein the condition is temperature.

4. The RFID tag of claim 2 wherein the condition is humidity.

5. The RFID tag of claim 2 wherein the condition is proximity.

6. The RFID tag of claim 2 wherein the condition is a voltage level of a battery powering the RFID tag.

7. The RFID tag of claim 1 wherein the interface comprise a terminal arranged to support short range communications with the short range reader over a secure hardwire link.

8. The RFID tag of claim 1 wherein the interface comprise a magnetic interface arranged to support short range communications with the short range reader over a secure magnetic link.

9. The RFID tag of claim 1 wherein the interface comprise a short range RF transceiver arranged to support short range RF communications with the short range reader over a secure short range RF link.

10. A method of transmitting data stored in an RFID tag comprising:

over a first communication link, transmitting an ID from a memory, wherein the ID identifies an article to which the RFID tag is attached, wherein the first communication link comprises a long range RF link, and wherein the RFID tag includes the memory; and

,

over a second communication link, transmitting history information from the memory, wherein the history information comprises information related to a history of the article, and wherein the second communication link comprises a secure short range link.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the history information comprises a condition sensed by a sensor.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the condition comprises temperature.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the condition comprises humidity.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the condition comprises proximity.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the condition comprises a voltage level of a battery powering the RFID tag.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the secure short range link comprises a secure hardwire link.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the secure short range link comprises a secure magnetic link.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the secure short range link comprises a secure short range RF link.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein the history information comprises shipping information related to the article.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein the history information comprises inventory information related to the article.

21. The method of claim 10 wherein the history information comprises production information related to the article.

22. The method of claim 10 wherein the history information comprises maintenance, repair, and date of service information related to the article.

23. A method of transmitting data stored in a tag comprising:

transmitting an ID from a memory, wherein the ID identifies an article to which the tag is attached, and wherein the tag includes the memory; and

,

transmitting history information from the memory, wherein the history information comprises maintenance information related to the maintenance history of the article.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the history information further comprises a condition sensed by a sensor.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the condition comprises temperature.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the condition comprises humidity.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the condition comprises proximity.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the condition comprises a voltage level of a battery powering the RFID tag.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the condition comprises a presence of a chemical.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein the transmitting of history information comprises transmitting the history information over a secure short range link.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the secure short range link comprises a secure hardwire link.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the secure short range link comprises a secure magnetic link.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein the secure short range link comprises a secure short range RF link.

34. The method of claim 23 wherein the transmitting of an ID comprises transmitting the ID over a long range RF link.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the transmitting of history information comprises transmitting the history information over a secure short range link.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the secure short range link comprises a secure hardwire link.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the secure short range link comprises a secure magnetic link.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein the secure short range link comprises a secure short range RF link.

39. The method of claim 23 wherein the history information further comprises shipping information related to the article.

40. The method of claim 23 wherein the history information further comprises production information related to the article.

41. The method of claim 23 wherein the history information comprises inventory information related to the article.