Patent Publication Number: US-2010127835-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for selectively facilitating access to rfid data

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to data security, and to techniques and apparatus for providing selective access to RFID data of RFID tags. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. The technology requires some extent of cooperation of an RFID reader and an RFID tag. 
     An RFID tag is an object that can be applied to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification and tracking using radio waves. Some tags can be read from at least several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader. 
     RFID tags contain at least two parts. One is an integrated circuit for storing and processing information, modulating and demodulating a radio-frequency (RF) signal, and other specialized functions. The second is an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal. 
     When RFID tags receive an “interrogation signal,” they respond to the interrogation signal by transmitting a radio signal indicative of RFID data stored in the integrative circuit. 
     Interrogatable RFID tags come in two general varieties—passive and active or semi-passive types (also known as battery-assisted or semi-active). Passive tags require no internal power source, thus being pure passive devices (they are only active when a reader is nearby to power them by wireless illumination), whereas semi-passive and active tags require a power source, usually a small battery. 
     A concern surrounding RFID that has received considerable publicity is the issue of privacy. Because certain RFID tags may in theory be scanned and read from distances exceeding several meters, and because RFID utilizes an assortment of frequencies (both depending on the type of tag, though), there is some concern over whether sensitive information could be collected from an unwilling source. Thus, in many situations, RFID tags stored in the user&#39;s wallet or pocket may be read without the user&#39;s knowledge or consent. 
     There is an ongoing need for methods and apparatus for regulating access to RFID data stored on RFID tags, thereby reducing the privacy hazard associated with many RFID tags. 
     SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Various embodiments address these and related issues, examples of which embodiments, including methods and systems, are provided herein. One embodiment is a method of selectively facilitating access to RFID data. The method comprises the steps of: a) determining if access to RFID data of one or more RFID tags located in a faraday cage from outside of the faraday cage is permitted; b) receiving an external RFID interrogation signal; and c) contingent on determining that the access from outside of the faraday cage is permitted, providing access to the RFID data by: i) in response to the received external RFID interrogation signal, interrogating inside the faraday the cage one or more RFID tags; ii) receiving an RFID response from one or more of the interrogated RFID tags; and iii) transmitting to outside the faraday cage the received RFID response. 
     There is no limitation on the time that the determining may be carried out. Thus, in different embodiments, the determining may be carried out before or in response to the receiving of the external RFID interrogation signal. 
     A number of techniques are disclosed for determining if access to RFID data of one or more RFID tags located in a faraday cage from outside of the faraday cage is permitted. 
     In one embodiment, the determining includes authenticating an RFID reader external to the Faraday cage from which the external RFID interrogation signal is received, and a positive determining is contingent on a successful authenticating of the RFID reader. 
     In some embodiments, the determining is carried out in accordance a location of the Faraday cage and/or a time and/or a date and/or an ambient environmental factor (for example, temperature, humidity or any other factor). 
     In some embodiments, the method further includes c) effecting a permitted-forbidden access mode change in response to at least one of: i) detecting an outgoing phone call; ii) detecting an outgoing text message; iii) detecting an incoming phone call; and iv) detecting an incoming text message, wherein the determining is carried out in accordance with the changed permitted-forbidden access mode. 
     The determining may be carried out selectively on a per-tag basis in accordance with RFID data. Alternatively, the determining may be carried out in a manner that is insensitive to a tag identifier. 
     A number of techniques whereby the determining is carried out “selectively” on a per-tag basis in accordance with RFID data are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the determining includes, for a given RFID reader, permitting access to a first sub-set of a plurality of RFID tags located in the faraday cage, and forbidding access to a second sub-set of the plurality of RFID tags located in the faraday cage. 
     In some embodiments where the determining is carried out “selectively,” for a given RFID tag located in the faraday cage, the determining is carried out in accordance with a relationship between an identity of the given RFID tag and an identity of an RFID reader external to the faraday cage from which the external RFID interrogation signal is reached. 
     In one example related to these embodiments, i) the method further comprises: d) in the event that the external RFID interrogation signal is directed to a given one or more RFID tags within the faraday cage, soliciting an RFID reader identifier from a source of the external RFID interrogation signal; and ii) the determining of step (a) is carried out in a manner that is contingent upon receiving, in response to the soliciting, an RFID reader identifier that matches a set of permitted RFID readers for the given one or more RFID tags. 
