RFID tags enforcing persistence while powered
AssigneeImpinj, Inc.
InventorsTheron Stanford, Christopher J. Diorio
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
RFID tags may compensate for non-RFID power sources by automatically enforcing data or state persistence even while powered. A tag may measure a time interval between successive detected modulated reader transmissions. If the interval exceeds a minimum time, then the tag may deassert a protocol flag, erase data, and/or change tag operating states, even if the tag would normally not perform these actions while powered.
Claims20
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) configured to enforce protocol-flag persistence, the RFID IC comprising:
- a transceiver configured to receive reader commands;
- and
- a processing block coupled to the transceiver and configured to:
- receive, via the transceiver, a reader command;
- assert a protocol flag in response to receiving the reader command, wherein the asserted protocol flag is configured to remain asserted indefinitely while the RFID IC has sufficient power to operate;
- and
- while the RFID IC has sufficient power to operate:
- determine whether any active RFID readers are present;
- and
- upon determining that no active RFID readers are present, deassert the protocol flag, otherwise allow the protocol flag to remain asserted.
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) configured to enforce data persistence, the RFID IC comprising:
- a volatile memory configured to store data and maintain stored data indefinitely while the RFID IC has sufficient power to operate;
- a transceiver configured to receive reader commands;
- and
- a processing block coupled to the volatile memory and the transceiver and configured to:
- receive, via the transceiver, a reader command;
- store data in the volatile memory in response to receiving the reader command;
- and
- while the RFID IC has sufficient power to operate:
- determine whether any active RFID readers are present;
- and
- upon determining that no active RFID readers are present, clear the data, otherwise retain the data.
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) configured to reset, the RFID IC comprising:
- a transceiver configured to receive reader signals;
- and
- a processing block coupled to the transceiver and configured to:
- cause the RFID IC to transition from a power-up state to an operating state, wherein the RFID IC is configured to stay in the operating state indefinitely while the RFID IC has sufficient power to operate;
- and
- while the RFID IC has sufficient power to operate:
- determine whether any active RFID readers are present;
- and
- upon determining that no active RFID readers are present, cause the RFID IC to exit the operating state, otherwise cause the RFID IC to remain in the operating state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.