20090289774 | SECURE ELECTROMAGNETIC DATA STORAGE ELEMENT HAVING A PLURALITY OF SELECTIVELY DETERMINED SWITCHABLE SECURITY MODES - The apparatus of the present invention are directed to an selectively accessible electromagnetically resonant data storage element (implemented as a resonant tag, card, and/or embedded element), that is selectively responsive to predetermined electromagnetic interrogation thereof, that comprises a novel membrane switch component for enabling a user to selectively enable and/or disable interrogatory access to the resonant component, to protect from unauthorized interrogation thereof (hereinafter “MSRDS element”). The inventive MSRDS element comprises a top circuitry layer, a bottom circuitry layer, which includes a microchip, a plurality of contact pads and an antenna, an insulation spacer layer, a pressure layer retention component, and an optional EM/EMI shielding layer. The membrane switch may be formed through a combination of aligned and configured subcomponents of at least a portion of the element's layers. In one embodiment thereof, the pressure layer retention component may be advantageously utilized to maintain the membrane switch in a pressed down position to thereby enable the MSRDS element to function continuously (i.e., in an Always-ON security mode), until such time that the pressure layer retention component is removed. In this exemplary embodiment of the MSRDS element, for example used in conjunction with consumer products, when a consumer purchases a product that has been provided with the MSRDS element, they remove (e.g., peel off, etc.) the pressure layer retention component to change the element to an Always-OFF security mode, such that the MSRDS element is only accessible to electromagnetic interrogation thereof when the membrane switch is held down. Therefore, the MSRDS element of the present invention provides a greater level of data security advantageously balanced with convenience—it is freely accessible prior to acquisition thereof by a user, and is thereafter easily made secure by the user, who is provided with the capability of readily and selectively enabling access to the data stored therein. | 11-26-2009 |
20090287498 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STREAMLINED REGISTRATION OF ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS OVER A COMMUNICATION NETWORK AND FOR VERIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION RELATED THERETO - The system and method of the present invention provide integrated or embedded components, for electronic (or other) products, each operable to securely store and selectively provide access to, a unique ID (UID) previously assigned to its corresponding specific product, where the UID of each product is registered with one or more particular UID registration centers over at least one communication network, and associated with one or more data records stored in a corresponding database file at the particular UID registration center, the data records being inclusive of information related to the product, the product purchase history, current ownership, etch, and wherein one or more authorized parties may subsequently advantageously utilize at least one UID (and optionally a verifier) to access, verify, edit, transfer, transmit, and/or otherwise manage at least one information item related to the one or more corresponding registered products in their UID registration center database file. Also provided is an optimized process for verifiable transfer of ownership rights between a product's authorized owner and intended recipient, the transfer process being implemented over at least one communication network with graphical user interfaces provided for each party, where the transfer of ownership rights involves association of the product's UID with the receiving party's data record and confirming ownership transfer, and optional transfer of additional product-related information from the former product owner to the current recipient. | 11-19-2009 |