Abstract:
A system for providing item information includes: a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to an item; and a mobile device comprising an RFID reader. The RFID tag includes stored information related to the item, and the RFID reader is configured to access the RFID tag, obtain the item information, and communicate the item information to a user.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/811,649 filed Apr. 12, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The various embodiments described herein are related to radio frequency identification (RFID), and more particularly to connecting people with product information using radio frequency communication techniques. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the wireless non-contact use of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data for the purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags attached to objects. Some tags require no battery and are powered and read at short ranges via magnetic fields (electromagnetic induction). Other tags use a local power source and emit radio waves (electromagnetic radiation at radio frequencies). The tags contain electronically stored information that may be read from up to several meters away. Unlike a bar code, a tag does not need to be within line of sight of the reader and may be embedded in the tracked object. An RFID tag can be affixed to an object and used to track and manage inventory, assets, people, etc. For example, RFID tags can be affixed to cars, computer equipment, books, mobile phones, etc. 
         [0006]    RFID offers advantages over manual systems or use of bar codes. The tag can be read if passed near a reader, even if it is covered by the object or not visible. The tag can be read inside a case, carton, box or other container, and unlike barcodes, RFID tags can be read hundreds at a time. Bar codes can only be read one at a time using current devices. 
         [0007]    RFID has been incorporated into mobile devices for payment and loyalty programs. Asset management is another area in which RFID has been implemented. Organizations are already using RFID tags combined with a mobile asset management solution to record and monitor the location of their assets, their current status, and whether they have been maintained. Other areas where RFID has been implemented include asset tracking, tolling, electronic vehicle registration, access control, contactless credit cards, etc. 
         [0008]    Two common tag types are often seen, e.g., in the United States. The first common tag type is a high frequency (HF) tag that operates at 13.56 MHz. Such tags are used for RFID enabled passports and for near field communication (NFC) applications, which let mobile devices act as RFID readers and transponders. NFC capabilities are also being incorporated into contactless credit cards. The second common tag type is an ultra-high frequency (UHF) tag that operates in the 860-960 MHz band in the U.S. 
         [0009]    UHF tags tend to work over longer ranges than HF tags. For example, a typical UHF tag can work at distances of several meters, whereas HF tags are typically limited to distances of under a meter and often much shorter ranges. 
         [0010]    Because of the longer operating ranges, UHF tags are preferably used for supply chain management; however, adoption and wide scale deployment has been slow. On the other hand, when it comes to transactions such as purchasing transactions, shorter read ranges are preferable as a means to help keep transaction data secure by not broadcasting it over larger distances. Consequently, many mobile devices have high frequency, e.g., NFC capabilities built in so that the mobile device can be used for transacting. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    Apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing item information using an RFID enabled device are provided. 
         [0012]    According to an aspect of the present inventive concept there is provided a system for providing item information. The system may include: a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to an item; and a mobile device comprising an RFID reader. The RFID tag includes stored information related to the item, and the RFID reader is configured to access the RFID tag, obtain the item information, and communicate the item information to a user. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the present inventive concept there is provided a method for providing product information. The method may include: storing information related to an item in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; coupling the RFID tag to the item; reading the stored information related to the item from the RFID tag, and communicating the item information to a user. 
         [0014]    Other features and advantages of the present inventive concept should be apparent from the following description which illustrates by way of example aspects of the present inventive concept. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The above and other aspects and features of the present inventive concept will be more apparent by describing example embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a system for providing item information according to various example embodiments of the present inventive concept; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an RFID enabled device according to various example embodiments of the present inventive concept; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing item information according to various example embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    While certain embodiments are described, these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. The methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the example methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the scope of protection. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example system for providing item information to a user according to various example embodiments of the present inventive concept. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , an item  110 , for example, but not limited to, merchandise in a retail location, may be configured with an RFID tag  115  coupled to the item  110 . The RFID tag  115  may be a passive tag or an active tag. The RFID tag  115  may be visible on the item  110  or may be embedded within the item  110  or the item packaging. The RFID tag  115  may store information, for example, but not limited to, an item description, price, available options, etc., related to the item  110 . 
         [0021]    Alternatively or additionally, the RFID tag  115  may enable a connection  123  to an information storage device  125 , for example, but not limited to, a server, computer, or other information storage device, configured to provide information related to the item  110 , by providing links to the information stored on the information storage device  125 . Item information may be updated, for example, by a brand owner  130 , by updating the information stored on the information storage device  125  without updating the information stored on the RFID tag  115 . 
         [0022]    The item information may be accessed by bringing an RFID enabled device  120 , for example, a mobile device including an RFID reader, within range of the RFID tag  115  or by contacting the item  110  with the RFID enabled device. Device  120  can be a smartphone; viewable device, such as a smartwatch, a tablet, etc. 
         [0023]    The item information may be evaluated to make purchasing decisions. For example, by making contact with the item using a RFID enabled device  120 , for example, but not limited to, a mobile phone, tablet, or similar device, or bringing the RFID enabled device  120  within close proximity of the item information may be transmitted  117  to the RFID enabled device  120  by reading the RFID tag  115  and reproduced by the RFID enabled device  120  as audio information  119 . By giving a voice to the objects, a closer relationship may be built up between the item  110  and a user  140  of the RFID enabled device  120  (i.e., a customer). Moreover, the item information may continue to be updated after the RFID tag  115  is coupled to the item, and even after a customer has purchased the item  110 . 
