WO2012012842A1

WO2012012842A1 - Rfid tag and rfid card

Info

Publication number: WO2012012842A1
Application number: PCT/AU2011/000958
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wisam Charmand; Vincent Lo
Original assignee: Quantas Airways Limited
Priority date: 2010-07-28
Filing date: 2011-07-28
Publication date: 2012-02-02
Also published as: WO2012012842A8

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a luggage identification tag (10) for associating a piece of luggage with a passenger and a trip for which the passenger has checked-in. The tag comprises a laminar substrate (11) defining opposing major faces (12,13) of circular shape, with minor faces (14) extending therebetween defining a peripheral edge. An RFID chip (15) is provided on the substrate (11) and contains memory. An antenna (16) is connected to the chip (15) for facilitating communication between the chip and an RFID reader. Together, the substrate, chip and antenna form a circular RFID medallion (17). Passenger identification data is stored in the memory. Trip information is also stored in the memory, the trip information corresponding to the trip for which the passenger has checked-in.

Description

"RF1D tag and RFID card"

This application is related to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2010903393, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by way of reference.

The present disclosure relates to an RFID passenger identification card and an RFID bag tag. The RFIO passenger identification card and bag tag have been developed primarily for use by airline passengers and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the card and tag are not limited to this particular use and may also be used by passengers on other vehicles, such as ships, trains and buses.

Electronic airline passenger bag tags with unique owner information encoded are known. However, such cards have a small roemory area that restricts the amount of information that can be stored on the card. Typically, such cards have sufficient memory area to store, at most, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) license plate number of an aircraft on which a passenger will travel on a trip for which the passenger has chcckcd-in. More typically, however, such identification tags arc used solely for property identification and do not store flight details.

Paper bag tags with a ID barcode and printed information for associating a piece of luggage with a particular passenger and a trip for which the passenger is checked-in. However, paper bag tags are single-use tags and must be discarded after each journey.

Known electronic bag tags are not robust enough and do not last very long in the baggage handling environment.

Known passenger identification tags include only read only memory, such that information stored on the card cannot be updated.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the priOT art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as

"comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a staled element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other clement, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a luggage identification tag for associating a piece of luggage with a passenger and a trip for which the passenger has checked-in, the tag comprising: a substrate;

an RFID chip on the substrate;

memory associated with the RFID chip;

an antenna connected to the chip for facilitating communication between the chip and an RFID reader;

passenger identification data stored in the memory; and

trip information stored in the memory, the trip information corresponding to the trip for which the passenger has checked-in.

The trip information may be stored in a portion of the memory that is rc- writable. The trip information may include any one or more of the following: data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling on the trip, data indicating the date on which the trip is scheduled to depart, data indicating the station at which the passenger checked-in for the trip, data indicating the destination of the trip, data indicating routing for the passenger's luggage, and data indicating the passenger's seat type (eg. economy class, business class or first class). The data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling on the trip may comprise data indicating an aircraft TATA license plate number. Any of the stored trip data that is purely numeric (eg. data indicating the aircraft LATA license plate number, data indicating a date on which the trip is scheduled to depart, and data indicating the passenger's seat type (eg. economy class, business class or first class)) may be compressed using numeric compaction. The compaction of numeric data may comprise one digit being coded over 4 Bits. Any of the stored trip data that is purely alphabetical (eg. data indicating the station at which the passenger checked-in for the trip and data indicating the destination of the trip) may be compressed using bit compaction, The bit compaction of alphabetical data may comprise one character being coded over 5 Bits. Any of the stored trip data that is alpha-numeric (eg. data indicating the passenger's name and data relating to particulars of the trip) may be compressed using bit compaction. The bit compaction of alpha-numeric data may comprise one character being coded over 6 Bits.

