RFID-based scheme for TV receiver control in case of theft

Cargo theft is a major problem in consumer electronics logistics chains, due to additional costs regarding security schemes, which try to avoid attempted robbery or track devices, and financial losses, which happen when criminals succeed in stealing goods. Although typical approaches, such as armed escort and electronic decoys, are somehow effective, they normally need additional support from other departments and do not make devices inoperable. The present article address such a problem and proposes an RFID-based methodology for disabling and enabling TV receivers, during transportation and when final destinations are reached, respectively. Real experiments revealed enhancement opportunities, allowed fine tuning, and finally showed its effectiveness, when individual devices are received, unloaded, and enabled, at costumer sites.