Enhanced RFID tag authentication

• US 10,121,033 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2018
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
• Inventors: Robshaw, Matthew, Diorio, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Samson, Sara
• Application Number:
  US15/911,730
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10198 setting parameters for the interrogator, e.g. programming parameters and operating modes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response

Abstract

An authentication method includes RFID tags authenticating RFID readers. A tag sends a tag identifier and a reader challenge to a reader in response to one or more commands from the reader. The reader then either derives a response to the reader challenge itself or has a verification authority derive the response. The response may be derived from parameter(s) in the reader challenge, and may be derived using a cryptographic key. The reader then sends the response to the tag along with one or more commands. The tag verifies the response before executing action(s) associated with the command(s).

Claims

1. A method for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system to cause an RFID integrated circuit (IC) having a first parameter to execute an action, the method comprising:

sending a first command to the IC;

receiving from the IC at least an identifier and an encrypted version of the first parameter;

determining a key using the received identifier;

recovering the first parameter from the encrypted version using the key;

sending to the IC a single second command including at least a first portion of the first parameter; and

causing the IC to execute an action defined by at least the second command upon verifying at least the first portion of the first parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending to the IC a single third command including at least a second portion of the first parameter, wherein the first and second portions are different, and wherein:

the action is defined by at least the second and third commands, and

causing the IC to execute the action comprises causing the IC to execute the action upon verifying at least the first and second portions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the action is not defined by the first parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the encrypted version of the first parameter to a verification authority; and

receiving the first portion of the first parameter from the verification authority, wherein the verification authority determines the key and recovers the first parameter from the encrypted version.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a random number to the IC with the first command;

receiving a cryptographic function of the random number from the IC;

verifying an authenticity of the IC using the cryptographic function; and

sending the second command to the IC only if the authenticity of the IC is verified.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the action includes at least one of:

reading from an IC memory;

writing to an IC memory;

adjusting an IC counter value;

adjusting a pointer to a memory location;

adjusting a value of a key; and

causing the IC to change state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the IC to execute the action includes at least one of:

sending the second command;

sending a third command; and

specifying a trigger event.

8. A method for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system to cause an RFID integrated circuit (IC) having a first parameter to execute an action, the method comprising:

sending a first command to the IC;

receiving from the IC at least an identifier and an encrypted version of the first parameter;

determining a key using the received identifier;

recovering the first parameter from the encrypted version using the key;

deriving a second parameter from the first parameter using a deriving operation that includes one of;

setting the second parameter equal to the first parameter;

incorporating the first parameter into a string; and

computing an arithmetic function of at least the first parameter;

sending to the IC a single second command including at least a first portion of the second parameter; and

causing the IC to, upon verifying at least the first portion of the second parameter using the deriving operation and the first parameter, execute an action defined by at least the second command, wherein the first parameter and the second parameter do not define the action.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising sending to the IC a single third command including at least a second portion of the second parameter, wherein the first and second portions are different, and wherein:

the action is defined by at least the second and third commands, and

causing the IC to execute the action comprises causing the IC to execute the action upon verifying at least the first and second portions.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein deriving the second parameter comprises:

sending the encrypted version of the first parameter to a verification authority; and

receiving the derived second parameter from the verification authority, wherein the verification authority determines the key, recovers the first parameter from the encrypted version, and derives the second parameter from the first parameter.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sending a random number to the IC with the first command;

receiving a cryptographic function of the random number from the IC;

verifying an authenticity of the IC using the cryptographic function; and

sending the second command to the IC only if the authenticity of the IC is verified.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein verifying the authenticity of the IC comprises:

sending the cryptographic function to a verification authority; and

receiving an indication of tag authenticity from the verification authority.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the action includes at least one of:

reading from an IC memory;

writing to an IC memory;

adjusting an IC counter value;

adjusting a pointer to a memory location;

adjusting a value of a key; and

causing the IC to change state.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein causing the IC to execute the action includes at least one of:

sending the second command;

sending a third command; and

specifying a trigger event.

15. A method for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system to cause an RFID integrated circuit (IC) having a first parameter to execute an action, the method comprising:

sending a first command to the IC;

receiving from the IC at least an identifier and an encrypted version of the first parameter;

determining a key using the received identifier;

recovering the first parameter from the encrypted version using the key;

deriving a second parameter from the first parameter;

sending to the IC a single second command including at least a portion of the second parameter and defining at least part of an IC action; and

causing the IC to, upon verifying at least the first portion of the second parameter using the deriving operation and the first parameter, execute the IC action, wherein the first parameter and the second parameter do not define the IC action.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising sending to the IC a single third command including at least a second portion of the second parameter, wherein the first and second portions are different, and wherein:

the IC action is defined by at least the second and third commands, and

causing the IC to execute the IC action comprises causing the IC to execute the IC action upon verifying at least the first and second portions.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the key, recovering the first parameter, and deriving the second parameter comprises:

sending the encrypted version of the first parameter to a verification authority; and

receiving the derived second parameter from the verification authority, wherein the verification authority determines the key, recovers the first parameter from the encrypted version, and derives the second parameter from the first parameter.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending a random number to the IC with the first command;

receiving a cryptographic function of the random number from the IC;

verifying an authenticity of the IC using the cryptographic function; and

sending the second command to the IC only if the authenticity of the IC is verified.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the IC action includes at least one of:

reading from an IC memory;

writing to an IC memory;

adjusting an IC counter value;

adjusting a pointer to a memory location;

adjusting a value of a key; and

causing the IC to change state.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein causing the IC to execute the IC action includes at least one of:

sending the second command;

sending a third command; and

specifying a trigger event.