     Thus, in some embodiments, the determining is carried out in accordance of an identifier of an RFID reader from which the external RFID interrogation signal is received. Alternatively, the determining is carried out in a manner that is insensitive to an identifier of an RFID reader from which the external RFID interrogation signal is received. 
     In some embodiments, the determining of whether RFID data of a particular RFID tag (or any arbitrary RFID tag within the faraday cage) is permitted or forbidden from outside of the faraday cage is carried out in accordance with input received from a user (for example, via a keypad or a microphone of a mobile telephone). 
     Thus, in one example, the method further includes, d) effecting a permitted-forbidden access mode change in response to a receiving of user input via one or more user controls, wherein the determining is carried out in accordance with the changed permitted-forbidden access mode. The mode change may be “specific” and carried out only for specific set of tags, or may be “general” and may be carried out for any arbitrary RFID tag within the faraday cage. 
     The user input may be received at any time. In one example, the user is “prompted” for input in response to the receiving, by an antenna array outside of the faraday cage, of the external RFID interrogation signal. Thus, in this embodiment, (i) the method further comprises: d) in response to the received external RFID interrogation signal, soliciting user input from a user; and (ii) the determining of step is carried out in accordance with the solicited user input. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises: (d) determining an inventory of one or more RFID tags residing within the faraday cage; and c) presenting to a user a description of the inventory. 
     Different apparatus for implementing the aforementioned method are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, i) the interrogating, inside the faraday cage, includes transmitting an internal interrogation signal to one or more of the RFID tags within the faraday cage using an internal antenna assembly; and ii) the response receiving is carried out using the internal antenna assembly. 
     Alternatively, the interrogating inside the faraday cage and the response receiving are carried out using a device port that is: i) deployed internally within the faraday cage; and ii) wired to one or more of the RFID tags. 
     Another embodiment is an apparatus for selectively facilitating access to RFID data, the apparatus comprising: a) a faraday cage operative to store one or more RFID tags; b) an external antenna assembly operative to receive an external RFID interrogation signal, at least a portion of the external antenna assembly being deployed outside of the faraday cage; c) an internal communication element selected from the group consisting of: i) an internal antenna assembly, at least a portion of the internal antenna assembly deployed within the faraday cage; and ii) an internal device port deployed within the faraday cage, and d) control circuitry operative to: A) determine if access to RFID data of one or more RFID tags located in the faraday cage is permitted or forbidden; and B) contingent on results of the determining, and in response to the received external RFID interrogation signal received via the external antenna assembly I) interrogate, inside of the faraday cage, one or more RFID tags that are located within the faraday cage using the internal communication element; II) receive, within the faraday cage, an RFID response from one or more of the internally interrogated RFID tags via the internal communication element; and III) transmit to outside of the faraday cage, the RFID response using the external antenna assembly. 
     In some embodiments, the control circuitry includes at least one of software and firmware. 
     In some embodiments, the control circuitry is operative such that the determining includes authenticating an RFID reader located outside of the faraday cage, and a positive determining is contingent on a successful authenticating of the RFID reader. 
     In some embodiments, the control circuitry is operative such that the determining is carried out in accordance with at least one of: i) a location of the Faraday cage; ii) a time; iii) a date; and iv) an ambient environmental factor 
     In some embodiments, i) the control circuitry is further operative to effect a permitted-forbidden access mode change (i.e. either for a specific set of one or more tags, or for any arbitrary tag in the faraday cage) in response to at least one of: A) detecting an outgoing phone call; B) detecting an outgoing text message; C) detecting an incoming phone call; and D) detecting an incoming text message; and ii) the control circuitry is operative such that the determining is carried out in accordance with the changed permitted-forbidden access mode. 
     In some embodiments, the control circuitry is operative to effect the determining selectively on a per-tag basis in accordance with RFID data. 
     In some embodiments, for a given RFID tag located in the faraday cage, the control circuitry is operative to carry out the determining in accordance with a relationship between an identity of the given RFID tag and an identity of an RFID reader located outside of the faraday cage from which the external RFID interrogation signal is reached. 
