A method of calibrating a digital data writing system (20), the digital data writing system comprising a plurality of wireless communication devices (30) configured to write digital data to a first plurality of wireless communication chips (7) provided in a printed sheet (10), the method comprising: providing, to the digital data writing system (20), configuration data relating to the locations of each of the first plurality of wireless communications chips (7); selecting each wireless communication device (30) in turn and identifying, for the selected wireless communication device (30), a corresponding one of the first plurality of wireless communication chips (7) that is located in closest proximity to the location of the wireless communication device (30) within the digital data writing apparatus (20); and determining, for the selected wireless communication device (30), the relative location of the device within the digital data writing system (20).

A method of manufacturing incontinence detection pads that have wireless communication capability includes readying an RFID tag applicator to place RFID tags on backsheet material fed between a pair of nip rollers. The backsheet material has a series of electrode traces thereon. The method also includes operating a nip roller motor to feed the backsheet material between the pair of nip rollers and toward the RFID tag applicator, operating the RFID tag applicator to place each RFID tag across regions of a respective electrode trace of the series of electrode traces, and operating RFID tag test equipment to energize each RFID tag a first time and a second time using wireless emissions and receiving return signals from each RFID tag in response to the wireless emissions.

In some embodiments, system, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful for managing retail product inventory including a plurality of locations each having a corresponding location decay rate associated by a central control system. A central control system comprising a central control circuit coupled with memory storing code that when implemented causes the central control circuit to: determine, at a current time and for each detected first product, a confidence value corresponding to a level of confidence that the first product is still present and within a first threshold area corresponding to a first location where the first product was most recently sensed. The confidence value may decay over time proportional to a first decay period of time.

A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag IC stores an identifier and a check code. The IC determines whether the stored identifier is corrupted by comparing it to the check code. If the stored identifier does not correspond to the check code then the IC may terminate operation or indicate an error. The IC may also reconstruct the correct identifier from the check code.

A system and computer-implemented method for analyzing chip card transactions to identify defective chip cards and/or defective chip readers in need of replacement. Constraints are established to define a subset of card transactions. From a full set of card transactions the subset is identified consisting of each card transaction falling within the constraints and occurring at a merchant having a chip reader. From this subset the unique chip readers are identified, and for each unique chip reader a percentage of fallback transactions is calculated. The percentage of fallback transactions is compared to a maximum value, and if the percentage of fallback transactions exceeds the maximum value, the chip reader is identified as defective. Each defective chip reader is reported to the merchant, along with at least a recommendation to replace the defective chip reader. A similar process may be used to identify defective chip cards.

A system and method for method for testing an energy harvesting tag, comprising: transmitting a harvesting signal to an energy harvesting tag at time T.sub.1; receiving a response signal from the energy harvesting tag at time T.sub.2; determining a capacitor charging time of the energy harvesting tag as a difference between T.sub.2 and T.sub.1; and assigning a pass value to the energy harvesting tag when the capacitor charging time is less than a predetermined threshold amount.

A method of stabilizing a RFID testing procedure for testing a RFID tag includes placing a RFID tag on a surface, placing a textile on the RFID tag and transmitting a first radio frequency signal to the RFID tag, and measuring a first signal from the RFID tag received in response to transmitting the first radio frequency signal to the RFID tag. The exemplary method further includes placing a first spacing object having a first spacing length between the RFID tag and the textile, the first spacing length extending from the RFID tag to the textile, transmitting a second radio frequency signal to the RFID tag, and measuring a second signal from the RFID tag received in response to transmitting the second radio frequency signal to the RFID tag. The method further includes analyzing the first signal and the second signal to determine whether the RFID tag is operational.

A system and computer-implemented method for analyzing chip card transactions to identify defective chip cards and/or defective chip readers in need of replacement. Constraints are established to define a subset of card transactions. From a full set of card transactions the subset is identified consisting of each card transaction falling within the constraints and occurring at a merchant having a chip reader. From this subset the unique chip cards are identified, and for each unique chip card a percentage of fallback transactions is calculated. The percentage of fallback transactions is compared to a maximum value, and if the percentage of fallback transactions exceeds the maximum value, the chip card is identified as defective. Each defective chip card is reported to the card issuer, along with at least a recommendation to replace the defective chip card. A similar process may be used to identify defective chip readers of particular merchants.

According to an embodiment, an IC card comprises a sensor, a storage, and a processor. The sensor obtains information for authentication. The storage stores an authentication list showing one or more authentication methods which use information from the sensor. The processor determines whether if there is an abnormality exists in the sensor. If it determines that the sensor is indeed abnormal, it updates the authentication list accordingly.

Logic may detect a malfunctioning payment interface on a customer's payment instrument. Logic may receive transaction data about at least one transaction performed via a payment instrument associated with a customer. The transaction data may indicate a payment interface of the payment instrument through which the customer conducted the at least one transaction and the payment instrument may comprise one or more payment interfaces. Logic may determine, by a model, based on the transaction data, a probability of a malfunction by at least one interface of the one or more payment interfaces. The model may be trained based on a pattern of transactions associated with malfunctioning payment instruments. Logic may compare the probability of the transaction against a threshold. And logic may determine whether to contact a customer associated with the payment instrument, based comparison of the probability of the transaction against the threshold.