The present invention relates to a linking verification method, and to a linking verification method used for electronic chip ring in pigeon racing. For which, pigeon loft code verification step and pigeon loft code locking step are performed before the linking step for electronic chip ring is performed.

Pigeon racing is a recreation of high class, in which people may derive much pleasure and enjoyment through raising and training pigeons, while the pigeon raising technique can be improved by exchanging experience in pigeon racing. Presently, pigeon racing associations are set up all over the world, and the pigeon racing events are quite numerous and are held every year. The glory of victory and huge sum of prize have attracted large number of pigeon loving people to participate in pigeon racing.

Due to the huge sum of prize involved in pigeon racing, frauds have happened quite often. To achieve fair competitions, the RFID electronic chip rings are utilized, and that can be classified into one-time-use close ring, and repeated-use open ring. For the applications of the close ring, few problems tend to develop, since the close ring tying to the leg of the young pigeon within one week of its birth (hatching out) is difficult to detach.

Yet, in certain countries, for cost saving or environment protection reasons, open rings are utilized, so that once it is used in a pigeon racing, it can be used again in the next racing. Yet, in practice, it is liable to be lost, stolen, or it can be mixed to use interchangeably with other open rings inadvertently, thus leading to irregularities and disputes.

However, conventionally, when it comes to formal pigeon racing, a verification method for accurate and precise ring sealing and linking are used, as shown in Fig. 5, comprising the following steps:

The operation preparation step 301: loading all linked pigeons into the pigeon clock, and this operation is connecting the computer of the Club Manager System to a pigeon clock via the club-antenna reader writer.

The verification and authorization step 302: connecting the pigeon clock to the club-antenna reader writer, to perform verification of the pigeon clock to ascertain it belongs to his Club fancier through using an authorization Tag.

The linking step 303: that includes performing firstly the manual verification step 331 and the electronic chip ring sensing step 332. In the manual verification step 331, the foot ring and the electronic chip ring are checked by visual inspection, to see if they conform to a valid pigeon. While in the manual verification step 331, the identification code of the foot ring is selected from the pigeon clock to operate the linking process, Then the RFID electronic chip ring is placed in the sensing region of the club-antenna reader writer, to read out the data contained in page 4-5 magnetic region of the electronic chip ring, and that is used to link the foot ring and the electronic chip ring for the racing pigeon. Then, the data of the electronic chip ring is updated to the data in the pigeon clock.

The next set linking step 304: performing linking operation of the electronic chip ring 3 for the next racing pigeon 2 until all the electronic chip rings 3 are linked.

The linking data update step 305: connecting the pigeon clock to the computer of the Club Manager System via the club-antenna reader writer, to upload all the linking data in the computer of the Club Manager System.

The linking completion step 306: completing the linking operations of the electronic chip rings for all the racing pigeons.

For the conventional verification method mentioned above, though frauds and irregularities can be reduced by designing a series of precautionary measures; yet pigeon identification code can still be used interchangeably, to cause disputes in the racing results. For this reason, a fair and square method and rule are required to effectively prevent frauds and irregularities from happening.

To overcome the problems and shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a linking verification method used for electronic chip ring in pigeon racing, including the following steps: a preparation step, a verification and authorization step, a linking preceding step, a pigeon loft code verification step, a pigeon loft code locking step, a linking step, a next set linking step, a linking data update step, and a linking completion step. The present invention is characterized in that: before performing the linking step for the foot ring and the electronic chip ring, the pigeon loft code verification step and the pigeon loft code locking step are performed in advance. Namely, firstly, the pigeon loft code in the pigeon clock and the verification region data in the RFID electronic chip ring are read out, to compare if they are identical. If the answer is affirmative, that means it has passed successfully the pigeon loft code verification, such that linking is allowed and performed. Otherwise, the verification region data is replaced with the pigeon loft code, and then it is locked. In case locking is allowed, that means linking is performed the first time for the electronic chip ring, the verification is successful and linking is allowed and performed. In case locking is not allowed, that means verification is not successful and linking is not allowed to be performed. By doing so, the conventional linking steps for the foot ring and the electronic chip ring are not affected, while a simple and effective verification mechanism is added in between, to avoid the mixed use of the electronic chip rings between the different lofts, and the possible ensuing disputes, in this approach, the pigeon racing can be fair and square, while improving the services of the pigeon association to the pigeon owners.

Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed descriptions given hereinafter. However, the detailed descriptions and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed descriptions.

The related drawings about the detailed descriptions of the present invention to be made later are described briefly as follows, in which:

• Fig. 1 is a flow chart for the steps of linking verification method used for electronic chip ring in pigeon racing according to the present invention;
• Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram for a configuration of a racing pigeon having a foot ring, an electronic chip ring, a club-antenna reader writer, and a pigeon clock according to the present invention;
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an open ring type electronic chip ring;
• Fig. 4 is a flow chart for the steps of determining if linking can be performed; and
• Fig. 5 is a flow chart for the steps of linking method used for electronic chip ring in pigeon racing according to the Prior Art.

The purpose, construction, features, functions and advantages of the present invention can be appreciated and understood more thoroughly through the following detailed descriptions with reference to the attached drawings.

Refer to Figs. 1 to 5 respectively for a flow chart for the steps of linking verification method used for electronic chip ring in pigeon racing according to the present invention; a schematic diagram for a configuration of a racing pigeon having a foot ring , an electronic chip ring, a cub-antenna reader writer, and a pigeon clock according to the present invention; a perspective view of an open ring type electronic chip ring; a flow chart for the steps of determining if linking can be performed; and a flow chart for the steps of linking method used for electronic chip ring in pigeon racing according to the Prior Art.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the present invention provides linking verification method used for electronic chip ring in pigeon racing, including the following steps: a preparation step 301, a verification and authorization step 302, a linking preceding step 101, a pigeon loft code verification step 102, a pigeon loft code locking step 103, a linking step 303, a next set linking step 304, a linking data update step 305, and a linking completion step 306.

The present invention is characterized in that: before performing the linking step 303 for the foot ring 31 and the electronic chip ring 3, the pigeon loft code verification step 102 and the pigeon loft code locking step 103 are performed in advance. Namely, firstly, the pigeon loft code in the pigeon clock 1 and the verification region data in the RFID electronic chip ring 3 of the racing pigeon 2 are read out, to compare if they are identical. If the answer is affirmative, that means it has passed successfully the pigeon loft code verification, such that linking is allowed and performed. Otherwise, the verification region data is replaced with the pigeon loft code, and then it is locked. In case locking is allowed, that means linking is performed the first time for the electronic chip ring 3, the verification is successful and linking is allowed and performed. In case locking is not allowed, that means verification is not successful and linking is not allowed to be performed.

By doing so, the conventional linking for the foot ring 31 and the electronic chip ring 3 is not affected, while a simple and effective verification mechanism is added in between, to avoid the mixed use of the electronic chip rings 3 between the racing pigeons 2, and the possible ensuing disputes. In this approach, the pigeon racing can be fair and square, while improving the services of the pigeon association to the pigeon owners.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic chip (not shown) used in the electronic chip rings 3 can be HTC IC H56 or HTS IC H48 of PHILLIPS Corporation. In the linking step 303, data in the pages 4-5 of magnetic region for the electronic chip of the electronic chip ring 3 is read out through the club-antenna reader writer 4; while the verification region data of the electronic chip rings 3 is the data in pages 6-7 of magnetic region for the electronic chip of the electronic chip ring 3.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the various steps of the present invention are explained in detail as follows:

The operation preparation step 301: loading all the data of the foot ring 31 for linked racing pigeons 2 into the pigeon clock 1, and connecting the computer of the Club Manager System (not shown) to a pigeon clock 1 via a club-antenna reader writer 4.

The verification and authorization step 302: connecting the pigeon clock 1 to the club-antenna reader writer 4, to perform verification of the pigeon clock 1 to ascertain it belongs to this pigeon club fancier through using an authorization Tag.

The linking preceding step 101: it mainly includes the manual verification step 331 and the electronic chip ring sensing step 332. In the manual verification step 331, the foot ring and the electronic chip ring are checked by visual inspection, to see if they conform to a valid pigeon of the pigeon racing. While in the electronic chip ring sensing step 332, the identification code of the foot ring 31 is selected from the pigeon clock 1, to check if the foot ring code does exist in the pigeon clock 1. Then, the RFID electronic chip ring 3 is placed in the sensing region of the club-antenna reader writer 4 to be sensed.

