RFID tagging system for network assets

A secured computer network asset, comprising:

• a computer network asset;
• a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder tag attached to said asset, said transponder tag having stored therein a first set of data uniquely identifying said transponder tag, a second set of data describing said asset and components within said asset and a third set of data representing security status of said asset;
• an electronically erasable and programmable memory (EEPROM) adapted for operation as part of said asset;
• and,
• means for transferring said second and third sets of data between said transponder tag and said EEPROM.

A method for tagging computer network assets with radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders, the method comprising the steps of:

• (A.) writing a first set of data onto a first storage area of a transponder tag with a first RFID reader/writer, said first set of data uniquely identifying said transponder tag and including at least one of the following:
• manufacturing site code data;
• and,
• serial number data;
• (B.) writing a second set of data onto a second storage area of said transponder tag with said first RFID reader/writer, said second set of data describing an asset and components within said asset and including at least one of the following:
• model number data;
• serial number data;
• and,
• date of manufacture data;
• (C.) providing said transponder tag with a third storage area for a third set of data;
• (D.) attaching said transponder tag to said asset;
• and,
• (E.) providing said asset with an electronically erasable and programmable memory (EEPROM) adapted for operation as part of said asset and capable of storing at least said second and third sets of data.

A method for tagging computer network assets with radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders, the method comprising the steps of:

• (A.) providing an asset in a computer network with an RFID transponder tag and an electronically erasable and programmable memory (EEPROM);
• (B.) establishing a first data base in said transponder tag, said first data base including an inventory of said network asset and components within said asset and including removal authorization data;
• (C.) establishing a second data base in said EEPROM, said second data base including said inventory of said network asset and components within said asset and including said removal authorization data;
• and,
• (D.) transferring data updates from each one of said transponder tag and said EEPROM to the other one of said transponder tag and said EEPROM,
• whereby the integrity of said inventory data and said removal authorization can be interrogated, revised or otherwise acted upon by an RFID reader/writer.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging system for computer network assets, the system comprising:

• an RFID host;
• a transponder tag attached to an asset in a computer network, said transponder tag having stored therein tag identifying data and inventory data describing said asset;
• an electronically erasable and programmable memory (EEPROM) adapted for operation as part of said asset;
• an RFID reader/writer for reading data from said transponder tag in an interrogation zone;
• respective communications links between said RFID host and each one of said RFID reader/writer and said asset, enabling said transponder tag identifying data and said inventory data to be transferred between each of said RFID host, said EEPROM and said transponder tag, said inventory data also being stored in said EEPROM;
• means in said RFID host and in said asset for enabling operation of said asset only in response to a predetermined communications sequence between said RFID host and said asset over said respective communications link;
• means for comparing said inventory data in said transponder tag and said inventory data in said EEPROM with one another;
• and,
• means for generating an output signal when said inventory data in said transponder tag and said inventory data in said EEPROM do not correspond to one another;
• whereby said asset can be identified in said interrogation zone for enabling only an authorized removal of said asset and whereby operation of said asset can be automatically inhibited absent completion of said predetermined communications sequence between said asset and said RFID host.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging system for computer network assets, the system comprising:

• an RFID host;
• a transponder tag attached to an asset in a computer network, said transponder tag having stored therein tag identifying data and inventory data describing said asset;
• an electronically erasable and programmable memory (EEPROM) adapted for operation as part of said asset;
• an RFID reader/writer for reading data from said transponder tag in an interrogation zone;
• respective communications links between said RFID host and each one of said RFID reader/writer and said asset, enabling said transponder tag identifying data and said inventory data to be transferred between each of said RFID host, said EEPROM and said transponder tag, said inventory data also being stored in said EEPROM;
• means in said RFID host and in said asset for enabling operation of said asset only in response to a predetermined communications sequence between said RFID host and said asset over said respective communications link;
• and,
• means for transferring data directly between said transponder tag and said EEPROM, bypassing said RFID host,
• whereby said asset can be identified in said interrogation zone for enabling only an authorized removal of said asset and whereby operation of said asset can be automatically inhibited absent completion of said predetermined communications sequence between said asset and said RFID host.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging system for computer network assets, the system comprising:

• an RFID host;
• a transponder tag attached to an asset in a computer network, said transponder tag having stored therein tag identifying data and inventory data describing said asset;
• an electronically erasable and programmable memory (EEPROM) adapted for operation as part of said asset;
• an RFID reader/writer for reading data from said transponder tag in an interrogation zone;
• respective communications links between said RFID host and each one of said RFID reader/writer and said asset, enabling said transponder tag identifying data and said inventory data to be transferred between each of said RFID host, said EEPROM and said transponder tag, said inventory data also being stored in said EEPROM, wherein data changes in said asset can be communicated to said RFID host through whichever one of said RFID reader/writer and said network is available;
• and,
• means in said RFID host and in said asset for enabling operation of said asset only in response to a predetermined communications sequence between said RFID host and said asset over said respective communications link,
• whereby said asset can be identified in said interrogation zone for enabling only an authorized removal of said asset and whereby operation of said asset can be automatically inhibited absent completion of said predetermined communications sequence between said asset and said RFID host.