Patent ID: 7475806

Claim:
A multi-use radio frequency identification base unit for use with at least two radio frequency communication standards, comprising; a microcontroller; base unit storage means operable to store microcontroller accessible addresses of functional routines residing in plug-in communication modules removably attached to said base unit; an operating system used by said microcontroller; a power supply providing power to said base unit; and connection means adapted to co-act with said plug-in communication modules, whereby the multi-use RFID base unit is operable to communicate with an external data utilization device using any of the at least two different radio frequency communication standards as determined by said removably attached plug-in communication modules; wherein said functional routines contained in said plug-in communication modules are accessible via addresses stored in said base unit storage means during an initialization routine retrieving calls and data from the plug-in communication modules; wherein said functional routines are stored and executed in said corresponding plug-in communication modules without being retrieved to said base unit storage means; wherein the base unit is operable to communicate using said functional routines only while connected to said corresponding plug-in communication modules, and said base unit being separately operable without being connected to any of said plug-in communication modules.