         [0024]    A brand owner  130  may create audio message streams  132  for item information and may assign a name and/or choose a male or female voice to provide messages. The audio message streams  132  may include, for example, but not limited to, greetings, basic chat, etc. The audio message streams  132  may be updated by the brand owner  130  to provide new messages to the customers. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an RFID enabled device  120  according to various example embodiments of the present inventive concept. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the RFID enabled device  120  may include a processor  222 , a storage  224 , an RFID reader  226 , a display unit  228 , a speech converter  230 , and audio reproduction unit  232 , and an audio output device  234 . 
         [0026]    The processor  222  may be, for example, but not limited to, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or other programmable device, and may be configured to control overall operation of the RFID enabled device  120 . The storage  224  may be configured to store operational instructions executed by the processor for control of the RFID enabled device  120 , as well as application programs and user data. In various example embodiments, the item information may be received from, for example, but not limited to, a server or other information storage device. 
         [0027]    For example, the storage  224  may store an application program including instructions for causing the RFID enabled device  120  to communicate with the RFID tag  115  and/or the server  125  to retrieve information regarding an item  110  and convert the retrieved item information into an audio message reproduced to the user  140  by the RFID enabled device  120 . 
         [0028]    In various example embodiments, an RFID reader  226  included with the RFID enabled device  120  may be configured to read information related to the item  110  stored in the RFID tag  115 . In various example embodiments, the RFID reader  226  of the RFID enabled device  120  may be an HF RFID reader. In various example embodiments, the RFID reader  226  of the RFID enabled device  120  may be both an HF and a UHF RFID reader. In various example embodiments, the dual HF and UHF capability may be incorporated in the RFID reader  226  of the RFID enabled device  120  with one dual-frequency integrated circuit  236 . 
         [0029]    The display unit  228  may be, for example, but not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other video display. The speech converter  230  may be for example, an integrated circuit (IC) configured to convert text data to an audio signal. The audio reproduction unit  232  may be, for example, but not limited to, an amplifier configured to amplify the audio signal from the speech converter  320 . In various example embodiments, the speech converter  230  and the audio reproduction unit  232  may be combined. The audio output device  234  may be, for example, a loudspeaker. 
         [0030]    The RFID enabled device  120  may be configured to communicate the item information to a user  140  of the RFID enabled device  120 . In various example embodiments, the item information may be displayed on the display unit  228  of the RFID enabled device  120  as, for example, but not limited to, text messages and/or as a graphical display. In various example embodiments, the RFID enabled device  120  may include a speech converter  230 , an audio reproduction unit  232 , and audio output device  234  to communicate the item information as speech. The speech converter  230  may be configured to convert the item information into speech. The audio reproduction unit  232  may be configured to reproduce the speech and output the reproduced speech via the audio output device  234 . 
         [0031]    In various example embodiments, the RFID tag  115  may alternatively or additionally include links, or address information for item information stored on a remote server  125 . When the links or address information are read from the RFID tag  115  using the RFID enabled device  120 , the information may cause the RFID enabled device  120  to access the item information from the remote server  125  and communicate the information to the user  140 . The item information may include, for example, but not limited to, text messages, audio messages, picture, video, etc. 
         [0032]    The RFID tag  115  may be a high frequency (HF) tag or an ultra-high frequency (UHF) tag. In various example embodiments, for example, but not limited to, supply chain management applications, the RFID tag  115  may be a UHF RFID tag. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method according to various example embodiments of the present inventive concept. Referring to  FIG. 3 , information related to an item  110  may be stored in an RFID tag  115  ( 310 ). The item information may include, for example, but not limited to, an item description, price, available options, etc. Alternatively or additionally, item information stored on the RFID tag  115  may include links to all or a portion of the item information stored on an information storage device  125 . 
         [0034]    The RFID tag  115  may be coupled to the item  110  ( 320 ). The RFID tag  115  may be visible on the item  110  or may be embedded within the item  110  or the item  110  packaging. The item  110  may be, for example, but not limited to, merchandise in a retail location. The item information may be read from the RFID tag ( 330 ). For example, the item information may be read by bringing an RFID enabled device  120  into contact with the item  110  or by bringing an RFID enabled device  120  in close proximity to the item  110 . 
         [0035]    After the item information is read, the item information may be communicated to a user  140  ( 340 ). The item information may be displayed on the display unit  228  of the RFID enabled device  120  as, for example, but not limited to, text messages and/or as a graphical display. Alternatively or additionally, the item information may be communicated to the user  140  as speech. 
         [0036]    The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the protection. For example, the example apparatuses, methods, and systems disclosed herein can be applied wireless communication devices incorporating HF and/or UHF RFID reader capabilities. The various components illustrated in the figures may be implemented as, for example, but not limited to, software and/or firmware on a processor, ASIC/FPGA/DSP, or dedicated hardware. Also, the features and attributes of the specific example embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0037]    The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow diagrams are provided merely as illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that the steps of the various embodiments must be performed in the order presented. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art the order of steps in the foregoing embodiments may be performed in any order. Words such as “thereafter,” “then,” “next,” etc. are not intended to limit the order of the steps; these words are simply used to guide the reader through the description of the methods. Further, any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an” or “the” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. 
         [0038]    The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0039]    The hardware used to implement the various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but, in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of receiver devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. Alternatively, some steps or methods may be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function. 
         [0040]    In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or code on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or non-transitory processor-readable storage medium. The steps of a method or algorithm disclosed herein may be embodied in processor-executable instructions that may reside on a non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage medium. Non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage media may be any storage media that may be accessed by a computer or a processor. By way of example but not limitation, such non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, FLASH memory, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a computer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of non-transitory computer-readable and processor-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method or algorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/or instructions on a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium and/or computer-readable storage medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product. 
         [0041]    Although the present disclosure provides certain example embodiments and applications, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, including embodiments which do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein, are also within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be defined only by reference to the appended claims.