     In some embodiments, wherein: i) the control circuitry is further operative: C) in the event that the external RFID interrogation signal is directed to a given one or more RFID tags within the faraday cage, to solicit an RFID reader identifier from a source of the external RFID interrogation signal; and ii) the control circuitry is operative to effect determining of step (A) in a manner that is contingent upon receiving, in response to the soliciting, an RFID reader identifier that matches a set of permitted RFID readers for the given one or more RFID tags. 
     In some embodiments, the control circuitry is operative such that the determining includes, for a given RFID reader, permitting access to a first sub-set of a plurality of RFID tags located in the faraday cage, and forbidding access to a second sub-set of the plurality of RFID tags located in the faraday cage. 
     In some embodiments, the control circuitry is operative to effect the determining in a manner that is insensitive to a tag identifier. 
     In some embodiments, the control circuitry is operative to effect the determining in a manner that is insensitive to an identifier of an RFID reader from which the external RFID interrogation signal is received. 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: d) at least one user input device selected from the group consisting of a keyboard and a microphone, the at least one user input device configured to receive user input, wherein: i) the control circuitry is operative to effect a permitted-forbidden access mode change in response to a receiving of the user input via one or more of the user input devices; and ii) the control circuitry is operative such that the determining is carried out in accordance with the changed permitted-forbidden access mode. 
     In some embodiments, the control circuitry is operative, upon receiving tag-specific user input via one or more of the user input devices, to effect the access mode change only for the set of one or more tags specified in the tag-specific user input. 
     In some embodiments, i) the apparatus comprises the internal antenna assembly; ii) the control circuitry is operative to effect the internal interrogation using the internal antenna assembly; iii) the control circuitry is operative to receive the RFID response via the internal antenna assembly. 
     In some embodiments, i) the apparatus comprises the internal device port; ii) the control circuitry is operative to effect the internal interrogation using the internal device port; iii) the control circuitry is operative to receive the RFID response via the internal device port. 
     It is noted that features described above as pertaining to certain embodiments may also be included in other embodiments, unless indicated to the contrary herein below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 ,  2 B, and  6  are block diagrams of apparatus for facilitating access from outside of a faraday cage to RFID of RFID tag(s) located within the faraday cage in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 2A ,  2 C are flow charts of routines for facilitating access from outside of a faraday cage to RFID data of RFID tag(s) located within the faraday cage in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 3-5  are flow charts of routines for determining if access from outside of a faraday cage to RFID of RFID tag(s) located within the faraday cage is permitted in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  illustrated various elements which may be provided as a part of and/or may be operatively linked with RFID access-regulator. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The claims below will be better understood by referring to the present detailed description of example embodiments with reference to the figures. The description, embodiments and figures are not to be taken as limiting the scope of the claims. It should be understood that not every feature of the presently disclosed methods and apparatuses is necessary in every implementation. It should also be understood that throughout this disclosure, where a process or method is shown or described, the steps of the method may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless it is clear from the context that one step depends on another being performed first. As used throughout this application, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning “having the potential to”), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e. meaning “must”). 
     A Discussion of FIG. 1 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for selectively facilitating access to one or more RFID tags  120  located within faraday cage  110 . Faraday cage  110  substantially shields RFID tag(s) from an incoming interrogation signal transmitted by RFID reader  90 . Nevertheless, interrogation of RFID tag  120  by RFID reader  90  is possible when RFID relay  190 : (i) receives the RFID interrogation signal using external antenna assembly  150  located outside of the faraday cage  110 ; (ii) relays the RFID interrogation signal to RFID tag  120  using internal antenna assembly  130  located inside of faraday cage  110 ; (iii) receives, using internal antenna assembly  130  the response to the RFID interrogation signal; and (iv) transmits the received RFID response outside of faraday cage  110  using external antenna assembly  150 . 
     Thus, RFID relay  190  is operative to allow access to RFID data of RFID tag  120  which is located within faraday cage. However, in some embodiments, this access is not unconditional, and is only provided if RFID access-regulator  100  determines that access to RFID data of one or more RFID tag(s)  120  within faraday cage is permitted. 
