Patent ID: 7952466

Claim:
A method for controlling access to data contained within a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with an item, the method comprising: reading the RFID tag; receiving a first value from a personal communication device associated with a purchaser of the item; creating a key using the first value received from the personal communication device and using a second value associated with the item, the second value not associated with the purchaser; and initially transmitting the key to both the RFID tag and the personal communication device; wherein the RFID tag is configured to automatically program one or more electrically programmable fuse devices therein so as to prevent subsequent reading of data therein by an RFID reading device, upon receipt of a valid key initially transmitted thereto; wherein the RFID tag is further configured to automatically program one or more additional fuse devices therein so as to restore read access to the data therein, upon receipt of a valid key subsequently transmitted thereto; and wherein creating the key further comprises concatenating the first and second values and encrypting the concatenated values.