Patent ID: 7920050

Claim:
A method of operating a proxy device in an RFID system, the RFID system comprising a plurality of RFID devices and at least one reader which communicates with the proxy device and one or more of the RFID devices, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring in the proxy device information characterizing at least a given one of the RFID devices; the proxy device controlling the given RFID device so as to at least partially prevent the given RFID device from being read by the reader, wherein the proxy device controls the given RFID device by communicating with the given RFID device in a manner which causes that RFID device to alter its output; and the proxy device communicating with the reader in a manner which simulates the given RFID device; wherein designation of the proxy device as such occurs prior to initiation of said controlling; and wherein the proxy device communicates with the reader in a manner which simulates the given RFID device but withholds from the reader information that would otherwise be communicated by the given RFID device to the reader absent said controlling, in order to implement a designated privacy policy established for the given RFID device.