Electronic identification, control, and security system and method for ...

(54) ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION,

CONTROL, AND SECURITY SYSTEM AND
METHOD FOR CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
AND THE LIKE

(75) Inventor: Carl Valiulis, Rockford, IL (US)

(73) Assignee: Electronic Security and Identification LLC, Rockford, IL (US)

( * ) Notice: This patent issued on a continued prosecution application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(a)(2).

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/243,726

(22) Filed: Feb. 3, 1999

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/122,599, filed on Jul. 24, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,005,476.

(51) Int. C I. G08B 13 14

(52) U.S. CI 340/10.1; 340/10.5; 340/572.1;

340/572.3

(58) Field of Search 340/10.1, 10.31,

340/825.07, 10.42, 10.5, 825.34, 825.35, 825.31, 255.08, 572.1; 235/375, 380, 382,

382.5, 385

An electronic identification, control, and security system comprises a unique identification code associated with each manufactured article, a password code, communication circuitry capable of transmitting the password code to the manufactured articles, and appliance disabling circuitry. The appliance disabling circuitry may be integrated with the manufactured articles and precludes operation of the manufactured articles upon receipt of the password code. The communication circuitry preferably includes RFID technology to transmit the password code to the article and receive the unique identification code from the article. Such system deters theft of the articles. A method for deterring theft of manufactured articles includes the steps of providing a unique identification code for each manufactured article, transmitting a password via radio frequency to each manufactured article, and disabling operation of each manufactured article in response to receipt of the password. A manufactured appliance comprises security and control logic circuitry, data storage memory, a unique identification code stored in the memory, and communication circuitry for receiving a transmitted password. The security and control logic disables operation of the manufactured appliance in response to receipt of the password.

12 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

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OTHER PUBLICATIONS

What's New in RFID?, by Paul Quinn, ID Systems Feb. 1998 Technology Update located at http://www.idsystems.com/rfid0298.htm.

Disposable RF Labels, by Kevin R. Sharp, ID Systems Oct. 1998 Product Spotlight located at http://www.idsystems.com/posl098.htm.

Tag-It Implementation, ID Systems Oct. 1998 Product Spotlight located at http://www.idsystems.com/psl098

sbl.htm.

RFID Frequency Considerations, ID Systems Nov. 1998 Show Coverage located at http://www.idsystems.com/ stll98_sbl.htm.

*Article entitled'TD Tags Can Foil Shoplifters", Popular Mechanics, Jan. 1999 edition, p. 23.

* cited by examiner