The passenger identification data may include any one or more of the following: data indicating the passenger's name, data indicating the passenger's address, and data indicating the passenger's loyalty status with the trip operator. Any of the stored passenger data that is purely numeric (eg. data indicating the passenger's status level with the carrier) may be compressed using numeric compaction. The compaction of numeric data may comprise one digit being coded over 4 Bits. Any of the stored passenger data that i$ alpha-numeric (eg. data indicating the passenger's name) may be compressed using bit compaction. The bit compaction of alpha-numeric data may comprise one character being coded over 6 Bits.

The tag may be programmed with a first password, Write access to the memory may be restricted to devices that provide the password. Read access to passenger identification data, or to portions of the passenger identification daia, stored in the memory may also be restricted to devices that provide the password.

The tag may be programmed with a second password. The second password may be required to reset the tag to its original configuration.

The memory may include a writable area with a capacity of at least 32 bits, more preferably at least 64 bits, more preferably at least 128 bits, more preferably at least 256 bits, and most preferably at least 512 bits.

The memory may have a writable area with a write endurance of at least 100 cycles, more preferably at least 500 cycles, more preferably at least 1000 cycles, more preferably at least 10000 cycles, and most preferably at least 100000 cycles.

A housing extends around the substrate to protect the RFID chip. The substrate is laminar, defining opposing major faces, with minor faces extending therebetween defining a peripheral edge The housing may extend around the peripheral edge. The bousing may be in the form of a resilient bumper. The housing may be formed from plastics material, such as ABS overmouldcd with TPU. The major faces may be substantially circular.

The tag may comprise a lanyard for connecting the tag to the passenger's luggage.

A barcode may be provided on the tag. The barcode may be printed, embossed, engraved or otherwise formed on the tag. The barcode may be for associating the tag with the passenger.

In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a passenger identification card, comprising:

an RFID chip;

memory associated with the RFID chip;

an antenna connected to the chip for facilitating communication between the chip and an RFID reader, and

passenger identification data stored in the memory.

Trip information may be stored in the memory for associating the passenger with a trip for which the passenger has a booking and/or is checked-in. The trip information may be stored in a portion of the memory that is re-writable. The trip information may include any one or more of the following data: data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling on the trip, data indicating the trip date, data indicating the station at which the passenger checked-in for the trip, data indicating the destination of the trip, data indicating routing for the passenger's luggage, and data indicating the passenger's seat type (eg, economy class, business class or first class). The data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling on the trip may comprise data indicating an aircraft LATA license plate number. Any of the stored trip data that is purely numeric (eg. data indicating the aircraft LATA license plate number, data indicating a dote on which the trip is scheduled to depart, and data indicating the passenger's seat type (eg. economy class, business class or first class)) may be compressed using numeric compaction, The compaction of numeric data may comprise one digit being coded over 4 Bits. Any of the stored trip data that is purely alphabetical (eg. data indicating the station at which the passenger checked-in for the trip and data indicating the destination of the trip) may be compressed using bit compaction. The bit compaction of alphabetical data may comprise one character being coded over 5 Bits. Any of the stored trip data that is alpha-numeric (eg. data indicating the passenger's name and data relating to particulars of the trip) may be compressed using bit compaction. The bit compaction of alphanumeric data may comprise one character being coded over 6 Bits.

The passenger identification data may include any one or more of the following: data indicating the passenger's name, data indicating the passenger's address, and data indicating the passenger's loyalty status with the trip operator. Any of the stored passenger data that is purely numeric (eg. data indicating the passenger's status level with the carrier) may be compressed using numeric compaction. The compaction of numeric data may comprise one digit being coded over 4 Bits. Any of the stored passenger data that is alpha-numeric (eg. data indicating the passenger's name) may be compressed using bit compaction. The bit compaction of alpha-numeric data may comprise one character being coded over 6 Bits.

The card may.be programmed with a first password. Write access to the memory may be restricted to devices that provide the password. Read access to passenger identification data, or to portions of the passenger identification data, stored in the memory may also be restricted to devices that provide the password.

The card may be programmed with a second password. The second password may be required to reset the card to its original configuration.

