Electronic tag including privacy level information and privacy protection apparatus and method using RFID tag

• US 7,847,694 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Choi, Doo Ho, Lee, Byung Gil, Chung, Kyo Il, Kim, Ho Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US11/484,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20070040654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

An electronic tag including privacy level information, and a privacy protection apparatus and method using the electronic tag are provided. The privacy protection apparatus using an electronic tag includes: an information storing unit storing recognition information of an electronic tag and privacy information on the electronic tags; an information request/response processing unit receiving the recognition information of electronic tags and information on a user that requests information on the electronic tags through a predetermined communication network; a privacy policy managing unit determining whether the privacy information on the electronic tags corresponding to the recognition information of electronic tags is stored in the information storing unit; and an information disclosure determination processing unit, if it is determined that the privacy information on the electronic tags is stored in the information storing unit, comparing the information on the user and a predetermined standard for publishing the privacy information, determining how much of the privacy information on the electronic tags is provided to the user, and providing the determined privacy information to the user.

Claims

1. An electronic tag attached to an object which transmits information stored therein through a predetermined frequency band of a signal, comprising privacy level number information, the electronic tag comprising:

a tag ID region containing recognition information distinguishing the electronic tag from other electronic tags; and

a personal privacy level number region containing a personal information protection level by using a level number designating a personal privacy level number of privacy information, relating to the electronic tag'"'"'s attached object, wherein the personal information protection level number is transmitted over the predetermined wireless frequency band and wired network which is able to transport the personal information protection level number securely to a privacy protection apparatus that determines how much privacy information to provide based on the personal privacy level number information determined by an owner of the object, wherein each time information is requested from the electronic tag attached to the object, the owner of the object is informed of the request.

2. The electronic tag of claim 1, further comprising:

a tag memory storing personal privacy level number information by using the level number.

3. The electronic tag of claim 1, wherein the electronic tag comprises a RFID of the object, wherein the RFID includes the personal information protection level number by personal sensitivity (PIPL-PS) related to a tagged object for personal usage.

4. A privacy protection apparatus using an electronic tag, comprising:

an information storing unit storing personal privacy information related to the electronic tag;

an information request/response processing unit receiving identified recognition information of the electronic tag and information on a user that requests information on the electronic tag through a predetermined privacy protection apparatus system;

a privacy policy managing unit determining whether the personal privacy information on the electronic tag corresponding to the recognition information of the electronic tag is stored in the information storing unit; and

an information disclosure determination processing unit, if it is determined that the personal privacy level information on the electronic tag is stored in the information storing unit, determining how much of the privacy information on the electronic tag to provide based on personal privacy level information designating a personal privacy level of the privacy information in the electronic tag, and providing the determined privacy protection apparatus system'"'"'s personal privacy level information determined by the user'"'"'s privacy sensitivity to the user, wherein an owner of the electronic tag is informed of the request,

wherein the information request/response processing unit receives the recognition information of the electronic tag and information indicating that a new ownership of a product to which the electronic tag is attached is changed or determined by selling the product to which the electronic tag is attached in a store, and updates the personal privacy level information stored in the information storing unit, receives information, wherein the tag update the personal privacy level information from the privacy protection apparatus system, and a predetermined personal privacy preference, necessary for disclosing the privacy information from the changed or determined ownership, and updates the information.