Radio Identification With an Additional Close-Range Check

• US 20080157929A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Hilgers, Achim, Pelzer, Heiko
• Granted Patent: US 8,451,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00468 after n uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00555 comprising means to detect or avoid relay attacks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0846 using time-dependent-passwords, e.g. periodically changing passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/122 Counter-measures against attacks; Protection against rogue devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/61 Time-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system for radio identification with an additional close-range check, which prevent misuse of a radio identification system and increase the security of radio identification. In particular, so-called relay attacks are to be largely prevented in passive entry systems. The method according to the invention firstly provides for activation of a transponder (S1) for reading of its data. After this step, an additional close-range status signal is provided (S2) which indicates the close range of a reader. Once the close-range status signal has been detected by a transponder (S3), data transmission for reading of the data stored in the transponder by the reader is possibly enabled in reaction to the detection of the close-range status signal (S4) and the data can be read by the reader for identification of the transponder (S5). The system according to the invention for radio identification with an additional close-range check consists of a reader for reading the data stored in a transponder and of an evaluation unit which is connected to the reader for identifying the transponder on the basis of the read data.

Claims

1. A method for radio identification with an additional close-range check, in which the following steps are carried out:

activation of a transponder for the contactless reading of data stored in the transponder;

reading of the data by a reader for identification of the transponder wherein the following further steps are provided;

provision of a close-range status signal which indicates the close range of the reader;

detection of the close-range status signal by the transponder;

enabling of data transmission by the transponder for reading of the data stored in the transponder by the reader in reaction to the detection of the close-range status signal.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the close-range status signal has to be detected within a predefined time window following activation (S1) of the transponder.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the close-range status signal is coded.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coding for the close-range status signal is changed after each successful identification.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein only a predefined number of failed attempts is provided for the radio identification.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the close-range status signal is a magnetic and/or optical and/or acoustic signal.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the close-range status signal is a variable magnetic and/or optical and/or acoustic signal.

8. A system for radio identification with an additional close-range check, consisting of:

a reader for the contactless reading of data stored in a transponder;

an evaluation unit which is connected to the reader for identifying the transponder on the basis of the read data;

a device for providing a close-range status signal which indicates the close range of the reader;

at least one transponder, wherein the transponder is usually blocked against data transmission for reading of its data by the reader and wherein the transponder has a control circuit which enables data transmission in reaction to detection of the close-range status signal.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the device for providing the close-range status signal is arranged in the vicinity of an activation device for activating the reading of the data stored in the transponder by the reader.

10. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the device for providing a close-range status signal is integrated in the reader.

11. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the evaluation unit is integrated in the reader.

12. A transponder for a radio identification system with an additional close-range check, comprising

an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio signals of the reader;

an integrated circuit for controlling the data transmission, wherein the integrated circuit is usually blocked against data transmission; and

a control circuit which is connected to the integrated circuit in order to enable the integrated circuit for data transmission for reading of the data by the reader in reaction to detection of a close-range status signal.

13. A reader for a radio identification system with an additional close-range check, which comprises:

a device for transmitting and receiving radio signals in order to read the data of a transponder;

an evaluation unit for identifying the transponder on the basis of the read data; and

a device for providing a close-range status signal in order to ensure reading of the data stored in the transponder only in close range of the reader.