The memory may include a writable area with a capacity of at least 32 bits, more preferably at least 64 bits, more preferably at least 128 bits, more preferably at least 256 bits, and most preferably at least 512 bits. The memory may have a writable area with a write endurance of at least 100 cycles, more preferably at least 500 cycles, more preferably at least 1000 cycles, more preferably at least 10000 cycles, and most preferably at least 100000 cycles.

A barcode may be printed on the card. The barcode may be for associating the card with the passenger.

A magnetic strip may be provided on the card for facilitating communication between the card and magnetic strip reading devices.

Embodiments of the presently disclosed tag and card will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows schematic side and plan views of an embodiment of an RFID bag tag in accordance with the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a cross section through the electronic components of the tag of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows schematic front and rear views of an embodiment of an RFID passenger identification card in accordance with the present disclosure; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a cross section through the electronic components of the card of Fig. 3.

Referring initially to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a luggage identification tag 10 for associating a piece of luggage with a passenger and a trip for which the passenger has chccked-in. The tag comprises a laminar substrate 11 defining opposing major faces 12, 13 of circular shape, with minor faces 14 extending therebetween defining a peripheral edge. An RFID chip 15 is provided on the substrate 11 and contains memory. An antenna 16 is connected to the chip 15 for facilitating communication between the chip and an RFID reader. Together, the substrate, chip and antenna form a circular RFID medallion 17. Passenger identification data is stored in the memory. Trip information is also stored in the memory, the trip information corresponding to the trip for which the passenger has checked-in.

The trip information is stored in a portion of the memory that is re-writable. The trip information includes the following: data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling on the trip, data indicating the date on which the trip is scheduled to depart, data indicating the station (eg. airport, port, train station or bus terminal) at which the passenger checked-in for the trip, data indicating the destination of the trip, data indicating routing for the passenger's luggage, and data indicating the passenger's seat type (eg. economy class, business class or first class). In cases where the trip is on an aircraft, the data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling comprises data indicating the aircraft's IATA license plate number. Any of the stored trip data that is purely numeric (eg. data indicating the aircraft IATA license plate number, data indicating a date on which the trip is scheduled to depart, and data indicating the passenger's seat type (eg. economy class, business class or first class)) is compressed using numeric compaction, with one digit coded over 4 Bits. Any of the stored trip data that is purely alphabetical (eg. data indicating the station at which the passenger checked-in for the trip and data indicating the destination of the trip) is compressed using bit compaction, with one character coded over 5 Bits. Any of the stored trip data that is alpha-numeric (eg. data indicating the passenger's name and data relating to particulars of the trip) is compressed using bit compaction, with one character coded over 6 Bits.

The passenger identification data includes the following: data indicating the passenger's name, data indicating the passenger's address, and data indicating the passenger's loyalty status with the trip operator.

Any of the stored passenger data that is purely numeric (eg. data indicating the passenger's status level with the carrier) is compressed using numeric compaction, with one digit being coded over 4 Bits. Any of the stored passenger data that is alphanumeric (eg. data indicating the passenger's name) is compressed using bit compaction, with one character being coded over 6 Bits.

The chip 15 is programmed with a first password. Write access to the memory is restricted to devices that provide the first password. Read access to passenger identification data, or to portions of the passenger identification data, stored in the memory may also be restricted to devices that provide the first password.

The chip IS is also programmed with a second password. The second password is required to reset the tag 10 to its original configuration.

The memory includes a writable area with a capacity of 512 bits and a write endurance of 100000 cycles.

A housing, in the form of a resilient bumper IS, extends around the peripheral edge of the substrate to protect the RFTD chip. The bumper 18 is formed from ABS overmoulded with TPU.

A lanyard 19 extends from the bumper 18 for connecting the tag 10 to the passenger's luggage,

A barcode is printed on a rear face 14 of the tag 10 and provides a supplementary means for associating the tag 10 with the passenger using devices with a barcode reader. In other embodiments, the barcode may be embossed, engraved oi otherwise formed on the tag 10. Turning to Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown a passenger identification card 20, comprising a laminar substrate 21 and an RFID chip 22 having memory formed on the substrate. An antenna 23 is connected to the chip 22 for facilitating communication between the chip 22 and an RFID reader. Passenger identification data is stored in the memory. Trip information is also stored in the memory for associating the passenger with a trip for which the passenger has a booking and/or is checked-in.