     In different non-limiting use cases, access to RFID data of one or more tags may be permitted by RFID access-regulator  100  only at a certain time of the day, or only when faraday cage  110  is located in a certain geographic location (for example, within 200 meters of a certain location, for example, within 200 meters of corporate headquarters of XYZ corp.), or only for certain authenticated RFID readers or only upon manual authentication using a data input device (i.e. for example, a keyboard for entering a password). Other non-limiting examples of “criteria” for determining whether or not access to RFID data of one or more tags  120  are described below (see, for example, step S 215  of  FIGS. 2A ,  2 C and see the discussions of  FIGS. 3-5 ,  7 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , RFID tag  120  may be removed from faraday cage  110  and used independently. Thus, in some embodiments, the system illustrated in  FIG. 1  is useful for providing “selective privacy” for RFID tag(s) such that RFID data of the RFID tag(s) nay only be read if certain conditions are met. This allows for regulating access to RFID data in a manner that does not require modification of the RFID tag itself—i.e. the system of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 6  may be used with “ordinary” RFID tags not requiring any special modifications. 
     Although not a limitation, in some embodiments, faraday cage  110  is a “handheld faraday cage.” In one particular non-limiting example, (i) RFID-access-regulator  100  is operatively linked to a mobile telephone and/or (ii) faraday cage  100  is mechanically integrated with a mobile telephone—for example, a “closed compartment” of the mobile phone. 
     It is noted that RFID access regulator  100  may include may include any executable code module (i.e. stored on a computer-readable medium) and/or firmware and/or hardware element(s) including but not limited to field programmable logic array (FPLA) element(s), hard-wired logic element(s), field programmable gate array (FPGA) element(s), and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) element(s). Any instruction set architecture may be used RFID access regulator  100  including but not limited to reduced instruction set computer (RISC) architecture and/or complex instruction set computer (CISC) architecture. 
     Discussion of FIG. 2A 
       FIGS. 2A and 2C  are flow charts of exemplary techniques for selectively facilitating access to RFID data.  FIG. 2B  visually associates various steps of  FIG. 2A  with elements of the system of  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment, the techniques described in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 C may be carried out by the system of  FIG. 1 . In yet another embodiment, the techniques described in  FIGS. 2A-2B  may be carried out by the system of  FIG. 6 , which is discussed below. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 2A-2B . In step S 211 , an RFID interrogation signal is received from RFID reader  90  by external antenna assembly  150 . In step S 215 , a determination may be made (for example, by RFID access-regulator  100 ) as to whether or not access to RFID data of one or more of the RFID tag(s) is “permitted” or “forbidden.” Various examples of how to make this determination are described throughout the present disclosure—see, for example, see the discussions of  FIGS. 3-5 ,  7 . 
     In the event that access is not permitted, no further action is required, as indicated in step S 233 . 
     In the event that access is permitted, one or more of the RFID tag(s)  120  are interrogated inside the fade cage, during step S 219 . For example, internal assembly may re-transmit the RFID interrogation signal (i.e. which was previously received in step S 211 ) within faraday cage  110 . This interrogation signal (i.e. which is transmitted inside faraday cage  110  by internal antenna assembly  130 ) may then be received by one more RFID tag(s)  120 , which responds by transmitting a response signal using antenna  140 . The response signal may then be received, in step S 223 , by internal antenna assembly  130 . 
     In step S 227 , the response signal (i.e. which was transmitted by the RFID tag(s) within faraday cage  110  and then received by internal antenna assembly  130  in step S 223 ) is transmitted outside of faraday cage S 227 , for example, by external antenna assembly  150 . This relayed RFID response signal may then be received by RFID reader  90 . 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates allow steps of  FIG. 2A  as performed by the system of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2C  is a flow chart of an alternative technique for selectively facilitating access to RFID data. In the example of  FIG. 2A , the RFID interrogation signal received outside of the cage is only relayed to the RFID tag(s)  120  if access to the RFID tag(s) is permitted. In some alternate embodiments related to  FIG. 2C , the interrogation signal may be relayed into the faraday cage  110  even if access to RFID data of the RFID tag(s)  120  is forbidden. However, in these alternate embodiments, in the event that access to RFID data of the tag(s)  120  is forbidden, the response to the RFID interrogation signal transmitted by the RFID tag(s)  120  is only relayed outside of the faraday cage  110  if access to the RFID data is permitted. 
