Patent ID: 7843317
Filing Date: 2010-11-30
Classification: G06K,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting that a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag has been exposed to a debilitating environment, the method comprising: interrogating a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag that is proximate to a product, wherein interrogating the RFID tag with a radio signal generates an expected response signal when the RFID tag has at least one component that is covered with a first type of protective coating; and in response to the interrogating of the RFID tag generating an altered response signal from the RFID tag instead of the expected response signal, determining that the first type of protective coating has been removed from the at least one component as a result of an exposure to a depleting environment, wherein the at least one component is exposed to a debilitating environment when the first type of protective coating is removed, and wherein the exposure to the debilitating environment alters a normal operation of the RFID tag to cause the generation of the altered response signal rather than the expected response signal; wherein said at least one component is a first component that is different from a second component that is covered by a second type of protective coating that has different depletion properties from the first type of protective coating, wherein the first type of protective coating is first removed and first exposes the first component to the debilitating environment before the second type of protective coating is removed.