Custom Identifier Generation for RFID Privacy Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
RFID tags can inadvertently share personal information about individuals when they move from one location to another, as unauthorized readers can access the data stored on these tags, potentially revealing sensitive information about the items being carried or worn.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented where an identification tag associated with an item generates a custom identifier by combining access information and transferee identification information, which is then stored on the tag instead of the original item identifier, ensuring that only authorized systems can retrieve the associated information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the original item identifier is stored on the RFID tag for easy access and tracking, then the ease of operation is improved, but the security and privacy protection deteriorates due to unauthorized access by third-party readers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a custom identifier as an intermediary between the original item identifier and the RFID tag storage. This custom identifier acts as a mediator that allows authorized systems to access item information through a controlled mechanism while preventing unauthorized readers from directly accessing sensitive personal information. The custom identifier is stored on the RFID tag instead of the original item identifier, creating a protective layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the identification parameter from the original item identifier to a custom identifier. This parameter change involves generating a new identifier format that combines the item identifier with additional data elements, fundamentally altering how identification works in the system. The custom identifier maintains functionality for authorized access while changing the security parameters to prevent unauthorized access.
2Reliability
If access information is combined with item identifier to create custom identifier for security, then the security is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional data processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-generating the custom identifier at the time of item transfer or registration, rather than creating it on-demand during each access operation. The custom identifier is prepared in advance and stored on the RFID tag, so that during actual use, the system only needs to read and process this pre-computed identifier, significantly reducing the computational complexity during operational phases.
3Productivity
If the item identifier is made accessible for tracking and retrieval purposes, then the productivity is improved, but the loss of information increases due to potential unauthorized data acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The custom identifier serves as an intermediary that enables productive item tracking while preventing unauthorized information acquisition. Authorized systems can track items efficiently by processing the custom identifier through the established decoding mechanism, while unauthorized readers encounter only the obfuscated custom identifier format without access to the underlying personal information, thus maintaining productivity while preventing information loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A solution for managing information using an identification tag is provided. For example, information relating to an item and/or one or more transfers of the item can be managed using an identification tag associated with the item. The identification tag can store and transmit an item identifier, such as an electronic product code (EPC), corresponding to the item, which can be obtained and stored in a data store. Access information for retrieving the item identifier and identification information for a party to the transfer can be used to generate a custom identifier that can be provided for storage on the identification tag in place of the item identifier. The custom identifier can subsequently be used to acquire information on the item and/or the transfer event.