SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURING RFID TAGS
First Claim
1. A method for generating and using a consumable RFID tag in a system including a plurality of RFID tag readers communicatively coupled in a network, wherein the tag includes rewritable tag memory, the method comprising:
- digitally signing tag data, including a sequence number, a UID, and an ownership ID, to generate signed content;
storing the signed content in the tag memory; and
each time the tag is read by one of the readers in the network;
validating signature data, including the sequence number, stored in the tag memory, by comparing signed content stored in the tag with signature data stored in said one of the readers;
storing a new sequence number in the tag memory;
signing contents of the tag memory, including the new sequence number and the ownership ID, with a key, to generate new signed content; and
writing the new signed content to the tag memory.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for generating and using a consumable RFID tag in a system including a plurality of RFID tag readers communicatively coupled in a network in which the tag includes rewritable tag memory. Data is stored in the tag memory, including a sequence number, a UID, and an ownership ID. The data is signed with a key to generate signed content. Each time the tag is read by one of the readers in the network, the signature and sequence number in the tag memory are validated by comparing signed content stored in the tag with signature data stored in said one of the readers; a new sequence number is stored in the tag memory; contents of the tag memory, including the new sequence number and the ownership ID, are signed with a key to generate new signed content; and the new signed content is written to the tag memory.
113 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method for generating and using a consumable RFID tag in a system including a plurality of RFID tag readers communicatively coupled in a network, wherein the tag includes rewritable tag memory, the method comprising:
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digitally signing tag data, including a sequence number, a UID, and an ownership ID, to generate signed content;
storing the signed content in the tag memory; and
each time the tag is read by one of the readers in the network;
validating signature data, including the sequence number, stored in the tag memory, by comparing signed content stored in the tag with signature data stored in said one of the readers;
storing a new sequence number in the tag memory;
signing contents of the tag memory, including the new sequence number and the ownership ID, with a key, to generate new signed content; and
writing the new signed content to the tag memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for generating and using a consumable RFID tag in a system including a plurality of RFID tag readers communicatively coupled in a network, wherein the tag includes rewritable tag memory, the method comprising:
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digitally signing data, including a sequence number and an ownership ID, which together comprise a state indicator, and a UID, in the tag memory to generate signed content;
storing the signed content in the tag memory;
wherein the steps of signing and storing are performed by a provisioning reader in the network;
transferring tag ownership from the provisioning reader to another reader in the network; and
each time the tag is read by one of the readers in the network;
if the tag is not owned by a present reader currently reading the tag, then transferring tag ownership to the present reader from an owning reader having present ownership of the tag;
validating signature data, including the sequence number stored in the tag memory, by comparing the signed content presently stored in the tag with signature data stored in the present reader;
storing a new sequence number in the tag memory;
signing contents of tag memory, including the new sequence number and the ownership ID, with a key, to generate new signed content; and
writing the new signed content to the tag memory;
wherein the steps of validating, storing the new sequence number, signing the contents, and writing are performed by the present reader. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for generating a consumable RFID tag in a system including a plurality of RFID tag readers communicatively coupled in a network, wherein the tag includes rewritable tag memory, the method comprising:
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digitally signing tag data, including a sequence number, a UID, and an ownership ID, to generate signed content; and
storing the signed content in the tag memory;
wherein the steps of storing and signing are performed by one of the readers in the network. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A data structure for a consumable RFID tag, the data structure comprising:
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a key signature field including a sequence number field and an ownership ID field; and
at least one data field;
wherein;
data stored in the sequence number field and in the ownership ID field are digitally encrypted; and
ownership of the tag is indicated by the ownership ID field, wherein said ownership indicates that one specific tag reader is capable of reading information stored on the tag. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A consumable RFID tag including rewritable memory in which is stored information comprising:
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a sequence number field;
an ownership ID field; and
at least one data field;
wherein;
data stored in the sequence number field and in the sequence number field are encrypted using a digital key; and
ownership of the tag is indicated by the ownership ID field, wherein at any given time, said ownership indicates that one specific tag reader is capable of reading information stored on the tag. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for generating and using a consumable RFID tag in a system including at least one RFID tag reader, wherein the tag includes rewritable tag memory, the method comprising:
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storing, in the tag memory, indicia of a number of available uses of the tag; and
implementing a product recall by setting the indicia to zero, regardless of a present indication that the number of available uses is non-zero. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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Specification