WEARABLE ACCESS AND TRACKING SYSTEM FOR RESERVED SEATING EVENTS
A wearable RFID band is provided for use at a reserved seating event. The band has a band element worn by a user, and an RFID tag printed on the band element. The RFID tag has stored data representing a UserID of the tag, seat information of the associated user, and a stored funds balance preloaded by the user to an associated account. The tag is programmed for activating an otherwise inactive terminal upon presentation of the tag in a first tap, and communicating the UserID to the terminal for a first validation against valid UserIDs and associated user data stored on a server. The tag is further programmed, following a transaction request and a second tap of the tag at the RFID reader, for triggering a second validation that the UserID at the second tap matches the UserID of the first tap. The transaction request is granted only if both of the validations are positive.
1 . A wearable RFID band for use at an event in a reserved seating interrogation zone, the zone containing terminals with RFID readers, the band comprising:
a band element worn by a user; and
an RFID tag printed on the band element having stored data representing a UserID of the tag, seat information of the associated user, and a stored funds balance preloaded by the user to an associated account;
the tag being programmed for activating an otherwise inactive one of said terminals upon presentation of the tag to the RFID reader of said terminal in a first tap, and communicating the UserID to the terminal for a first validation against valid UserIDs and associated user data stored on a server;
the tag being further programmed, following a transaction request and a second tap of the tag at the RFID reader, for triggering a second validation that the UserID at the second tap matches the UserID of the first tap;
wherein the transaction request is granted only if both of the validations are positive.
2 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the transaction request is a gate admission.
3 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the transaction request is a zone admission.
4 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the transaction request is a purchase of a good or service for a transaction amount wherein grant of the request entails a decrease of the stored funds balance by the transaction amount.
5 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the transaction request is a top-up transaction by a transaction amount wherein grant of the request entails an increase of the stored funds balance by the transaction amount.
6 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the transaction request is a refund transaction by a transaction amount wherein grant of the request entails an increase of the stored funds balance by the transaction amount.
7 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the band element is configured to be worn around a body part of the user.
8 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the band element is a wristband, headband, ankleband, ring, necklace, fob, tag, badge, eyewear, or lanyard.
9 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the band element is a disposable element.
10 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is printable on the band element at the event.
11 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is an ICODE SLI2 15693 tag.
12 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag communicates with the readers using an Active Reader Passive Tag (ARPT) system.
13 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the tag is further programmed to deactivate or hibernate after a predetermined time, or following the event.
14 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the stored data further comprises at least one credential.
15 . The wearable RFID band of claim 14 , wherein the credential is an age or date of birth credential.
16 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the interrogation zone is in a stadium, arena, concert hall, theatre, or auditorium.
17 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the tag is further programmed to cause the reader to communicate a timestamp associated with the transaction request when granted.
18 . The wearable RFID band of claim 17 , wherein a timestamped record of all transaction requests is stored associated with the user.
19 . The wearable RFID band of claim 17 , wherein a timestamped record of all transaction requests is stored associated with the event.
20 . The wearable RFID band of claim 1 , wherein the stored data also includes at least one CouponID associated with a coupon for a good or service having a ProductID, the coupon being retrieved and automatically processed when the user's transaction request for a purchase associated with the ProductID is granted.
21 . The wearable RFID band of claim 20 , wherein the coupon is selected for the user based on associated user data stored on the server.