Storing configuration information and a service record for an item in an RFID tag

• US 7,183,924 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ku, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/249,544
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/571, 340/570, 340/568.1, 340/568.5, 340/568.8, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/568.7, 400/76, 400/70, 235/375, 705/1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system includes a reader operable to read information from an RFID tag. The information includes a configuration of an item. A computer system is connected to the reader. The computer system is operable to store the information read from the RFID tag. The computer system is also operable to create a record of service performed on the item, and write the record to the RFID tag using the reader.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a reader operable to read information from an RFID tag, wherein the information includes configuration of an item comprising at least hardware specifications for the item determined after manufacturing and prior to the first time the item is delivered to a user;

a computer system connected to the reader, the computer system being operable to store the information read from the RFID tag, wherein the information is operable to be used to service the hardware of the item, and the computer system being further operable to create a record of service performed on the hardware for the item, wherein the reader is operable to write the record to the RFID tag.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is attached to the item.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag stores the configuration and other information associated with the item prior to a first time the item is delivered to a user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the other information comprises at least one of warranty information, service contract information, list of major components, manufacturer'"'"'s information, supplier'"'"'s information, manufacture date, and spare parts list.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the record comprises at least one of date and time of service, service provider information, and a description of the service performed on the item.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the item comprises a manufactured good to be offered for sale.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of items; and

an RFID tag attached to each item, wherein each item stores a configuration of a respective item.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each RFID tag stores at least one service record for the respective item.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer system is operable to store the configuration and the at least one service record read from each RFID tag using the reader.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of items comprise computer systems in a data center, and the configuration and the at least one service record read from each RFID tag is used for inventory and maintaining the computer systems.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reading information about the item from the RFID tag attached to the item; and

determining whether the item is included in an existing service contract based on the information read from the RFID tag.

11. A method comprising:

reading configuration of an item from an RFID tag attached to the item, wherein the configuration of the item is determined after manufacturing and prior to a first time the item is delivered to a user; and

the configuration and other information are stored in the RFID tag prior to the first time the item is delivered to a user;

determining information about a service performed on the item; and

writing the information about the service in the RFID tag attached to the item.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

decrypting the configuration and other information read from the RFID tag.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the other information comprises at least one of warranty information, service contract information, list of major components, manufacturer'"'"'s information, supplier'"'"'s information, manufacture date, and spare parts list.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

reading information about the item from the RFID tag attached to the item; and

determining whether a warranty for the item is void based on the information read from the RFID tag.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

reading information about the item from the RFID tag attached to the item; and

storing the information for use with an inventory software application.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing a record for each authorized service performed on the item.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a reader means for reading information from an RFID tag, wherein the information includes configuration of an item configuration of an item comprising at least hardware specifications for the item determined after manufacturing and prior to the first time the item is delivered to a user and the RFID tag is attached to the item;

a computer system means for storing information read from the RFID tag, wherein the information is operable to be used to service the hardware of the item, and the computer system means is for creating a record of service performed on hardware for the item, wherein the reader means is operable to write the record to the RFID tag.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a storage means for storing the configuration and the record of service read from the RFID tag and storing configurations and records of service read from a plurality of other RFID tags attached to a plurality of other items.