     It is noted the order of steps in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 C is only provided as one example, and is not limiting. In some embodiments, the determining of step S 215  is carried out after the receiving of the RFID signal of step S 211 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2B . In one example, the determining of step S 215  is carried out in response to the signal receiving of step S 211 . In an alternate embodiment, the determining of step S 215  may be carried out before the receiving of the RFID signal of step S 211 . 
     DEFINITIONS 
     For convenience, in the context of the description herein, various terms are presented here. To the extent that definitions are provided, explicitly or implicitly, here or elsewhere in this application, such definitions are understood to be consistent with the usage of the defined terms by those of skill in the pertinent art(s). Furthermore, such definitions are to be construed in the broadest possible sense consistent with such usage. 
     A ‘faraday cage’ is an enclosure formed by conducting material, or by a mesh of such material, which can shield the interior from external electromagnetic radiation if the conductor is thick enough and any holes are significantly smaller than the radiation&#39;s wavelength. 
     The faraday cage may reduce the amplitude of a signal at normal operating RFID frequencies (i.e. 860 MHz to 960 MHz and 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz) by at least 95%—i.e. the signal received within the Faraday cage has an amplitude that is at most 5% of the amplitude of the signal received outside of the Faraday cage. 
     A “handheld” faraday cage is a faraday cage that may be held by a user, and has (i) a longest dimension that is less than 20 centimeters; and (ii) a volume that is less than 1000 cm̂3. In some embodiments, the handheld faraday cage has (i) a longest dimension that is less than 10 centimeters; and (ii) a volume that is less than 300 cm̂3. 
     An “external” RFID interrogation signal is an RFID interrogation signal received outside of faraday cage  110 , for example, by external antenna array  150 . An “internal” RFID interrogation signal is an interrogation signal transmitted within faraday cage  110  for example, by internal antenna array  130 . 
     “RFID data” of a particular RFID tag is data identifying the particular RFID tag which is stored in the integrated circuit of the RFID tag. 
     An “antenna array” (for example, external antenna array  150  or internal antenna array  130 ) is an array of one or more antennae. If two steps (for example, a receiving and a transmitting of a radio signal) are carried out by the same antenna array, it is possible that: (i) both steps (i.e. both transmitting and receiving) are carried out by the same antenna of the antenna array; and/or (ii) a first step is carried out by one antenna of the antenna array, a second step is carried out by a different antenna of the antenna array. 
     A Discussion of FIG. 3 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an exemplary routine for determining whether access from outside of the faraday cage to RFID data of one or more RFID tag(s) is permitted or forbidden in accordance with user input—i.e. one possible implementation of step S 215  of  FIGS. 2A ,  2 C is presented in  FIG. 3 . 
     In step S 411 , user input is solicited in response to a receiving of the RFID interrogation signal. In one non-limiting example related to a particular case where the RFID repeater  190  is associated with a mobile phone, a mobile phone screen may display, in response to the received interrogation signal, information indicating that the external RFID interrogation signal has been received. A message prompting the user if s/he permits the reading of all RFID tag(s) within faraday cage  110  and/or one or more specified RFID tag(s) may be displayed. Alternatively or additionally, a noise may be produced or the phone may vibrate to “prompt the user” for input. 
     In step S 413 , input is received from the user. For example, the user may press on or more user control(s) and/or type in information and/or provide “voice input” to a microphone. In one example, the user may provide instructions listing which particular RFID tags are permitted. In another example, the user may input instructions permitting access to RFID data from outside faraday cage  110  for any RFID tag within faraday cage  110 . 
     In step S 415 , it is determined if “read access” from outside of the faraday cage should be provided for all tags in the cage and/or one or more specified tag(s) is permitted in accordance with the user input received in step S 413 . In one example, if the user says the word “yes” in the microphone in step S 413 , then there is a “positive” determining in step S 415  that access from outside of the faraday cage to the RFID tag(s) is permitted. 
