Title: RFID technology innovations: the use of patent data

Authors: Yen-Chun Jim Wu, Tzu-Chin Yen

Addresses: Department of Logistics Management, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, 1 University Road, Yenchao, Kaohsiung County 824, Taiwan. ' Department of Logistics Management, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, 1 University Road, Yenchao, Kaohsiung County 824, Taiwan

Abstract: Study on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has recently gained increasing attention from both industry practitioners and academic researchers. However, despite discussions of its promising future and potential applications of RFID, to date, a surprising dearth of work has been conducted on RFID technology development from the holistic perspective. Patent analysis has long been considered to be an important method for assessing various aspects of technological change. This paper utilises rich, reliable information provided by RFID-related invention patents in the USPTO database to provide an overall picture of RFID innovations.

Keywords: radio frequency identification; RFID patent analysis; technology innovation; auto-ID; automatic identification; patents.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2007.011404

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2007 Vol.10 No.1, pp.106 - 120

Published online: 30 Nov 2006 *

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