Selective application of error detection and correction for radio frequency identification

A radio frequency identification (RFID) system, the system comprising:

• an RFID tag comprised of an antenna and an integrated circuit (IC), the IC comprising memory storing data associated with the tag, wherein the stored data includes manufacturing data unique to the tag and related to the manufacturing of the tag, and the IC being configured to perform at least one of error detection or error correction on at least some of the stored data, wherein the manufacturing data is to determine if a detected or corrected error is a result of a manufacturing defect to the tag or the source or location of the manufacturing defect, and
• an RFID reader, wherein:
• the reader is configured to transmit a first signal activating the tag;
• the tag is configured to receive the first signal and become activated;
• the tag is further configured to detect, after activation, that one or more bits of the stored data has an error;
• the tag is further configured to transmit a second signal in response to one or more bits of the stored data being detected with an error, the second signal comprising the manufacturing data;
• and
• the reader is further configured to receive the second signal transmitted by the tag.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprised of an antenna and an integrated circuit (IC), the tag comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive, via the antenna, a signal for at least one of activating the tag or interrogating the tag, wherein the IC comprises memory storing data associated with the tag, wherein the stored data includes manufacturing data unique to the tag and related to the manufacturing of the tag, wherein the IC is configured to perform at least one of error detection or error correction on the stored data and wherein the manufacturing data is to determine if a detected or corrected error is a result of a manufacturing defect to the tag or the source or location of the manufacturing defect;
• processing logic configured to detect that at least one of the bits of the stored data has an error, wherein the detection is performed after the tag is activated and wherein the processing logic is coupled to the receiver;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit the manufacturing data in response to at least one of the bits of stored data being detected with an error by the processing logic, wherein the transmitter is coupled to the processing logic.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, the reader comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit a signal activating a tag, wherein the tag comprises an antenna and an integrated circuit (IC), wherein the IC comprises memory storing data associated with the tag, wherein the stored data includes manufacturing data unique to the tag and related to the manufacturing of the tag, and wherein the IC is configured to perform at least one of error detection or error correction on the stored data, wherein the manufacturing data is to determine if a detected or corrected error is a result of a manufacturing defect to the tag or the source or location of the manufacturing defect;
• a receiver configured to receive a signal comprising information about at least one error that was detected or corrected by the IC of the tag, wherein the at least one error affects one or more bits of the stored data and wherein the signal includes the manufacturing data;
• a processing system coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver;
• a network interface configured to transmit a signal comprising the manufacturing data to an entity that designed or manufactured the tag, wherein the network interface is coupled to the processing system.