Deactivating a data tag for user privacy or tamper-evident packaging

• US 8,138,922 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Buffalo Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Binforma Group Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lindsay, Jeffrey D., Velazquez, Herb Flores, Chen, Fung-Jou, Wagner, Eric Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US12/716,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20100156642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/10.1, 340/10.4, 340/5.92, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/870.16, 340/870.17, 340/10.41, 235/385, 235/492, 705/22, 705/28
• US Class Current: 340/572.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/072 the record carrier comprising a plurality of integrated circuit chips
• 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 19/07749 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: G06K 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies

Abstract

Deactivating a data tag attached to packaging for user privacy or tamper-evident reasons. Each of a plurality of data tags stores identification information. At least one of the data tags is removable and capable of wireless signal transmission at a first range such that removal of the data tag substantially prevents communication of the identification information via the removed data tag and permits communication of the identification information via another data tag at a second range relatively smaller than the first range.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

wirelessly transmitting a signal at a first range to a data tag set corresponding to an item, wherein the data tag set comprises a first data tag configured for wireless transmission at the first range, and a second data tag configured for wireless transmission at a second range different from the first range; and

automatically triggering at least one of the first or second data tags in response to a predetermined environmental condition, wherein the predetermined environmental condition comprises a threat to the item such that the first data tag is rendered substantially inoperable and the second data tag is rendered operable if the predetermined environmental condition is satisfied.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein triggering at least one of the first or second data tags comprises altering an electrical circuit between the first data tag and the second data tag.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the item comprises a container having an enclosure, and wherein the predetermined environmental condition comprises rupturing at least one of the container or the enclosure.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically triggering at least one of the first or second data tags comprises reversibly triggering at least one of the first or second data tags, and wherein the method further comprises restoring the first data tag to an operable state.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a ratio between the first range and the second range is between approximately 0.5 and 0.005.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein wirelessly transmitting the signal at a first range to the data tag set comprises wirelessly transmitting the signal to a radio frequency identification (RFID) chips.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein wirelessly transmitting the signal to the data tag set comprises wirelessly transmitting a first identification code associated with the item and a second identification code associated with the item.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically triggering at least one of the first or second data tags in response to the predetermined environmental condition comprises triggering at least one of the first or second tags in response to altering an orientation of the item.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically triggering at least one of the first or second data tags in response to the predetermined environmental condition comprises triggering at least one of the first or second tags in response to detecting a load on the item.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically triggering at least one of the first or second data tags comprises moving at least one of the first data tag or the second data tag relative to an electromagnetic shielding configured to shield wireless transmissions to or from the first or second data tag.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein moving at least one of the first data tag or the second data tag comprises moving the first and/or second data tag within a fluid comprising one or more of oil, water, alcohol, glycol, a silicone compound, or air.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the data tag set comprises a single RFID unit, and wherein automatically triggering at least one of the first or second data tags comprises triggering at least one portion of the single RFID unit.

13. A method, comprising:

wirelessly communicating with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag set associated with an individual object, and wherein the tag set comprises a first RFID tag and a second RFID tag, the second RFID tag having a switch that is configured to be activated by a predetermined environmental condition comprising a threat to the object;

detecting a signal from the first RFID tag at a first range; and

in response to the switch being activated by the predetermined environmental condition, detecting a signal from the second RFID tag at a second range different from the first range.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first RFID tag contains a first code identifying the corresponding specific object and the second RFID tag contains a second code identifying the corresponding specific object, and wherein detecting the signal from the first RFID tag comprises receiving the first code and detecting the signal from the second RFID tag comprises receiving the second code.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the switch is a reversible switch, and wherein the method further comprises activating the switch to enable the second RFID tag to communicate wirelessly.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein detecting the signal from the second RFID tag at the second range comprises detecting the signal at a second range smaller than the first range.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein detecting the signal from the second RFID tag at the second range comprises detecting the signal at a second range larger than the first range.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the detecting the signal from the second RFID tag comprises detecting the signal from the second RFID tag in response to the switch being activated by an orientation of the object.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the detecting the signal from the second RFID tag comprises detecting the signal from the second RFID tag in response to the switch being activated by physical pressure above a predetermined threshold level.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the switch comprises an RFID shield that substantially prevents wireless communication with the second RFID tag, and wherein activating the switch comprises moving the second RFID tag relative to the RFID shield.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the predetermined environmental condition comprises at least one of temperature or humidity, and wherein detecting the signal from the second RFID tag comprises detecting that the second RFID tag has reached a predetermined level of at least one of temperature or humidity.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the switch comprises a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) switch.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the set comprises a single RFID unit including the first RFID tag, the second RFID tag, and the switch.

24. A method of manufacturing an RFID tag set for use with an item, the method comprising:

forming a first RFID tag with an antenna configured to communicate a wireless signal at a first range;

forming a second RFID tag with a switch and an antenna configured to communicate a wireless signal at a second range different from the first range in response to the switch being activated automatically by a predetermined environmental condition that comprises a threat to the item; and

forming the RFID tag set by combining the first RFID tag and the second RFID tag into a single package.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein forming the second RFID tag with the switch comprises forming a mechanical switch, and wherein the predetermined environmental condition comprises at least one of pressure on the switch or orientation of the switch.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein forming the second RFID tag comprises forming the second RFID tag configured to communicate a wireless signal at a second range different from the first range in response to the switch being activated automatically by at least one of temperature or humidity.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising affixing the RFID tag set to an object to be tracked by the RFID tag set.