Location-based access to RFID tag information

• US 10,204,245 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2018
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
• Inventors: Diorio, Christopher J., Cooper, Scott A., Sundstrom, Kurt E., Humes, Todd E., Pesavento, Alberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US15/945,788
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 340 101- 105, 340 585, 340 526, 340 81, 4554561
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10257 arrangements for protecting the interrogation against piracy attacks computer security in general G06F21/00; jamming of communication, countermeasures H04K3/00; secret communication H04K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to restricting access to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag information based on location. Access to RFID tag information may be restricted at the reader level, at the requester level, and at the network level. When reader-level restrictions exist, devices may be prevented from inventorying tags and retrieving information from tags. When requester-level restrictions exist, a requester or device may be prevented from receiving tag information from inventoried tags or a network. When network-level restrictions exist, a network may discard or otherwise restrict tag information received from devices.

Claims

1. A method to restrict access to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag information based on reader system location, the method comprising:

determining the reader system is in a first location;

receiving a first request for first tag information while the reader system is in the first location;

determining that the reader system is not authorized to engage tags in the first location;

refraining from responding to the first request with the first tag information;

determining the reader system is in a second location different from the first location;

receiving a second request for second tag information while the reader system is in the second location;

determining that the reader system is authorized to engage tags in the second location;

retrieving the second tag information; and

responding to the second request with the second tag information, wherein at least one of determining that the reader system is not authorized to engage tags in the first location and is authorized to engage tags in the second location comprises;

determining restricted-location information; and

determining whether the reader system is authorized to engage tags based on the restricted-location information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first tag information and the second tag information includes at least one of:

an authenticity of an RFID tag;

information about an item associated with an RFID tag;

a history of the RFID tag; and

a uniform resource locator linked to information about the RFID tag.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the reader system, information about the reader system; and

determining whether the reader system is authorized for the second tag information based on the information about the reader system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information about the reader system includes at least one of a reader system identity, a reader system user, reader system authorization information, and a reader system environment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a location of the reader system based on at least one of a global navigation system, an indoor positioning system, a beacon, an infrastructure tag, and location information from a coupled device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the restricted-location information based on at least one of a beacon and an infrastructure tag associated with at least one of the first location and the second location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reader system includes a mobile device with an RFID reader module.

8. A method to restrict Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag information, the method comprising:

receiving, from a reader system, a first request for information about a first tag;

determining that the reader system is in a first location;

determining that the reader system is not authorized to engage the first tag in the first location;

in response to determining that the reader system is not authorized to engage the first tag in the first location, indicating that the information about the first tag is restricted;

receiving, from the reader system, a second request for information about a second tag;

determining that the reader system is authorized to engage the second tag in the first location; and

in response to determining that the reader system is authorized to engage the second tag in the first location, indicating that access to the information about the second tag is authorized, wherein determining that the reader system is authorized or not is based on at least one of;

receipt of a message sent by a location marker associated with the first location;

restricted-location information;

an identifier for the reader system;

an identifier for a user of the reader system;

a message from a tag; and

a cryptographically secured message from the reader system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein indicating that the information about the first tag is restricted comprises at least one of:

sending a message to the reader system indicating that the information about the first tag is restricted; and

sending a message to the reader system indicating that the reader system is not authorized to engage the first tag in the first location.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein indicating that access to the information about the second tag is authorized comprises sending the information about the second tag to the reader system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the information about the second tag includes at least one of:

an authenticity of the second tag;

information about an item associated with the second tag;

a history of the second tag; and

a uniform resource locator linked to information about the second tag.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein determining that the reader system is in the first location comprises determining a location of the reader system based on at least one of a global navigation system, an indoor positioning system, a beacon, an infrastructure tag, and location information from a coupled device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the reader system includes a mobile device with an RFID reader module.

14. A method for a network to restrict access to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag information based on reader system location, the method comprising:

receiving, at the network from a reader system, a request for tag information;

determining a location of the reader system;

determining restricted-location information;

determining, based on the location and the restricted-location information, whether the reader system is authorized for the tag information; and

if the reader system is authorized for the tag information, responding to the request with the tag information, else refraining from responding to the request with the tag information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the tag information includes at least one of:

an authenticity of an RFID tag;

information about an item associated with the RFID tag;

a history of the RFID tag; and

a uniform resource locator linked to information about the RFID tag.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, at the network from the reader system, information about the reader system; and

determining whether the reader system is authorized for the tag information based on the information about the reader system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the information about the reader system includes at least one of a reader system identity, a reader system user, reader system authorization information, and a reader system environment.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the location of the reader system comprises determining the location based on at least one of a global navigation system, an indoor positioning system, a beacon, an infrastructure tag, and location information from a coupled device.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining the restricted-location information based on at least one of a beacon and an infrastructure tag associated with the location.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the reader system includes a mobile device with an RFID reader module.