Encrypted Challenge-Response Tag Location System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current anti-lost systems using active RFID technology face privacy concerns and non-compliance with GDPR due to centralized server awareness, potential hacking risks, and static identifiers, which are not effectively addressed by existing Bluetooth or passive RFID solutions.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a secret key pairing between a telecommunication terminal and a tag, enabling encrypted challenge communication through a remote server and multiple terminals for precise location determination without revealing the tag's identity, employing UWB for distance measurement and AES encryption to ensure secure and anonymous tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If collaborative object location systems use centralized servers and static identifiers to locate tags, then location functionality is achieved, but privacy concerns arise and GDPR compliance is violated
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically generates challenges and uses dynamic identifiers instead of static ones. The tag responds to unique challenges generated by the terminal, ensuring that each location query uses a different identifier, preventing tracking and protecting privacy while maintaining location accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and removes the centralized server from the location determination process. Location is determined directly between the terminal and tag through encrypted challenge-response communication, eliminating the privacy-violating centralized data collection point while preserving location functionality.
Solution Approach 3:
Encrypted challenge-response messages act as intermediaries between the terminal and tag. These encrypted communications enable location determination without exposing private information to servers or third parties, resolving the contradiction between location accuracy and privacy protection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Bluetooth technology is used for anti-lost systems, then device compatibility is improved, but signal obstruction issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses universal encrypted challenge-response communication that can work across different radio technologies (Bluetooth, UWB, WiFi). The core location mechanism is technology-agnostic, allowing deployment across multiple device types while maintaining reliability through encrypted direct communication.
3Device complexity
If passive RFID technology is used for anti-lost systems, then device simplicity is improved, but battery issues occur at the detection end
Solution Approach 1:
The tag uses periodic advertising messages with encrypted challenge-response authentication. The tag only actively processes and responds to challenges from authenticated terminals, reducing unnecessary battery consumption while maintaining system simplicity through periodic rather than continuous operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a GDPR-compliant, secure, and precise method for locating tagged objects, preventing unauthorized tracking and ensuring only authenticated devices can interact with the tag, maintaining user privacy and adhering to data protection regulations.
Implementation Method 1
steps -iii- and -iv- are executed in UWB in order to compute a proven distance between the second terminal and the tag thanks to time of flight measurement
Implementation Method 2
An AES algorithm is used for encrypting the challenge by the secret key
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a method for locating a tag (11), the tag (11) having been paired during a pairing step for sharing a secret key between the tag (11) and a first telecommunication terminal (10), the method comprising: i- Sending from the first telecommunication terminal (10) to a remote server (12): - a challenge encrypted by the secret key; - an approximate location indication of the tag (11) defining a search zone, ii- Sending from the remote server (12) to at least one second telecommunication terminal (13) present in the search zone the encrypted challenge; iii- When having received a dynamic message from the tag (11), sending from the at least second telecommunication terminal (13) to the tag (11), the encrypted challenge; iv- Decrypting the encrypted challenge in the tag (11) and sending the challenge to the at least second telecommunication terminal (13); v- Sending from the at least second telecommunication terminal (13) to the first telecommunication terminal (10), through the remote server (12), the challenge and the location of the at least second telecommunication terminal (13); vi- Verifying the challenge at the first telecommunication terminal (10).