System and method for smart radio frequency identification tags

• US 20060038684A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lahiri, Sandip
• Granted Patent: US 7,573,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 79/02 Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport B65D79/005 takes precedence ; measuring devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure

Abstract

The present invention is a method system that detects the altering of the contents of a package. This system comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag that is affixed to a package. This RFID can receive, store and transmit information received related to the package contents. A pressure sensitive material is positioned in the package such that this material can sense the weight of the package contents. When the weight of the package contents changes, the RFID tag will receive a signal directly or indirectly from the pressure sensitive material. This weight change is recorded in the RFID. When a RFID reader energizes the RFID, this current package weight is transmitted to the RFID tag reader. The RFID tag reader can then determine if the weight transmitted by the RFID tag is the original package weight or a new package weight. A new package weight would indicate some altering of the original package contents.

Claims

1. A system for implementing smart radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to detect an alteration of package contents comprising:

a pressure sensitive material positioned in the package such that said material is in contact with the package contents;

an RFID tag affixed to a location on the package, said RFID tag capable of receiving information from said pressure sensitive material; and

an RFID tag reader for reading information stored on said RFID tag.

2. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said pressure sensitive material generates a signal when the pressure of the material changes that is detected by said RFID tag.

3. The system as described in claim 2 wherein the signal generated by said pressure sensitive material is proportional to the weight of package contents.

4. The system as described in claim 3 wherein the signal generated by said pressure sensitive material is an electric current.

5. The system as descried in claim 4 further comprising a sensor that detects the electric current generated by said pressure sensitive material, said sensor capable of generating a number that represents the amount of current generated by the pressure sensitive material.

6. The system as described in claim 5 wherein said sensor is incorporated into said pressure sensitive material.

7. The system as described in claim 5 wherein said sensor is incorporated into said RFID tag.

8. A method for implementing smart radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to detect an alteration of package contents comprising the steps of:

establishing an initial package weight;

recording this initial package weight at a RFID tag reader;

recording change in the package weight at an RFID tag; and

transmitting the change in package weight to the RFID tag reader.

9. The method as described in claim 8 wherein said initial package weight establishment step further comprises the step establishing a relationship between package weight and a pressure on the package resulting from the weight of the package contents.

10. The method as described in claim 9 further comprising the step of detecting a change in the weight of the package.

11. The method as described in claim 10 further comprising generating a signal when there is a change in the pressure on the package resulting from the weight of the package contents.

12. The method as described in claim 11 wherein said recording change in the package weight at an RFID tag step further comprises the steps of:

generating a number from the generated signal represents the change in pressure;

receiving at the RFID tag the generated number; and

storing the generated number at the RFID tag.

13. The method as described in claim 12 wherein said transmitting the change in package weight to the RFID tag reader step further comprises the steps of energizing the RFID tag and receiving the generated number stored in the RFID tag.

14. The method as described in claim 13 further comprising after said receiving the generated number stored in the RFID tag step, the step of calculating a current package weight using the generated number and relationship between pressure and weight.

15. The method as described in claim 14 further comprising the step of storing this calculated package weight in the RFID tag reader such that this particular package weight is identified with the particular package.

16. A method for implementing smart radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to detect an alteration of package contents comprising the steps of:

receiving an initial package weight at said RFID tag;

recording this initial package weight at a RFID tag;

receiving change in the package weight at an RFID tag; and

transmitting the change in package weight to the RFID tag reader.

17. The method as described in claim 16 wherein said initial package weight establishment step further comprises the step establishing a relationship between package weight and a pressure on the package resulting from the weight of the package contents.

18. The method as described in claim 17 further comprising the step of detecting a change in pressure generated by the weight of the package content.

19. The method as described in claim 18 wherein said recording change in the package weight at an RFID tag step further comprises the steps of:

generating a number from the generated signal represents the change in pressure;

receiving at the RFID tag the generated number; and

storing the generated number at the RFID tag.

20. The method as described in claim 19 further comprising before said transmitting step, the step of calculating a current package weight using the generated number and relationship between pressure and weight.