Method and apparatus for implementing security protection over RFID

• US 7,239,240 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hoton How
• Original Assignee: Hoton How
• Inventors: How, Hoton
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US11/058,578
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2408 using ferromagnetic tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip

Abstract

Disclosed is one method and one apparatus which teach improved techniques in equipping an RFID with security measure. Conventionally an RFID is employed basically to replace the usage of an infrared bar-code label thereby to supply electronic or digital signature and identification. In this sense, the traditional RFID technology is in lack of security and an RFID can be tampered with in an arbitrary manner not to cause an alert. This is no longer true if an RFID is endowed with security. In this invention an RFID, either an active or a passive device, has the ability to memorize its original spatial position so that if the position is changed without authority, an alarm signal is generated.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system endowed with security measure on a monitored surface, comprising:

at least one magnetic markers mounted on said monitored surface and setting up a local magnetic environment field pattern;

a passive RFID device comprising;

a microprocessor/memory unit providing logistics and data storage operation when performing identification and security measuring condition;

an antenna unit is configured of communicating with a reader or a scanner;

a power acquiring unit acquires power from said reader or scanner to support the operation of said RFID device and a magnetic sensor unit;

said magnetic sensor unit connected to said RFID device and is characterizing said local magnetic environment field pattern; and

wherein, an alarm signal or signals is generated and transmitted via said antenna unit to said reader or scanner to report a security violation condition, base upon changes in characteristic of said local magnetic environment pattern beyond a set of pre-specified threshold value or values, which said threshold value or values is stored in said microprocessor/memory unit.

2. The RFID system endowed with security measure of claim 1, wherein said power-acquiring unit acquires power from radiation signal transmitted by said reader or a scanner.

3. The RFID system endowed with security measure of claim 1, wherein the RFID system endowed with security measure is disturbed due to unauthorized change in position and/or in orientation occurring between said passive RFID device in reference to said at least one magnetic markers.

4. The RFID system endowed with security measure of claim 1, wherein said data storage operation maneuvered by said microprocessor/memory unit contains dynamic information on said local magnetic environment field pattern, which can be updated when deemed necessary.

5. The RFID system endowed with security measure of claim 1, wherein said logistics operation maneuvered by said microprocessor/memory unit compare said local magnetic environment field pattern with said set of said pre-specified threshold value or values.

6. The RFID system endowed with security measure of claim 1, wherein said local magnetic environment field pattern involves 1D, 2D, or 3D vector-field measurements.

7. A method of obtaining security measure with a radio frequency identification (RFID) system endowed with security measure on a monitored surface, comprising the steps of:

utilizing at least one magnetic markers mounted on said monitored surface and setting up a local magnetic environment field pattern;

providing a passive RFID device comprising a microprocessor/memory unit providing logistics and data storage operation when performing identification and security measuring condition, including an antenna unit is configured of communicating with a reader or a scanner;

powering said passive RFID device and a magnetic sensor unit from said reader or scanner to support the operation of said passive RFID device and said magnetic sensor unit;

characterizing said local magnetic environment field pattern by said magnetic sensor unit connected to said passive RFID device; and

transmitting an alarm signal or signals via said antenna unit to said reader or scanner to report a security violation condition, base upon changes in characteristic of said local magnetic environment field pattern beyond a set of pre-specified threshold value or values, which said threshold value or values is stored in said microprocessor/memory unit.

8. The method of the RFID system endowed with security measure of claim 7, wherein said passive RFID device not requiring a battery to operate.

9. The method of the RFID system endowed with security measure of claim 7, wherein said passive RFID device and said magnetic sensor measure said local magnetic environment field pattern when power is provided by said reader device or said scanner device.

10. The method of the RFID system endowed with security measure of claim 7, wherein said security violation condition results from movement of said passive RFID device in reference to said at least one magnetic markers.

11. The method of the RFID system endowed with security measure of claim 7, wherein said local magnetic environment pattern involves 1D, 2D, or 3D vector-field measurements.