The trip information is stored in a portion of the memory that is re-writable. The trip information includes the following: data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling on the trip, data indicating the date on which the trip is scheduled to depart, data indicating the station at which the passenger checked-in for the trip, data indicating the destination of the trip, data indicating routing for the passenger's luggage, and data indicating the passenger's seat type (eg. economy class, business class or first class). In cases where the trip is on an aircraft, the data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling comprises data indicating the aircraft's 1ATA license plate number.

Any of the stored trip data that is purely numeric (eg. data indicating the aircraft IATA license plate number, data indicating a date on which the trip is scheduled to depart, and data indicating the passenger's seat type (eg. economy class, business class or first class)) is compressed using numeric compaction, with one digit coded over 4 Bits. Any of the stored trip data that is pwely alphabetical (eg. data indicating the station at which the passenger checked-in for the trip and data indicating the destination of the trip) is compressed using bit compaction, with one character coded over 5 Bits. Any of the stored trip data that is alpha-numeric (eg. data indicating the passenger's name and data relating to particulars of the trip) is compressed using bit compaction, with one character coded over 6 Bits.

The chip 22 is programmed with a first password. Write access to the memory is restricted to devices that provide the first password. Read access to passenger identification data, or to portions of the passenger identification data, stored in the memory is also restricted to devices that provide the first password.

The chip 22 is also programmed with a second password. The second password is required to reset the card 20 to its original configuration.

The card 20 also has a printed barcode 25 and a magnetic strip 26 as supplementary means for associating the card with the passenger using devices with a barcode reader and/or magnetic strip reader.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated tag 10 and card 20 provide commercially significant advantages over previously known electronic bag tags and passenger identification cards. Some of these advantages include:

• Enabling the use of quick and convenient passenger and luggage check-in devices, such as RFID-enabled self-service passenger check-in stations and RFID-enable self-service luggage processing stations.

• Enabling self-bag tagging at home.

• Facilitating pro-active disruption handling in the event of lost baggage.

• Robustness and re-pro grammability allowing for re-use on many trips.

• Flight details are encoded on bag tag and readable without bag being in line of sight.

• Facilitating automation of current airport processes, such as bag reconciliation.

• Facilitating airport efficiencies.

• Reducing transaction time at the airport for customers.

• Facilitates automated updating of passenger and/or trip information on bag tag or passenger identification card next time the card is read by a compatible card reader/writer.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above described and illustrated embodiments without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure, The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in ail respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A luggage identification tag for associating a piece of luggage with a passenger and a trip for which the passenger has checkod-in, the tag comprising:

a substrate;

an RFID chip on the substrate;

memory associated with the RFID chip;

passenger identification data stored in the memory; and

2. A tag according to claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises a re-writable portion and the trip information is stored in the re-writable portion.

3. A tag according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the trip information comprises any one or more of the following: data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling on the trip, data indicating the date on which the trip is scheduled to depart, data indicating the station at which the passenger checked-in for the trip, data indicating the destination of the trip, data indicating routing for the passenger's luggage, and data indicating the passenger's seat type.

4. A tag according to claim 3, wherein the trip information comprises data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling on the trip, and wherein the data Indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling on the trip comprises data indicating an aircraft IATA license plate number.

5. A tag according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein stored trip data that is purely numeric is compressed using numeric compaction.

6. A tag according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein stored trip data that is purely alphabetical or alpha-numeric is compressed using bit compaction.

7. A tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the passenger identification data comprises any one or more of the following: data indicating the passenger's name, data indicating the passenger's address, and data indicating the passenger's loyalty status with the trip operator.

