Patent ID: 7872582

Claim:
An RFID tag circuit, comprising: a memory, the memory having a first location for storing a first lock bit, a second location for storing a second lock bit, wherein the first lock bit and the second lock bit have different values, a third location for storing a pointer configured to point to one of the first lock bit and the second lock bit, wherein the pointer is configurable to stop pointing to the first lock bit and start pointing instead to the second lock bit responsive to the tag circuit receiving a partial-kill command, and a section having an operable functionality if the pointed to one of the first and the second lock bits has a first value, but lacking the operable functionality if the pointed to one of the first and the second lock bits has a second value; and a modulator able to cause a reply to be backscattered regardless of whether the pointer is configured to point to the first lock bit or to the second lock bit.