The pigeon loft code verification step 102: in which the pigeon loft code of the pigeon clock 1, and the verification region data in pages 6-7 for the electronic chip ring 3 of the racing pigeon 2 are read respectively, to compare and check if the pigeon loft code and the verification region data are identical. If the answer is affirmative, then perform the subsequent linking step 303, otherwise, perform the pigeon loft code locking step 103.

The pigeon loft code locking step 103: replacing the verification region data in pages 6-7 with the pigeon loft code, and then lock the newly updated verification region data in pages 6-7. In case locking is allowed and successful, that means that linking is performed for the first time for the electronic chip ring 3, the verification is successful and linking is allowed and performed. In case the locking is not allowed, that means the verification region data in pages 6-7 has already locked and thus it can not be changed (namely, it is an OTP: One Time Process). Meanwhile, that means the pigeon loft does not belong to the original owner of the electronic chip ring 3. Therefore, the linking step 303 is not allowed to perform.

Through the simple and effective verification mechanism mentioned above, only the electronic chip rings 3 passing the verification successfully can join in the linking step 303. In the linking step 303, the data in pages 4-5 of the electronic chip ring 3 is read out through the club-antenna reader writer 4, and that is used to link the electronic chip rings 3 with the foot ring 31. Then, the linking data of the electronic chip rings 3 is updated into the record of the pigeon clock 1.

The next set linking step 304: performing linking operation of the electronic chip ring 3 for the next racing pigeon 2 until all the electronic chip rings 3 of this loft are linked.

The linking data update step 305: connecting the pigeon clock 1 to the computer of the Club Manager System (not shown) via the club-zntenna reader writer 4, to update all the linking data in the computer of the Club Manager System.

The linking completion step 306: completing the linking operations of the electronic chip rings 3 for all the racing pigeons 2 of this loft.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the pigeon loft code verification step 102 and the pigeon loft code locking step 103 further includes the following steps:

The step 201: read out the pigeon loft code. The step 202: read out the verification region data of the electronic chip ring 3.

The step 203: determine if the verification region data of the electronic chip rings 3 and the pigeon loft code are identical. In case the answer is affirmative, proceed to step 204, otherwise, proceed to the step 205.

The step 204: perform linking for the foot ring 31 and the electronic chip ring 3.

The step 205: replace the verification region data of the electronic chip ring 3 with the pigeon loft code, then have it locked.

The step 206: determine if the locking is successful, and in case the answer is affirmative, proceed to step 204, otherwise proceed to step 207.

The step 207: verification fails, linking is not allowed.

The step 208: determine if all the electronic chip rings 3 of the racing pigeons 2 are processed. In case the answer is affirmative, proceed to step 305 to perform linking data update, otherwise proceed to step 201, perform linking of the electronic chip ring 3 for the next racing pigeon 2.

Summing up the above, the principle of the present invention can be summarized as follows. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, before performing the linking step 303 for the foot ring 31 and the electronic chip ring 3, the pigeon loft code verification step 102 and the pigeon loft code locking step 103 are performed in advance. Namely, firstly, the pigeon loft code in the pigeon clock 1 and the verification region data in the RFID electronic chip ring 3 are read out, to compare if they are identical. If the answer is affirmative, that means it has successfully passed the pigeon loft code verification, such that linking is allowed and performed. Otherwise, the verification region data is replaced with the pigeon loft code, and then it is locked. In case locking is allowed, that means linking is performed the first time for the electronic chip ring 3, the verification is successful and linking is allowed and performed. In case locking is not allowed, that means verification is not successful and linking is not allowed to be performed. By doing so, the conventional linking for the foot ring 31 and the electronic chip ring 3 is not affected, while a simple and effective verification mechanism is added in between, to avoid the mixed use of the electronic chip rings 3 between the different lofts, and the possible ensuing disputes, in this approach, the pigeon racing can be fair and square, while improving the services of the pigeon association to the pigeon owners.

The above detailed description of the preferred embodiment is intended to describe more clearly the characteristics and spirit of the present invention. However, the preferred embodiments disclosed above are not intended to be any restrictions to the scope of the present invention. Conversely, its purpose is to include the various changes and equivalent arrangements which are within the scope of the appended claims.