BICYCLE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

SYSTEME D'IDENTIFICATION DES BICYCLETTES

English Abstract

The invention described herein is a system to create a
reliable and tamper proof system to identify the owners of bicycles.
The system utilizes RFID tags integrated permanently into a bicycle
that can be scanned electromagnetically to read data contained in
the RFID tag. The RFID tag can be installed in the frame of the
bicycle during manufacture or after market by approved retailers.
The device can not be destroyed in or removed from the bicycle
without rendering its frame worthless. The RFID tag's unique code,
new owner's pertinent information, and bicycle details are entered
into a web enabled secure database at the point of sale.
Widespread adoption of this inventive idea will deter theft by
making bicycles difficult to resell illegally and increase the rates of
stolen bicycle recovery by police.

Claims

CLAIMS
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows: "
1. The integration and installation of a RFID tag or similar
identification device into a bicycle during or after the
manufacturing process,
2. The device as defined in claim 1, in which a unique code or
owner data if desirable or both is retained in its memory and
is used to identify the bicycle by using purpose made RFID
tag scanners also known as readers.
3. A unique code as defined in claim 2, which is recorded in a
secure web enabled database related to the owners
personal contact information, date and place of purchase,
bicycle model and manufacturing and other data as
desirable.
4. The system for managing unique RFID tag related data on a
secure web database for tracing bicycle owners across
policing jurisdictions.
5. Registration of the owner and bicycle information on a
secure web enabled database at the point of sale.
6. The methods and means created through the combination of
claims 1 through 5 to provide bicycle identification services.
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Description

CA 02445323 2003-10-06
DISCLOSURE
General Character of the Invention
The~invention described herein is a system to increase the
efficiency and effectiveness of recovering stolen bicycles using
radio frequency identity tags (RFID tags) integrated inside a
bicycle. A suspected stolen bicycle can be scanned using a RFID
tag reader also referred to as a scanner herein to retrieve a unique
code from the RFiD tag inside the bicycle frame. This unique code
can be used to retrieve the identify of the owner from a secure web
enabled database or this unique code can be compared to an up to
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CA 02445323 2003-10-06
date list of the unique codes of bicycles reported as stolen. This list
can be downloaded on a daily basis to scanners or local third party
databases.
General Nature of Problem Im~oved by the Invention
Traditional bicycle identification systems are unwieldy and
bicycles are rarely recovered because bicycles are not always
registered with the police as their system is not facilitated by point
of sale merchandisers. Police systems are dependant upon
physical descriptions of the bicycle and a unique number detailed
on the underside of the bicycle's bottom bracket. The physical
characteristics and unique number can be altered by thieves. The
identification of bikes using the traditional method is time
consuming and prone to error. Police registration databases are
limited by jurisdiction.
The low success rate of recovering bicycles results in
continued incentives for thieves, financial loss to owners andlor
insurance companies, costly police time, and decreases the
incentive for people to use bicycles as a common form of transport.

