METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMICALLY AUTHENTICATED IDENTIFICATION

• US 20080252456A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tjebben, Michael O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,912,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/32139 using masks
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/743 Making of internal connections, substrate contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/76838 characterised by the formation and the after-treatment of the conductors etching for patterning the conductors H01L21/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/522 including external interconnections consisting of a multilayer structure of conductive and insulating layers inseparably formed on the semiconductor body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0203 Particular design considerations for integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/105 including field-effect components
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 438/942 Masking

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for visually authenticating an entity which displays a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a locator that determines when a radio frequency (RF) receiver is present within a vicinity. The apparatus also includes a server configured to identify a security element and configured to obtain an information element associated with the RF receiver when the RF receiver is present within the vicinity, as well as a transmitter. The transmitter transmits a first representation of the security element to a display arrangement, a second representation of the security element to the RF receiver, and the information element to the RF receiver. The second representation of the security element is arranged to overlay the information element when the second representation of the security element and the information element are displayed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a locator, the locator being arranged to determine when a radio frequency (RF) receiver is present within a vicinity;

a server, the server configured to identify a security element, the server further configured to obtain an information element associated with the RF receiver when the RF receiver is present within the vicinity; and

a transmitter, the transmitter configured to transmit a first representation of the security element to a display arrangement, the transmitter further configured to transmit a second representation of the security element to the RF receiver and to transmit the information element to the RF receiver, wherein the second representation of the security element is arranged to overlay the information element when the second representation of the security element and the information element are displayed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:

a database arranged to store the information element, wherein the server is configured to obtain the information element by searching the database.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first representation of the security element and the second representation of the security element are the same.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second representation of the security element is associated with a series, and the second representation is an offset representation of the series.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the security element is one selected from the group including a color, a series of colors, a pattern, and an icon.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the server is arranged to encrypt the first representation of the security element and to encrypt the second representation of the security element for transmission by the transmitter.

7. The transmitter of claim 1 wherein the transmitter includes an RF transmitter.

8. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining when a receiver is present within a vicinity;

means for identifying a security element;

means for obtaining an information element associated with the receiver when the receiver is present within the vicinity;

means for transmitting a first representation of the security element to a display arrangement;

means for transmitting a second representation of the security element to the receiver; and

means for transmitting the information element to the receiver, wherein the second representation of the security element is arranged to overlay the information element when the second representation of the security element and the information element are displayed.

9. A method comprising:

determining if a radio frequency identification (RFID) element is present within a vicinity;

identifying a security element associated with the RFID element receiver if it is determined that the RFID element is present within the vicinity, wherein the security element is arranged to enable the RFID element to be authenticated;

identifying an information element associated with the RFID element if it is determined that the RFID element is present within the vicinity;

transmitting a first manifestation of the security element to a first arrangement;

transmitting a second manifestation of the security element to the RFID element; and

transmitting the information element to the RFID element, wherein the second manifestation of the security element is arranged to overlay the information element when the information element is displayed on the RFID element.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first manifestation and the second manifestation are the same.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the second manifestation is associated with a series and the first manifestation is an offset representation of the series.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the series is at least one selected from the group including a series of colors and a series of patterns.

13. The method of claim 9 further including:

encrypting the first manifestation for transmission; and

encrypting the second manifestation for transmission.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the first arrangement includes a display screen, the method further including:

causing the first manifestation to be displayed on the display screen; and

causing the information element to be displayed on the RFID element with the second manifestation overlaid on the information element.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the information element is a digital photograph.

16. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to:

determine if a radio frequency identification (RFID) element is present within a vicinity;

identify a security element associated with the RFID element receiver if it is determined that the RFID element is present within the vicinity, wherein the security element is arranged to enable the RFID element to be authenticated;

identify an information element associated with the RFID element if it is determined that the RFID element is present within the vicinity;

transmit a first manifestation of the security element to a first arrangement;

transmit a second manifestation of the security element to the RFID element; and

transmit the information element to the RFID element, wherein the second manifestation of the security element is arranged to overlay the information element when the information element is displayed on the RFID element.

17. The logic of claim 16 wherein the second manifestation is associated with a series and the first manifestation is an offset representation of the series.

18. The logic of claim 16 further operable to:

encrypt the first manifestation for transmission; and

encrypt the second manifestation for transmission.

19. The logic of claim 16 wherein the first arrangement includes a display screen, the logic further operable to:

cause the first manifestation to be displayed on the display screen; and

cause the information element to be displayed on the RFID element with the second manifestation overlaid on the information element.

20. The logic of claim 19 wherein the information element is a digital photograph.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver, the receiver being arranged to obtain a signal that contains information associated with a first component and information associated with a changeable overlay; and

a display, the display configured to display the first component, the display further being configured to display the changeable overlay over the first component.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the receiver is a radio frequency (RF) receiver and the signal is an RF signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the apparatus is an RF identification (RFID) tag.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the changeable overlay is at least one selected from the group including a series of colors, a series of patterns, and a series of icons.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the signal is encrypted, and the apparatus further includes a decryption element configured to decrypt the signal to extract the first component and the changeable overlay.

26. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the first component is a digital photograph.

27. The apparatus of claim 21 further including a locator device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the locator device is a global positioning system (GPS) transmitter.