Radio frequency identification communication and applications thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe devices, methods, computer-readable media and system configurations for communicating and utilizing data received in radio frequency identification (“RFID”) signals to perform various actions. For example, a query signal may be transmitted to a plurality of RFID tags associated with a plurality of objects. A plurality of reply signals may be received from the plurality of RFID tags. Various actions may be performed based on one or more of the reply signals. In various embodiments, an RFID query device may include components such as a camera to capture image data and/or a global positioning system (“GPS”) component. Data from one or more of these components may be used in conjunction with received RFID data to perform various actions. RFID data may further be used to disarm and/or control weapons. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

1 . A radio frequency identification (“RFID”) query device, comprising:
 a logic; 
 memory operably coupled to the logic and storing a criterion; 
 a control module to be operated by the logic and configured to: 
 facilitate transmission of a query signal to a RFID tag associated with a passing object; 
 facilitate reception of a reply signal from the RFID tag; and 
 facilitate activation or deactivation of a trap-type weapon where RFID data contained in the reply signal meets the criterion. 
 
     
     
         2 . The RFID query device of  claim 1 , further comprising a motion-detecting component configured to detect the passing object. 
     
     
         3 . The RFID query device of  claim 1 , wherein the criterion comprises whether the RFID data contained in the reply signal of the detected passing object matches an identifier associated with RFID tags found in or on equipment used by friendly forces. 
     
     
         4 . The RFID query device of  claim 1 , wherein the criterion comprises whether the RFID data contained in the reply signal of the detected passing object matches an identifier associated with RFID tags found in or on equipment used by enemy forces. 
     
     
         5 . The RFID query device of  claim 2 , wherein the trap-type weapon is a mine or a claymore. 
     
     
         6 . The RFID query device of  claim 5 , wherein the control module is further configured to facilitate emission of a shaped attack from the trap-type weapon when the trap-type weapon is activated. 
     
     
         7 . The RFID query device of  claim 6 , wherein the control module is further configured to facilitate emission of the shaped attack in a direction from which the reply signal is received. 
     
     
         8 . The RFID query device of  claim 6 , wherein the control module is further configured to determine a location of the passing object relative to the trap-type weapon using triangulation based on the reply signal. 
     
     
         9 . The RFID query device of  claim 6 , wherein the control module is further configured to calculate a desired radius of the shaped attack based on a characteristic of the reply signal or the RFID data, and to facilitate emission of the shaped attack having the desired radius. 
     
     
         10 . The RFID query device of  claim 6 , where the control module is further configured to facilitate emission of the shaped attack by the trap-style weapon towards a determined location of the passing object relative to the trap-type weapon. 
     
     
         11 . The RFID query device of  claim 1 , wherein the RFID device is separate from and configured to be operably coupled to the trap-type weapon. 
     
     
         12 . A radio frequency identification (“RFID”) query device, comprising:
 a logic; 
 memory operably coupled to the logic and storing a criterion; 
 a control module to be operated by the logic and configured to: 
 transmit a query signal to an RFID tag associated with a target; 
 receive a reply signal from the RFID tag; 
 arm or disarm a weapon where RFID data contained in the reply signal meets the criterion. 
 
     
     
         13 . The RFID query device of  claim 12 , wherein the weapon is a projectile equipped with the RFID query device. 
     
     
         14 . The RFID query device of  claim 13 , wherein the control module is further configured to facilitate the transmission of the query signal upon projection of the projectile towards a target. 
     
     
         15 . A radio frequency identification (“RFID”) query device, comprising:
 a logic; 
 memory operably coupled to the logic and storing a criterion; 
 a control module to be operated by the logic and configured to: 
 transmit a query signal to an RFID tag associated with a weapon; 
 receive a reply signal from the RFID tag; 
 arm or disarm the weapon where RFID data contained in the reply signal meets the criterion. 
 
     
     
         16 . The RFID query device of  claim 15 , wherein the weapon is a projectile equipped with the RFID tag. 
     
     
         17 . A trap-type weapon, comprising:
 a first radio frequency identification (“RFID”) query device configured to transmit a query signal in a first direction;   a first portion configured to strike or not strike in the first direction where the first RFID query device receives, in response to the query signal in the first direction, RFID data that meets a first criterion;   a second RFID query device configured to transmit a query signal in a second direction; and   a second portion configured to strike or not strike in the second direction upon activation by the second RFID query device where the second RFID query device receives, in response to the query signal in the second direction, RFID data that meets a second criterion.   
     
     
         18 . The trap-type weapon of  claim 17 , wherein the first criterion and the second criterion are the same. 
     
     
         19 . The trap-type weapon of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second portions are shaped charges configured to inflict damage in the first and second directions, respectively. 
     
     
         20 . The trap-type weapon of  claim 17 , wherein the first or second RFID query device is configured to be turned off to prevent a strike in a particular direction.