LONG RANGE RFID DEVICE USED WITH DISPLAY, AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS IMPLEMENTING SAME
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based display system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an electronic display device having a visual display device; and an RFID device having a memory, the RFID device being in electrical communication with the electronic display device via a direct physical connection, wherein data received by the RFID device from a remote device is stored in the memory of the RFID device, the data being communicated to the electronic, display device via the direct physical connection. Methods are also presented.
1 . A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based display system, comprising:
an electronic display device having a visual display device; and
an RFID device having a memory, the RFID device being in electrical communication with the electronic display device via a direct physical connection,
wherein data received by the RFID device from a remote device is stored in the memory of the RFID device, the data being communicated to the electronic display device via the direct physical connection.
2 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the RFID device sets a flag indicating that data has been written to the RFID device memory.
3 . A system as recited in claim 2 , wherein setting the flag includes sending an electronic signal detectable by the electronic display device via the direct physical connection.
4 . A system as recited in claim 2 , wherein setting the flag includes setting the state of a bit or bits in the memory.
5 . A system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the electronic display device periodically checks a status of the flag.
6 . A system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the electronic display device continuously checks a status of the flag.
7 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the RFID device is a semi-passive RFID tag.
8 . A system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the RFID device further comprises a battery.
9 . A system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the RFID device further comprises a supplemental power source.
10 . A system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the RFID device draws power from a power source of the electronic display device.
11 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the RFID device is detachably mounted to the electronic display device.
12 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the RFID device is physically integrated with the electronic display device.
13 . A system as recited in claim 12 , wherein a controller of the RFID device is located on a same printed circuit board as a controller of the electronic display device.
14 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the RFID device enters a hibernation state during at least some periods when the RFID device is not actively communicating with the electronic display device or the remote device.
15 . A system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the electronic display device selectively wakes the RFID device from the hibernation state.
16 . A system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the remote device selectively wakes the RFID device from the hibernation state.
17 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic display device includes a sensor.
18 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic display device further comprises a memory for storing data received from the RFID device memory.
19 . A method, comprising:
receiving data from a remote device via an air interface using a Radio Frequency Identification protocol;
storing the data in local memory; and
sending the data to an electronic display device via a direct physical connection.
20 . A method as recited in claim 19 , further comprising receiving a confirmation from the electronic display device that the data has been received, and storing the confirmation in the memory.
21 . A method as recited in claim 20 , further comprising sending the confirmation to the remote device upon receiving a query therefore from the remote device.
22 . A method as recited in claim 19 , wherein the data received from the remote device correlates to a value stored in a pricing system database.
23 . A method for updating a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based display, comprising:
receiving identification of an item;
receiving updated display information relating to the item; and
sending the updated display information to an RFID device via an air interface, the RFID device being coupled to an electronic display device.
24 . A method as recited in claim 23 , wherein the item is identified based on user-selection of a name of the item from a list displayed on a graphical user interface,
25 . A method as recited in claim 23 , wherein the item is identified based on a scan of a bar code associated with the item.
26 . A method as recited in claim 23 , wherein the item is identified based on an RFID-based code retrieved from an RFID tag associated with the item.
27 . A method as recited in claim 23 , further comprising receiving a confirmation from the RFID device that the data has been received and stored in a memory thereof.
28 . A method as recited in claim 23 , further comprising receiving a confirmation from the RFID device that the data has been successfully transferred to the electronic display device.
29 . A method as recited in claim 23 , wherein the display information correlates to a price of the item, wherein at least a portion of the updated display information is stored in a pricing system database.