Radio identification with an additional close-range check

• US 8,451,089 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Hilgers, Achim, Pelzer, Heiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): EUSTAQUIO, CAL J
• Application Number:
  US11/629,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20080157929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,909 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/572.4
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• 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 comprising:

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

reading of the stored data by a reader for identification of the activated transponder;

providing a close-range status signal which indicates a close range of the reader, wherein a close-range detection status is coded;

changing coding for the provided close-range status signal in response to each successful identification of the activated transponder;

detecting the provided close-range status signal by the activated transponder;

indicating the activated transponder is located in the close range of the reader;

enabling data transmission by the activated transponder; and

reading the data stored in the activated transponder by the reader in reaction to the detecting step.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the provided close-range status signal within a predefined time window following the enabling step.

3. A system for radio identification with an additional close-range check, comprising:

a close-range reader configured to contactlessly read data stored in a transponder;

an evaluation unit, which is connected to the reader, configured to identify the transponder on the basis of the read data;

a device configured to provide a close-range status signal which indicates a close range of the reader, wherein the close-range status signal is coded, and the coding for the close-range status signal changes in response to each successful identification of the transponder;

at least one transponder, wherein a control circuit enables data transmission in reaction to detection of the close-range status signal which indicates the transponder is located in the close-range of the reader.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the device configured to provide the close-range status signal activates the reading of the data stored in the transponder by the reader.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the device configured to provide a close-range status signal is integrated in the reader.

6. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the evaluation unit is integrated in the reader.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein there are up to a predefined number of attempts to identify the transponder.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein detecting the close-range status signal corresponds to detecting a signal strength at least as great as a signal strength of the close-range status signal at an outer limit of the close range.

11. The system of claim 3, wherein detecting the close-range status signal corresponds to detecting a signal strength that exceeds a predefined threshold.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein successful identification of the transponder permits access to a motor vehicle.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein operating a door handle activates the close-range reader.

14. The system of claim 3, wherein polarization of a magnetic field for the close-range status signal changes after each successful identification of the transponder.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein horizontal polarization of the magnetic field changes.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein vertical polarization of the magnetic field changes.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein chirality of the polarization of the magnetic field changes.

18. The system of claim 3, wherein successful identification of the transponder immobilizes a motor vehicle.

19. The system of claim 3, wherein successful identification of the transponder transmits an emergency signal to proper authorities.

20. The system of claim 3, wherein the close-range status signal is an ultrasound signal.

21. The system of claim 3, wherein the close-range status signal is an optical signal.

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

an antenna configured to transmit and receive radio signals of a reader;

an integrated circuit configured to control a data transmission; and

a control circuit configured to enable the integrated circuit for the data transmission for reading of the data by the reader in reaction to detection of a close-range status signal which indicates the transponder is located in a close-range of the reader, wherein the close-range status signal is coded and the coding for the close-range status signal changes in response to each successful identification of the transponder.

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

a device configured to transmit and receive radio signals in order to read data of a transponder;

an evaluation unit configured to identify the transponder on the basis of the read data; and

a device configured to provide a close-range status signal which indicates the transponder is located in a close-range of the reader in order to ensure reading of the data stored in the transponder only in the close-range of the reader wherein the close-range status signal is coded and wherein the coding for the close-range status signal changes in response to each successful identification of the transponder and is selected from a group consisting of a magnetic signal and an acoustic signal.