8. A tag according to claim 7, wherein stored passenger data that is purely numeric is compressed using numeric compaction.

9. A tag according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein stored passenger data that is alpha-numeric is compressed using bit compaction.

10. A tag according to any one of the preceding claims, which is programmed with a first password.

11. A tag according to claim 10, which is adapted to require input of the first password to gain write access to the memory.

12. A tag according to claim 10 or claim 11 , which is adapted to require input of the first password to gain read access to passenger identification data, or to portions of the passenger identification data, stored in the memory.

13. A tag according to any one of the preceding claims, which is programmed with a second password.

14. A tag according to claim 13, which is adapted to require input of the second password to reset the tag to its original configuration.

15. A tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the memory comprises a writable area with a capacity of at least 512 bits.

16. A tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the memory comprises a writable area with a write endurance of at least 10000 cycles.

17. A tag according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a housing extending around the substrate to protect the RFID chip.

18. A tag according to claim 17, wherein the substrate is laminar, defining opposing major faces, with minor faces extending therebetween defining a peripheral edge.

19. A tag according to claim 18, wherein the major faces are substantially circular.

20. A tag according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the housing extends around the peripheral edge.

21. A tag according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the housing takes the form of a resilient bumper.

22. A tag according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the housing is formed from plastics material.

23. A tag according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a lanyard for connecting the tag to the passenger's luggage.

24. A tag according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a barcode on its external surface.

25. A passenger identification card, comprising:

an RFID chip;

memory associated with the RFID chip;

an antenna connected to the chip for facilitating communication between the chip and an RFID reader; and

passenger identification data stored in the memory.

26. A card according to claim 25, comprising trip information stored in the memory for associating the passenger with a trip for which the passenger has a booking and/or is checked-in.

27. A card according to claim 26, wherein the memory comprises a re-writable portion, and wherein the trip information is stored in the re-writable portion.

28. A card according to claim 26 or claim 27, wherein the trip information comprises any one or more of the following data: data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling on the trip, data indicating the date on which the trip is scheduled to depart, data indicating the station at which the passenger checked-in for the trip, data indicating the destination of the trip, data indicating routing for the passenger's luggage, and data indicating the passenger's seat type.

29. A card according to claim 28, wherein the trip information comprises data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger wilj be travelling on the trip, and wherein the data indicating the vehicle on which the passenger will be travelling on the trip comprises data indicating an aircraft LATA license plate number.

30. A card according to claim 28 or claim 29, wherein stored trip data that is purely numeric is compressed using numeric compaction.

31. A card according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein stored trip data that is purely alphabetical or alpha-numeric Is compressed using bit compaction.

32. A card according to any one of claims 25 to 31, wherein the passenger identification data comprises any one or more of the following: data indicating the passenger's name, data indicating the passenger's address, and data indicating the passenger's loyalty status with the trip operator.

33. A card according to claim 32, wherein stored passenger data that is purely numeric is compressed using numeric compaction.

34. A card according to claim 32 or claim 33, wherein stored passenger data that is alpha-numeric is compressed using bit compaction.

35. A card according to any one of claims 25 to 34, which is programmed with a first password.

36. A card according to claim 35, which is adapted to require input of the first password to gain write access to the memory.

37. A card according to claim 35 or claim 36, which is adapted to require input of the first password to gain read access to passenger identification data, or to portions of the passenger identification data, stored in the memory.

38. A card according to any one of claims 25 to 37, which is programmed with a second password

39. A card according to claim 38, which is adapted to require input of the second password to reset the card to its original configuration.

40. A card according to any one of claims 25 to 39, wherein the memory a writable area with a capacity of at least 512 bits.

41. A card according to any one of claims 25 to 40, wherein the memory comprises a writable area with a write endurance of at least 10000 cycles.

42. A card according to any one of claims 25 to 41 , comprising a barcode on its external surface.

43. A card according to any one of claims 25 to 42, comprising a magnetic strip for facilitating communication between the card and magnetic strip reading devices.