Abstract: A method for providing electronic access to products includes receiving a request from a user at a server for a first set of products, creating a corresponding Voucher, transmitting the Voucher to a first recipient, in response to a request transmitting the First Ticket to a communications device, receiving a request initiated by the first recipient at the server for a second set of products less than or coextensive with the first set for delivery to a second recipient, creating at the server a corresponding Voucher, transmitting that Voucher to the second recipient, in response to a request transmitting the Second Ticket to a communications device, receiving at a reader site the Second Ticket, determining that the Second Ticket is valid, and in response to the determining, providing the second set of products.

Abstract: Providing electronic access to one or more elements of a request for goods and or services includes receiving at a server the request from a user, creating at least one Voucher including a unique identification corresponding to the request, storing, and transmitting the Voucher to a recipient, subsequently receiving at the server a request including the unique identification from a Mobile Computing Device (MCD) for a First Ticket, and in response transmitting the First Ticket including the identification value (or something based thereon) corresponding to the Voucher and the request to the MCD, transmitting a Second Ticket corresponding to the Voucher and the request to the MCD, the Second Ticket replacing the First Ticket and including a second identification value which may be the unique identification (or something based thereon), receiving at the reader site the Second Ticket, and, if verified, providing one or more elements of the request.

Abstract: A method for providing electronic access to products includes receiving a request from a user at a server for a first set of products, creating a corresponding Voucher, transmitting the Voucher to a first recipient, in response to a request transmitting the First Ticket to a communications device, receiving a request initiated by the first recipient at the server for a second set of products less than or coextensive with the first set for delivery to a second recipient, creating at the server a corresponding Voucher, transmitting that Voucher to the second recipient, in response to a request transmitting the Second Ticket to a communications device, receiving at a reader site the Second Ticket, determining that the Second Ticket is valid, and in response to the determining, providing the second set of products.

Abstract: In a system comprising a server, reader site, and a mobile computing device (MCD), a method for providing electronic access to products includes receiving a request initiated by a user at the server for a set of products (an Order), creating at the server at least one Voucher corresponding to the Order, the Voucher including a unique identification, storing the Voucher, transmitting the Voucher to a recipient, subsequently receiving at the server a request from the MCD for a ticket, the request including at least the unique identification contained in the Voucher, in response to the subsequently receiving, transmitting a Ticket corresponding to the Voucher and the Order to the MCD, receiving at the reader site the Ticket, determining that the Ticket is valid, and in response to the determining, providing the products.

Abstract: Power consumption management for a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system. The RF system includes an RFID device and a host. The RFID reader includes an RFID controller, an excitation signal transmitter, a response signal receiver, an optional RFID device detector, a host interface input/output, and a user interface. The method includes establishing a first power consumption level for the RFID reader, establishing a second power consumption level that is different from the first, and changing between the first level and the second level. The difference between the first level and the second level is derived from at least one technique for power consumption management. A plurality of techniques are presented. Among the potential benefits to reduced power consumption are increased energy efficiency and reduced radiated emissions.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating with contactless IC cards of multiple protocols includes transmitting an IC card polling signal and receiving a data transmission from an IC card. A processor is configured to determine whether or not a data transmission is received in response to the polling signal. The processor is configured to decode the data transmission in real-time if it is received in response to the polling signal. The processor is otherwise configured to first store the received data transmission in a memory and then decode the stored data transmission.

Abstract: An access control system and methods utilizing secure Wiegand communication interface are disclosed. In one example embodiment, an access control system includes an a plurality of RFID cards, a RFID reader and an access controller. The RFID reader collects user identification information communicated thereto via RFID cards and forwards it to the remote access controller. The access controller process the received identification information and determines whether to grant RFID card holder access to a restricted area or service. The RFID reader communicates with the access controller via a secure Wiegand interfaces, which utilized RFID reader identifiers, message sequence numbers and data encryption techniques to secure data transmissions between the RFID reader and access controller from various types of attacks.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating with contactless IC cards of multiple protocols includes transmitting an IC card polling signal and receiving a data transmission from an IC card. A processor is configured to determine whether or not a data transmission is received in response to the polling signal. The processor is configured to decode the data transmission in real-time if it is received in response to the polling signal. The processor is otherwise configured to first store the received data transmission in a memory and then decode the stored data transmission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to detect the proximity of an RFID device based on observing a change in effective inductance. The RFID reader includes an excitation signal generator and a resonant filter that combined are capable of generating and transmitting a detection signal, an RFID device detector for measuring a detector parameter indicative of the change in effective inductance, and a detection signal receiver for determining whether an RFID device is present. The method includes awakening from a detection sleep state at a preselected time, generating and transmitting a detection signal, measuring at least one detector parameter indicative of the change in effective inductance, and determining whether the RFID device is present. When the RFID device is not present, the method returns to the detection sleep state and, when the RFID device is present, the method exits the detection sleep state.

Abstract: A new data format used in a communication system employing binary phase shift keying modulation and demodulation is described. The data format provides for a frame comprising a plurality of variable data bits and synchronization bits. The number of variable data bits in the data format of the present invention is more than the number of synchronization bits. The data format preferably includes a CRC field for error detection. In order to uniquely decode the information contained in the frame, the inverse of frame should not be a valid frame. A method for detecting invalid frames is also disclosed.