Digital identities for physical items
AssigneeImpinj, Inc.
InventorsChristopher J. Diorio, Matthew Robshaw, Tan Mau Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
RFID technology may be used to provide digital identities for physical items. An RFID IC attached to or integrated into a physical item contains an identifier for the physical item. Digital identity information associated with the item, such as ownership information, history, properties, and the like, may be located on one or more networks. An entity, after authenticating itself and/or the item, may use the identifier to locate, retrieve, and/or update the item's digital identity information on the network.
Claims20
A method for a service to control access to information about an item, wherein the item includes an RFID IC storing an item identifier, the method comprising:
- receiving a request to access the information, wherein the request includes the item identifier;
- in response to receiving the request, determining if a proof of at least one of a possession or an ownership of the item has been received;
- if the proof has not been received, then determining that the request is appropriate and responding to the request by providing access to a first subset of the information;
- if the proof has been received, then determining whether the proof correctly proves the at least one of the possession or the ownership of the item;
- if the proof correctly proves the possession, then determining that the request is appropriate and responding to the request by providing access to a second subset of the information;
- if the proof correctly proves the ownership, then determining that the request is appropriate and responding to the request by providing access to a third subset of the information;
- if the proof correctly proves both the possession and the ownership, then determining that the request is appropriate and responding to the request by providing access to a fourth subset of the information;
- otherwise, concluding that the request is inappropriate and sending a notification to a third party.
A server, part of a network configured to control access to information about an item, wherein the item includes an RFID IC storing an item identifier, the server comprising:
- a memory configured to store instructions;
- and
- a processing block coupled to the memory, wherein the processing block, in conjunction with the instructions stored in the memory, is configured to:
- receive a request to access the information, wherein the request includes the item identifier;
- in response to receiving the request, determine if a proof of at least one of a possession or an ownership of the item has been received;
- if the proof has not been received, then determine that the request is appropriate and respond to the request by providing access to a first subset of the information;
- if the proof has been received, then determine whether the proof correctly proves the at least one of the possession or the ownership of the item;
- if the proof correctly proves the possession, then determine that the request is appropriate and respond to the request by providing access to a second subset of the information;
- if the proof correctly proves the ownership, then determine that the request is appropriate and respond to the request by providing access to a third subset of the information;
- if the proof correctly proves both the possession and the ownership, then determine that the request is appropriate and respond to the request by providing access to a fourth subset of the information;
- otherwise, conclude that the request is inappropriate and send a notification to a third party.
A service configured to execute on a network server and to control access to information about an item, wherein the item includes an RFID IC storing an item identifier, the service configured to:
- receive, from a network interface, a request to access the information, wherein the request includes the item identifier;
- in response to receiving the request, determine if a proof of at least one of a possession or an ownership of the item has been received;
- if the proof has not been received, then determine that the request is appropriate and respond to the request by providing access to a first subset of the information;
- if the proof has been received, then determine whether the proof correctly proves the at least one of the possession or the ownership of the item;
- if the proof correctly proves the possession, then determine that the request is appropriate and respond to the request by providing access to a second subset of the information;
- if the proof correctly proves the ownership, then determine that the request is appropriate and respond to the request by providing access to a third subset of the information;
- if the proof correctly proves both the possession and the ownership, then determine that the request is appropriate and respond to the request by providing access to a fourth subset of the information;
- otherwise, conclude that the request is inappropriate and send a notification to a third party.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.