     In another example, a menu is presented in step S 411  for example, including a “yes or no” option. In this example, in step S 415 , it is determined if access is permitted according to whether or not the user selected “yes” or “no” in step S 413 . 
     A Discussion of FIG. 4 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart of an exemplary routine for determining whether access from outside of the faraday cage to RFID data of one or more RFID tag(s) is permitted or forbidden in accordance with user input—i.e. one possible implementation of step S 215  of  FIGS. 2A ,  2 C is presented in  FIG. 4 . 
     In step S 421 , a challenge is transmitted to RFID reader  90  in response to the receiving of the RFID interrogation signal (i.e. in step S 211  of  FIGS. 2A ,  2 C) by external antenna assembly  150 . In step S 425 , a determination is made if access is permitted in accordance with the response to the challenge (for example, only if the reader  90  “successfully” responds to the challenge is access permitted). 
     A Discussion of FIGS. 5A-5B 
     In some embodiments, RFID access-regulator  100  may have two modes: (i) a first mode when access is permitted (i.e. to a specific set of one or more RFID tag(s) or, non-specifically, to any tag within faraday cage  110 ) and (ii) a second mode when access is forbidden. 
     Thus, in step S 451 , it is determined if RFID access-regulator  100  is in “permitted mode.” If RFID access-regulator  100  is in “permitted mode,” then access is permitted in step S 455 , and the “yes” branch leaving step S 215  is selected in step S 455 . Otherwise, access is forbidden in step S 457 , and the “no” branch leaving step S 215  is selected in step S 457 . 
     In some embodiments, in response to “detecting an event,” RFID access-regulator  100  may transition between “permitted mode” and “forbidden mode.” In one non-limiting example, in response to a detection of an incoming SMS, RFID access-regulator  100  may ‘transition’ from “forbidden” to “permitted” mode (i.e. for a specific set of RFID tag(s) or ‘in general’ for any arbitrary RFID tag within faraday cage  110 ). According to this non-limiting example, after effecting this ‘mode transition’ RFID access-regulator  100  “remains” in “permitted mode” only for a pre-determined amount of time (for example, 10 minutes), and then automatically “transitions back” to forbidden mode after the pre-determined amount of time. 
     This is illustrated in  FIG. 5B , where in step S 521  is a transition from “forbidden mode” to “permitted mode” in response to one type of event and step S 525  is a transition from “permitted mode” to “forbidden mode” in response to another type of event. 
     The “triggering” events may include any type of events, including but not limiting to;
         (i) an outgoing or incoming phone call or message;   (ii) that passing of a given amount of time since an earlier event;   (iii) receiving specific input from a user;   (iv) motion of the faraday cage  110  or any other object to or from a location or area;   (v) an increase or decrease in ambient temperature; and/or   (vi) the receiving of input from a user (for example, provided by a keypad of a mobile phone).       

     A Discussion of FIG. 6 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an alternate system for facilitating access to RFID data of RFID tag(s) within a faraday cage  110 . The system of  FIG. 6  is the same as the system of  FIG. 1 , with the exception that the system of  FIG. 6  does not utilize an internal antenna array  130  to relay the RFID interrogation signal received by external antenna array  150  to RFID tag  120 . Instead, in the system of  FIG. 6 , external antenna array  150  and RFID access-regulator  100  are electrically connected to RFID tag  120  host-side port  170  (which is connected to faraday cage  110 ) and ‘device-side’ tag port  180  which is part of RFID tag  120  and may be integrally formed with RFID tag  120 . 
     RFID tag  120  may be disconnected from host port  170 , removed from faraday cage  110 , and used as ‘independently’ as an RFID tag. 
     In different embodiments, ports  170  and  180  may have any shape and may support any protocol. Exemplary port types including but not limited to USB, MMC and SD. 
     Determining if Assess to RFID Data of an RFID Tag(s) in Accordance With Tag Identity 
     As noted earlier, in some embodiments, the determining of step S 215  is carried out “arbitrarily” for any RFID tag within faraday cage  110  and in a manner that is ‘insensitive’ to tag identifier. 
