Programmatic control of rfid tags

Abstract

Techniques that enable a device to advertise its mode of operation using an RFID tag attached to the device. Techniques are provided for programmatically controlling an RFID tag. An RFID tag attached to a device is programmatically enabled or disabled depending upon the mode(s) of operation of the device. The RFID tag is able to transmit a signal when enabled and not able to transmit a signal when disabled. Using such a controllable RFID tag, a device can efficiently indicate or advertise its mode of operation to an RFID reader or sensor.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 determining a change in an operating mode of a device from a first mode to a second mode; and   upon determining the change, changing a state of an antenna of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the device from a first state to a second state;   wherein the RFID tag is enabled to receive an interrogation signal from an RFID reader when the antenna is in the first state; and   wherein the RFID tag is disabled when the antenna is in the second state.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the RFID tag is unable to receive the interrogation signal from the RFID reader when the antenna is in the second state. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the RFID tag is unable to harvest energy from the RFID reader when the antenna is in the second state. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein changing the state of the antenna from the first state to the second state comprises clamping a pole of the antenna. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the pole of the antenna is not clamped when the antenna is in the first state. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein clamping the pole of the antenna comprises clamping the pole by actuating a relay coupled to the pole of the antenna. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein actuating the relay comprises changing a state of the relay from an open state to a closed state. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the RFID tag comprises the antenna and an RFID chip and wherein when the RFID tag is enabled or disabled, the state of the antenna is changed without changing a state of the RFID chip. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including an antenna;   a controller coupled to the RFID tag, the controller configured to:
 determine a change in an operating mode of a device associated with the RFID tag from a first mode to a second mode; and 
 upon determining the change, changing a state of the antenna from a first state to a second state; 
 wherein the RFID tag is enabled to receive an interrogation signal from an RFID reader when the antenna is in the first state; and 
 wherein the RFID tag is disabled when the antenna is in the second state. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the RFID tag is unable to receive the interrogation signal from the RFID reader when the antenna is in the second state. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the RFID tag is unable to harvest energy from the RFID reader when the antenna is in the second state. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein changing the state of the antenna from the first state to the second state comprises clamping a pole of the antenna. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the pole of the antenna is not clamped when the antenna is in the first state. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a relay coupled to the pole of the antenna, wherein clamping the pole of the antenna comprises actuating the relay. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein actuating the relay comprises changing a state of the relay from an open state to a closed state. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the RFID tag comprises the antenna and an RFID chip and wherein when the RFID tag is enabled or disabled, the state of the antenna is changed without changing a state of the RFID chip. 
     
     
         18 . A system, comprising:
 means for determining a change in an operating mode of a device from a first mode to a second mode; and   means for, upon determining the change, changing a state of an antenna of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the device from a first state to a second state,   wherein the RFID tag is enabled to receive an interrogation signal from an RFID reader when the antenna is in the first state; and   wherein the RFID tag is disabled when the antenna is in the second state.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the RFID tag is unable to receive the interrogation signal from the RFID reader when the antenna is in the second state. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the RFID tag is unable to harvest energy from the RFID reader when the antenna is in the second state. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein changing the state of the antenna from the first state to the second state comprises clamping a pole of the antenna.