Dynamic Tag Identifier for Supply Chain Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tag duplication in RFID and optical systems used for inventory management and authentication poses challenges in verifying the authenticity of items, as existing technologies lack robust protection against duplication, leading to difficulties in tracking and tracing valuable products.
Innovation Solution
The system dynamically modifies a numerical value, referred to as the ChainEnd Value, at each waypoint in a supply chain path, using cryptographic methods to create a unique encoding of all waypoints, ensuring that a copied tag becomes invalid when the original is updated, thereby preventing counterfeit items from traversing the entire supply chain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If RFID labels are used for tracking and authentication, then item tracking capability is improved, but vulnerability to tag duplication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the tag identifier changeable rather than fixed. The TID is dynamically updated at each supply chain waypoint through cryptographic operations, transforming from a static identification value to a dynamic one that evolves with the supply chain journey. This prevents duplication because the current TID cannot be predicted or copied in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing cryptographic key pairs and initializing the TID before the supply chain process begins. The private key is securely stored in the tag, and the TID is pre-set to a known value that can be verified. This preliminary setup enables subsequent dynamic updates without requiring complex authentication protocols at each step.
2Reliability
If the TID is made changeable to prevent duplication, then authentication security is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the tag to autonomously perform cryptographic operations using its internally stored private key. The tag can independently sign its TID changes and update its own identifier without requiring external authentication or complex system intervention. This self-service capability simplifies the overall system architecture by removing the need for centralized authentication servers for each TID change.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a supply chain participant (waypoint) as a mediator between the tag and the authentication system. The waypoint verifies the tag's presentation and initiates the TID change process, but the actual cryptographic operations and TID updates are performed by the tag itself using its private key, reducing the complexity burden on the verification system.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for facilitating tag authenticity validation. The methods comprise: detecting a tag's arrival/presence at a waypoint along a supply chain path; obtaining a ChainStart Value and a first ChainEnd Value from the tag; generating a public key and a private key; transforming the first ChainEnd Value into a second ChainEnd Value using the private key; storing in a data store at least a hash of the ChainStart Value, a hash of the second ChainEnd Value, and the public key as a transaction record entry; causing the first ChainEnd Value of the tag to be replaced with the second ChainEnd Value; and validating the tag's authenticity at a second waypoint along the supply chain path using at least the ChainStart Value, the second ChainEnd Value, and the transaction record entry comprising the hash of the ChainStart Value, a hash of the first ChainEnd Value and the public key.