Device, System and Method for Determining Authenticity of an Item

• US 20080256600A1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kevenaar, Thomas Andreas Maria, Tuyls, Pim Theo, Schrijen, Geert Jan
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/72 in cryptographic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2121 Chip on media, e.g. a disk or tape with a chip embedded in its case
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G09C 1/00 Apparatus or methods whereby a given sequence of signs, e.g. an intelligible text, is transformed into an unintelligible sequence of signs by transposing the signs or groups of signs or by replacing them by others according to a predetermined system cryptographic typewriters G09C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0861 Generation of secret information including derivation or calculation of cryptographic keys or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/14 using a plurality of keys or algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3218 using proof of knowledge, e.g. Fiat-Shamir, GQ, Schnorr, ornon-interactive zero-knowledge proofs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3278 using physically unclonable functions [PUF]

Abstract

This invention relates to physical uncloneable function (PUF) devices for determining authenticity of an item, systems for determining authenticity of a physical item, and methods for determining authenticity of an item. A PUF pattern of the PUF device is damaged when using the item for the first time.

Claims

1. A physical uncloneable function (PUF) device, comprising a PUF pattern, for determining authenticity of an item, wherein said PUF pattern is arranged to be damaged when using said item for the first time.

2. The PUF device according to claim 1, wherein said PUF pattern is arranged to be mechanically destroyed when using said item for the first time.

3. The PUF device according to claim 1, wherein said PUF pattern is a coating PUF pattern.

4. The PUF device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory,

a processor, and

communication means.

5. The PUF device according to claim 1, wherein said PUF device is formed as a label.

6. The PUF device according to claim 1, wherein said PUF device is an optical PUF device.

7. A system for determining authenticity of a physical item, comprising:

a PUF device comprising a PUF pattern, for determining authenticity of an item wherein said PUF pattern is arranged to be damaged when using said item for the first time and,

a control device arranged for communication with said PUF device.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a database arranged for communication with said control device.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein said PUF device and said control device are arranged in order to communicate via a zero-knowledge(ZK) protocol.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein a commitment value is digitally signed by a trusted party using public key cryptography and stored in connection with said PUF device.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said digitally signed commitment and additional item information is jointly signed with a second digital signature.

12. A method for determining authenticity of an item, comprising:

adding a physical unclonable function (PUF) device comprising a PUF pattern onto said item,

using said PUF device to investigate whether said item is unchanged since said PUF device was added onto said item, and

making said PUF device unusable by damaging said PUF pattern when using said item for the first time.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said damaging comprises destroying said PUF device mechanically when using said item for the first time.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said damaging comprises changing identity of said PUF pattern.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising signing a PUF pattern by a private key, using said PUF comprises verifying said PUF pattern by a public key, and said private and public keys constitute a key pair.