An information access system comprises a reader/writer for continually transmitting an ID request signal at a first frequency and being continuously ready to receive an RF signal at a second frequency, and an active contactless information storage device having a receiver for sensing a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency, and a transmitter for transmitting a response signal at the second frequency when the ID request signal is received. When the receiver senses a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in a particular predetermined period, the receiver receives further the ID request signal, and, in response to the ID request signal, the transmitter transmits a response signal at the second frequency carrying an ID of the storage device stored. In the carrier sensing, the controller causes the receiver to be in an active state and the transmitter to be in an inactive state in the predetermined periods. When the receiver attempts to sense a carrier of the RF signal at the first frequency in a particular predetermined period but detects no carrier, the controller controls the receiver and the transmitter to maintain the inactive state during a sleep period between the particular predetermined period and the subsequent predetermined period.