Apparatuses and methods using command sets specific for controlling the operation of a type of the rfid transponder to which the commands are transmitted

An apparatus comprising:

• a first radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder circuit configured and arranged with a data storage circuit including configuration data for a new command set, and being configured and arranged to:
• communicate with RFID reader circuits,
• authenticate the communication with the RFID reader circuits, and
• access and transmit the configuration data for the new command set to the RFID reader circuits based on the authentication, the new command set including commands that control operation of a new type of RFID transponder circuit;
• and
• an RFID reader circuit configured and arranged to:
• communicate with a plurality of different types of RFID transponders including the first RFID transponder circuit,
• detect the type of each of the plurality of different types of RFID transponders based on communications with each RFID transponder,
• control the operation of each of the plurality of different types of RFID transponders by transmitting commands to the RFID transponders using command sets specific for controlling the operation of the type of the RFID transponder to which the commands are transmitted,
• in response to detecting the first RFID transponder circuit, control the first RFID transponder circuit to access and transmit the new command set to the RFID reader and use the configuration data for the new command set to update a command set to enable control of a new type of RFID transponder, and
• in response to detecting an RFID transponder of the new type, control the operation of the RFID transponder of the new type using the new command set.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder circuit comprising:

• a first circuit configured to communicate radio frequency signals with a plurality of different types of RFID readers;
• and
• a second circuit configured and arranged to:
• store configuration data for a new command set, the new command set including commands executable by the RFID readers for controlling operation of a new type of RFID transponder and for controlling the new type of RFID transponder,
• communicate with the plurality of different types of RFID readers via the first circuit,
• authenticate communications with the plurality of different types of RFID readers, and
• in response to the authentication of communications with one of the RFID readers, reconfigure the RFID reader by accessing the configuration data for the new command set and transmitting the configuration data for the new command set to the one of the RFID readers, therein reconfiguring the RFID reader for controlling the new type of RFID transponder by executing instructions in the new command set that cause the new type of RFID transponder to carry out operations.