Methods and system for identifying lost or stolen RFID devices

Abstract

A system for identifying a lost or stolen device includes a transmitter, a receiver and a computer. The transmitter is coupled to the device and transmits identification information. The receiver receives the identification information transmitted by the transmitter when the transmitter is within a defined distance from the receiver. The computer is coupled to the receiver so as to receive the information from the receiver. The computer has a first secure database which stores data associated with lost or stolen devices and which prevents unauthorized access to the data stored therein. The computer compares the information with the stored data, and generates an alarm if the information matches at least some of the stored data.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for identifying a lost or stolen radio frequency (RF) device, the method comprising:
 receiving a report for a lost or stolen RF device, said lost or stolen RF device having a unique identifier associated therewith;   causing the storing of information associated with the report in a secure database, the stored information being useful for the comparison of a received unique identifier to the information stored in the secure database, the received unique identifier obtained via the transmission of an interrogation signal by at least one reader to an RF device associated with the received unique identifier;   causing the determination that a received unique identifier by the at least one reader is associated with the lost or stolen device; and   causing the notification of the lost or stolen device to personnel associated with the operation of the at least one reader.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the lost or stolen RF device comprises a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the received unique identifier is obtained in a public place. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the public place has a checkpoint associated therewith. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the checkpoint refers to a location in which people and/or items must pass in order to move on to another location. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the causing the notification comprises sending an alarm signal to a computing device associated with the at least one reader. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sending the alarm signal causes the display of an indicator on a display screen. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the display of the indicator on the display screen notifies personnel that the RF device associated with the unique identifier is lost or stolen. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one reader is configured so as to read unique identifiers from only one RF device at a time. 
     
     
         11 . A system for identifying a lost or stolen radio frequency (RF) device, the system comprising:
 an interrogation device configured to transmit an interrogation signal and in response thereto, receive one or more replies from an RF device;   a computing device in communication with the interrogation device and configured to facilitate operation of the interrogation device, the computing device further comprising a network interface in operative communication with a secure database via a network;   wherein the computing device is further configured to:
 cause the interrogation device to transmit a first interrogation signal; 
 receive information associated with one or more replies received from a lost or stolen RF device in response to the transmitted first interrogation signal; 
 transmit the received information to the secure database; 
 receive a message from the secure database that the lost or stolen RF device is in fact lost or stolen; and 
 cause the display of a notification to a display device that the lost or stolen RF device is lost or stolen. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the lost or stolen RF device comprises a passive RFID tag. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the received information is obtained in a public place. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the public place has a checkpoint associated therewith. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the checkpoint refers to a location in which people and/or items must pass in order to move on to another location. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the notification comprises sending an alarm signal to the computing device associated with the interrogation device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the alarm signal causes the display of an indicator on a display screen of the computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the indicator on the display screen notifies personnel that the RF device associated with the received information is lost or stolen. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the interrogation device is configured so as to receive information from only one RF device at a time. 
     
     
         20 . A method for locating a lost or stolen device, the method comprising:
 receiving a report of a lost or stolen device, the device having transmitter circuitry attached thereto or therein;   causing data associated with the report of the lost or stolen device to be stored into a secure database;   causing the receipt of a unique identifier via the transmission of an interrogation signal;   causing the authentication of the interrogation signal using the transmitter circuitry of at least one detected device; and   comparing the received unique identifier with the data stored in the secure database to locate the lost or stolen device.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , additionally comprising sending an alarm signal to a computing device associated with the receipt of the unique identifier of the lost or stolen device.