Methods and devices for providing access to identity information stored in an electronic chip in a system where a unique animalis tagged with an electronic chip and provided with a transponder configured to be able to read the electronic chip. The transponder stores the identity read from the chip in local memory and responds to information request messages by broadcasting the read identity as a beacon signal. The information request message is typically received from an authorized device, while the response beacon signal may be received by any device capable of receiving beacon signals. The identity code received as part of the beacon signal can be used by the receiving device to request access to information relating to the unique animal from a remote device. In some embodiments, the remote device may be equipment such as an electronically controlled gate, or a dispenser of animal food.

An article management system according to the present invention includes: a reader antenna (102) including an open-type transmission line terminated in an impedance matched state; an RF tag (104) that is placed at a location that is electromagnetically coupled to the reader antenna (102) and is visible from the reader antenna (102) in a state where a management target article (105) is placed in the vicinity of the RF tag; a management target article arrangement region in which the management target article (105) is placed, the management target article arrangement region being set in a location where the management target article (105) is electromagnetically coupled to a tag antenna of the RF tag (104); and an RFID reader (103) that sends a transmitted signal to the reader antenna (102) and receives a response signal output from the tag antenna via the reader antenna (102).

A method for locating an RFID transponder is proposed. The method comprises generating a plurality of measurement signals based on a magnetic field measured by a plurality of sensors. The method further comprises determining a respective degree of correlation for each of the plurality of measurement signals with a reference signal. The reference signal is based on a data sequence assigned to the RFID transponder. In addition, the method comprises determining a position of the RFID transponder based on the degrees of correlation of the plurality of measurement signals.

Methods and apparatus relating to processing a low-energy data packet are provided. A method includes receiving, using a receiver in a portable wireless device, a low-energy data packet from a low-energy tag. The portable wireless device is stationary. The low-energy data packet includes data identifying the low-energy tag. The method can also include determining at least an approximate distance between the low-energy tag and the portable wireless device. The method can also include transmitting, via an intermediate wireless device and to a central device, the data identifying the low-energy tag, the data identifying the at least approximate distance, or both.

Systems, apparatuses and methods provide for detecting the proximate placement of an external NFC reader to a specific location on a display surface. The display surface can be intended for viewing indicia and enabling interaction with an NFC communication device embedded within the display. A circuit can control an NFC security system that can scan for unauthorized tags affixed to the surface of a display. The NFC security system may be activated by an NFC enabled mobile phone placed proximate to the indicated region for receiving an NFC coded message from the display. An NFC security scan can be performed prior to the mobile phone reading the message from the intended NFC tag in the display. Enabling interactive display modes can allow for making selections indicated on the display or detecting motion gestures across the face of the display.

A commodity sales data processing apparatus includes a registration unit a first antenna positioned to read information from a wireless tag in a first region in which an article is to be placed for registration in a sales transaction. A first tag reader sends article information read from the wireless tag in the first region to the registration unit. A second antenna is positioned to read information from the wireless tag a second region. A second tag reader is connected to second antenna and configured to send article information read from the wireless tag to the registration unit to register the article in the sale transaction, if not already registered, and transmit a sale finished command to the wireless tag when the article has already been registered in the transaction.

A multi-media reader (MMR) apparatus, secure transaction system and methods thereof are provided. The MMR apparatus includes a slot to receive a card and a near field communication (NFC) antenna to communicate with other NFC enabled devices and cards. The system is provided for securely sharing information over a network to complete one or more transactions using the MMR apparatus and a mobile device. The shared information may be separated and reassembled using on or more servers to increase security.

A method of scanning an object may include determining that an object is proximately positioned relative to a scanning volume of a presentation scanner in response to receiving at least one object presence signal prior to scanning a code indicia positioned on the object. At least one object sensory indicator device may be activated in response to determining that the object is proximately positioned relative to the scanning volume so as to indicate that the object is proximate to the scanning volume to a user. A second level of detection and location feedback may be provided for code indicia within the scanning volume.

There is provided an image forming apparatus, including: a feeder mechanism that feeds a sheet in a sheet-feeding direction; a metal-detector antenna capable of detecting an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag on the sheet entirely in the carriage-moving direction over the sheet; a carriage that moves back-and-force in the carriage-moving direction and includes a print head, the print head forming an image on an area of the sheet, the area having passed the metal-detector antenna; an NFC antenna on the carriage, the NFC antenna being capable of communicating with the NFC tag via near field communication; and an NFC writer that writes NFC data in the NFC tag via the NFC antenna.

This printer performs printing on a print medium having an RFID, and comprises: a communication unit which has a communication part movably provided in a predetermined area along the transport surface of the print medium, and communicates with an IC chip of the RFID; and a detection unit which detects the print medium by means of detection light. The detection unit includes: a light emitting part that emits detection light; a light guide member that guides the detection light emitted from the light emitting part to the print medium; and a light receiving part that receives the detection light via the print medium.