Multi-memory electronic identification tag

An electronic identification tag comprising:

• a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;
• a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data, said alterability being subject to permanent disablement;
• a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader;
• and
• means for extracting data carried by a modulated signal and for reprogramming said alterable data.

An electronic identification tag comprising:

• a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;
• a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data;
• a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader;
• and
• means for confirming that a predetermined interrogation signal has been transmitted by a reader and for subsequently enabling said means for communication upon confirmation of said predetermined interrogation signal.

An electronic identification tag comprising:

• a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable memory, said data being known as unalterable data;
• a means for permanently storing data in an alterable memory, said data being known as alterable data, said alterability being subject to permanent disablement;
• a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader;
• a means for altering said alterable data;
• a means for receiving data to be substituted for said alterable data by said altering means;
• and
• means for extracting data carried by a modulated signal and for reprogramming said alterable memory.

An electronic identification tag comprising:

• a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;
• a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data;
• a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader;
• and
• means for decoding a password from a received signal and for subsequently allowing programming of said means for permanently storing data.

An electronic identification tag comprising:

• a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;
• a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data;
• and
• a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader in response to a signal received from said electronic identification reader, said means for communicating including a clock timer and delay circuitry for counting a predeterminable number of clock cycles after initial receipt of said signal from said electronic identification reader before initiating communication of said data.

An electronic identification tag comprising:

• a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;
• a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data, said alterability being subject to permanent disablement;
• a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader;
• and
• a means for temporarily storing data, said data being known as temporary data, said communicating means being capable of communicating said temporary data as well as said unalterable and alterable data to an electronic identification reader.

An apparatus for altering data in the memory of an electronic identification tag, the apparatus having a data entry mode and a data transmission mode, the apparatus comprising:

• a data entry device that enables a user to enter data into said apparatus;
• means for communicating data entered into said apparatus by said user to said tag when said apparatus is in the data transmission mode;
• transmit control means for generating a start signal;
• and
• mode control means for placing said apparatus in either the data entry mode or the data transmission mode.

An electronic identification system comprising a reader and at least one tag, said tag comprising:

• a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;
• a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data;
• a means for altering said alterable data;
• a means for receiving an interrogation signal and a data transmission signal carrying data to be substituted for said alterable data by said altering means;
• means for discriminating between a non-modulated interrogation signal and a modulated data transmission signal;
• a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader in response to a non-modulated interrogation signal;
• said reader comprising:
• a means for receiving data to be substituted for said alterable data stored in said alterable storage means in said tag;
• and
• a means for communicating said received data to said tag.