     Alternatively, the determining of step S 215  may be carried out in accordance with tag identifier. In one non-limiting example, tags A, B and C are located within faraday cage  110 . In this example, RFID access-regulator is configured so that (i) access to data of tag A from outside of faraday cage  110  is permitted between 9 AM and 11 AM and forbidden at other times; (ii) access to data of tag B from outside of faraday cage  110  is permitted between 10 AM and 11:30 AM and forbidden at other times; (ii) access to data of data C from outside of faraday cage  110  is always permitted. 
     According to this non-limiting example, when an RFID interrogation signal is received at 9:30 AM, RFID relay  190  (i) is operative to relay the external RFID interrogation signal to tag A and to transmit, outside of faraday cage  110 , the response provided by tag  110 ; and (ii) to not provide this functionality for tag B. 
     According to this example, at 9:30 AM, access to a first subset {A, C} of the set of all RFID tags within faraday cage {A,B,C} is permitted, while access to a second subset {B} of the set of all RFID tags within faraday cage {A,B,C} is forbidden. 
     This may be implemented in a number of ways. In one example, the external RFID interrogation signal includes information indicative of the “target RFID tag” which is “targeted” by the external RFID interrogation signal. This information may be utilized by RFID access-regulator in effecting the determination in step S 215 . 
     Alternatively or additionally, in another example, the RFID interrogation signal is always related into faraday cage  110 , and the content of the RFID response from RFID tag  120  (which describes an identity of the RFID tag interrogated) is analyzed in step S 215  of  FIG. 2C . 
     In yet another example provided, RFID access-regulator  100  is configured so that (i) access to data of tag A from outside of faraday cage  110  is permitted for RFID reader X and Y and forbidden for RFID reader Z; (ii) access to data of tag B from outside of faraday cage  110  is permitted for RFID reader Y only and forbidden for RFID readers X and Z. In this example, external RFID interrogation signal indicates some indication of the identity of the RFID reader which generated external RFID interrogation signal. In this example, the decision of step S 215  is thus carried out in accordance with a ‘relationship’ between an identity of the RFID tag  120  and an identity of the RFID reader from which external RFID interrogation signal is received. 
     In another example, the initial RFID interrogation signal does not necessarily include data identifying the RFID reader, but this information is solicited from RFID reader  90  after the initial RFID interrogation signal is reached in a “challenge.” 
     A Discussion of FIG. 7 
     In various embodiments, RFID access-regulator  100  may include and/or be operatively linked to at least one of: (i) a location module  320  (for example, GPS module or a location module based upon any); (ii) a clock  340 ; (iii) a user input  350  (for example, a keyboard or a keypad or a microphone or a touch-screen or any other user input); (iv) an authentication module  380  for authenticating RFID reader  90 ; (v) an environmental sensor  370  for sensing an ambient environmental parameter (for example, a temperature or a humidity). 
     In some embodiments, RFID access-regulator  110  effects the determining of S 215  in accordance output (for example, an electrical signal) of one or more of the aforementioned elements depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
     Also illustrated in  FIG. 7  is a display screen which may also be operatively coupled to RFID access-regulator  100 . The display screen may be used for any purpose described herein, for example, for soliciting user input about whether access from outside of faraday cage  110  to one or more given RFID tag(s) (or any arbitrary tag) is permitted. 
     Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, display screen may be used for displaying an “inventory” or a list of RFID tag(s)  120  within faraday cage  110 . This “inventory information” may be generated by using host port  170  or internal antenna array  130  to interrogate RFID tag(s) within faraday cage  110  in order to detect the presence of the various tags. 
     It is further noted that any of the embodiments described above may further include receiving, sending or storing instructions and/or data that implement the operations described above in conjunction with the figures upon a computer readable medium. Generally speaking, a computer readable medium may include storage media or memory media such as magnetic or flash or optical media, e.g. disk or CD-ROM, volatile or non-volatile media such as RAM, ROM, etc. as well as transmission media or signals such as electrical, electromagnetic or digital signals conveyed via a communication medium such as network and/or wireless links. 
     Having thus described the foregoing exemplary embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various equivalents, alterations, modifications, and improvements thereof are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims as hereafter recited. In particular, different embodiments may include combinations of features other than those described herein. Accordingly, the claims are not limited to the foregoing discussion.