RFID Transceivers and Tags to Simplify Wi-Fi Networking

Yet another patent filing from Apple Inc. reveals the Mac-maker's intentions of simplifying wireless Wi-Fi networking by using RFID transceivers in routers. The patent filing is titled "RFID network arrangement" and documents a system in which a wireless router holds a RFID transceiver.

This transceiver would hold information about the network and its configuration, authentications, communication parameters, SSID info, radio channels, encryption keys and other. The AirPort Extreme Base Station could be such a RFID-equipped router.

The use of the RFID transceiver would allow a user to connect without changing any setups, just by simply approaching within range of the RFID-equipped router. The user's electronic device would have a small hardware patch working as a synchronized RFID tag. The RFID transceiver would recognize this tag and automatically transfer setup information to the RFID tag.

Besides being so simple, this type of connection is particularly useful for electronic devices that are not computers (interfaces that would not allow the configuration of connection settings). Such devices could be iPods, Apple Remotes or various peripheral devices.

The device needn't even be turned on as the RFID transceiver would recognize the device and read data of its tag, then send configuration info to the electronic device. When it's turned on, it will simply read the information from the tag and automatically become connected.

The idea is so Apple-like, simple and elegant. Makes you wonder how come nobody thought of this before. Looks like Apple's got the most innovating research team of all.

The patent filing was submitted to the United States Patent & Trademark on September 6th, 2005, and published for the first time on March 8, 2007.

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