CA 02445323 2003-10-06
General Usefulness of Invention
A bicycle purchased with a RFID tag integrated permanently
into a bicycle's frame with a unique code that can be used to
associate the owner with the bicycle allows the following to be
achieved:
Widespread adoption due to ease of on-line registration at
the point of sale using pertinent owner information
associated with the unique RFID tag code that is integral to
the bicycle.
The owner can report their stolen bike online and this
information is immediately available to police across
jurisdictions.
The database can be used by police and retailers in all
jurisdictions
Bicycles can be scanned using handheld or fixed positioned
RFID tag readers and the RFID tag's code can be used to
identify the owner according to the database
The RFID tag can not be removed from the bicycle frame
without damaging the frame thus reducing incentive to steal
bicycles.
An overall reduction in bicycle theft due to higher recovery
rates combined with barriers to the resale of stolen bicycles.
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CA 02445323 2003-10-06
Drawing List
Three drawings labeled Figure 1. Figure 2. and Figure 3.
are included to describe the inventive idea.
Application of Inventive Idea
Installation of the RFID tag to prevent removal or damage to
it is most easily achieved if the RFID tag is installed during
manufacture. In the case of metal alloy bicycle frames the internal
tube surfaces that are easily accessible during manufacture and
before welding are the ideal locations for the RFID tags. In the case
of composite bicycle frames the RFID tag can be included in the
frame wall during manufacture or located as in metal alloy frames.
Installation of the RFID tag post-manufacture as in the case
of a retailer can be achieved via the existing openings in the frame,
namely the head tube, bottom bracket, and Seat Tube as labeled in
Figure 1. and Figure 2.. The variation in tube widths, shapes and
the overall design of the bicycle affects the location and means of
installation of the RFID tag. The embodiment of this idea is shown
in Figure 1. and Figure 2.. Although the bicycle frames shown in
Figure 1., and Figure 2. are radically different designs the access
points numbered 1 through 4 in both figures embodies the idea of
installing the RFID tag post-manufacture into a part of the bicycle to
prevent its removal. The difficult to access location of the RFID tag
and the specifically designed plugs and bonding methods that are
applied prevents removal of the RFID tag.
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CA 02445323 2003-10-06
The exact installation method, bonding and mounting
method, and internal frame location of the RFID tag is dependent
upon the frame type and design. It is typical for frame designs and
materials to change; thus, methods of integrating the RFID tag into
the bicycle must be adapted. The bicycle frames shown in Figure 1
and Figure 2 are only representative of the frames that this idea
applies to.
The RFID tag can be a passive or an active RFID tag either
contained in a protective casing or mounted onto a substrate before
it is attached to the bicycle frame. Rassive RFID tags do not require
an internal power source and active RFID tags do; therefore,
passive RFID tags are preferred for this inventive idea. RFID tags
are available from varied manufacturers and existing designs can
be adapted for this inventive idea. The RFID tags for this
application must have read through metal alloy capability when
scanned. These types of RFID tags exist and are in development
by companies specializing in this technology. It is believed that
these RFID tags will continue to decrease in cost and size allowing
the easier adoption of the inventive idea herein.
Once the RFID tag is integrated into the bicycle it can be
registered at the point of sale using secure access to a web
enabled database. The retailer can scan or use a predefined code
related to the RFID tag to register the owner of the bike by entering
personal information related to the owner, RFID tag code, and the
bike model and description.
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CA 02445323 2003-10-06
The database is accessible to retailers for registration
purposes; to owners for updating personal information and to report
stolen bicycles or transfer ownership; and to Police and other
approved third parties to trace and communicate with owners.
Scanners that decode and read the RFID tag will be distributed to
Police and approved third parties to allow bicycles to be scanned.
Figure 3 embodies the overall system dynamic of the inventive
idea.
RFID tags can be designed to be read by scanners
repeatedly and to be written to once only or repeatedly: the
number of read and writes can be controlled. In the case of the
RFID tag design used in this inventive idea a write once, read many
times RFID tag is preferred. This RFID tag will have a unique code
permanently written to it to avoid the risk of this data being erased
or overwritten. To assure the integrity of the system created by this
inventive idea, the RFID tag data will be encrypted and only
authorized scanners will be programmed to de-encrypt the data
accurately.
Use of this inventive system for a bicycle can be indicated by
attaching a visible label to the exterior of the bicycle.
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Additional Factors Related to this Inventive Idea
The RFID tag can also be used by the manufacturer and
retailer to automate materials management tasks. This amortizes
the RFID tags cost over more applications, which means it could
potentially compete with existing alternate technologies to track
inventory such as barcode labels.
The possibility of widespread adoption of scanners leads to
the possibilities of casing the same RFID tag for tracking bicycle use
on city pathways for traffic control or city planning purposes; city
licensing of bicycles; recreational use or timing and identification of
participants during race events; tracking bicycle usage at secure
bicycle lock ups; recording of facilities usage by bicycles; and
recording the location of a stolen bicycle if it is used within range of
such a scanner.
The system can be used to protect buyers of used bicycles
by recording the transfer of ownership in the database.
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