Patent ID: 8205800

Claim:
A data transfer system comprising: a) a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader disposed in a hand held device comprising: i) a radio frequency transmitter and receiver; ii) a laser in the hand held device; and b) a RFID tag on a container comprising: i) a tag antenna coupled to an electronic circuit for receiving radio signals from the radio frequency transmitter and transmitting radio frequency signals to the receiver; ii) a first photosensitive device coupled to the electronic circuit which is in a first state when light from the laser is not striking the photosensitive device and in a second state when light from the laser is striking the photosensitive device such that the RFID tag transmits a signal only when a light beam from the laser is striking the photosensitive device; c) wherein the radio frequency transmitter provides power to the RFID tag sufficient to power the electronic circuit and to transmit a signal to the receiver which can be decoded by the RFID reader; and d) wherein the RFID tag decodes a signal modulating the light beam from the laser wherein only one or more first types of predetermined modulated signals will cause the RFID tag to transmit, wherein one or more second types of modulated signals will cause the RFID tag to switch to an operating mode wherein the RFID tag will operate irrespective of the state of the first photosensitive device.