Mobile Terminal RFID Interoperability via Server Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current RFID tag technologies in mobile terminals are limited in their ability to communicate with a variety of reader/writer devices, requiring pre-registration of identification information and authentication, which restricts their versatility and interoperability across different systems and carriers, leading to limited use and high equipment costs.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal with an RFID tag function that activates a specific application program upon receiving a polling command, eliminating the need for identification or authentication processes between the RFID tag and reader/writer devices, allowing communication with multiple types of reader/writer devices without pre-registration, using a general-purpose reader/writer device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pre-registration of identification information and authentication is implemented between RFID tag and reader/writer device, then communication security is improved, but device complexity and interoperability are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication securityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that manages authentication information centrally. Instead of requiring pre-registration between each RFID tag and reader/writer device pair, the server acts as a mediator that handles authentication requests, storing and verifying identification information. This reduces device complexity while maintaining security through centralized management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the authentication function from the reader/writer device and relocates it to a separate server system. The reader/writer device only needs to communicate with the server for authentication purposes, rather than maintaining complex pre-registration databases locally. This separation reduces device complexity while preserving security through dedicated authentication processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If pre-registration of identification information is required for each reader/writer device, then communication security is improved, but adaptability and versatility are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication securityVSAvoidinteroperability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal authentication system where a single RFID tag can communicate with multiple types of reader/writer devices through a common server interface. The server handles different authentication protocols and device types uniformly, allowing the RFID tag to work across diverse systems without device-specific pre-registration, thereby improving interoperability while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as a universal intermediary that translates between different reader/writer device protocols and the RFID tag authentication mechanism. This mediation layer enables the RFID tag to interact with various device types without requiring separate pre-registration for each device, enhancing adaptability and versatility across different systems and carriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple RFID tags with different identification information are used for different reader/writer devices, then communication compatibility is improved, but device complexity and user operation difficulty are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication compatibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the authentication function into a separate server system, allowing a single RFID tag to maintain one identification information while the server handles multiple authentication protocols and device types. This segmentation eliminates the need for users to manage multiple RFID tags with different identification information, reducing device complexity while maintaining communication compatibility across different reader/writer devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If pre-registration and authentication processes are implemented, then communication security is improved, but communication time and user convenience are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication securityVSAvoidcommunication time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary authentication by having the server pre-process authentication requests and maintain ready-state verification information. When an RFID tag approaches a reader/writer device, the server can quickly verify authentication status without requiring lengthy real-time authentication sequences, thereby reducing communication time while maintaining security through pre-established authentication states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables widespread use of RFID tags with various reader/writer devices, reducing equipment costs and increasing interoperability, allowing users to access multiple services with a single RFID tag, and facilitating efficient communication and payment across different systems and carriers.

Implementation Method 1

an RFID tag processing unit (12) having a function of a passive RFID tag

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3211588B1Mobile terminal, mobile terminal program, checkpoint management system, and checkpoint management method
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 THE AQUA ENTERPRISE CO
  • EP3211588B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3211588B1 patent drawingFigure 2~2(b)
  • EP3211588B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile terminal is capable of communicating with a plurality of types of reader/writer devices each including a control program having a function of identifying or authenticating an RFID tag. A mobile terminal 10 includes an application 15, a GPS processing unit 11 that acquires current position information of the mobile terminal 10, an RFID tag processing unit 12 that receives a signal related to a carrier wave or a command emitted from a reader/writer device 41 and outputs a trigger, and a terminal controller 14 that causes the application 15 to operate in response to the trigger. The application 15 acquires, from the mobile terminal 10, personal information including identification information of a user 40 of the mobile terminal 10 or identification information of the mobile terminal 10 and information of the date and time when the application 15 operates or the date and time when the reader/writer device 41 and the RFID tag processing unit 12 perform communication, and transmits the acquired information to an application server 20 together with the current position information or information of a checkpoint identified on the basis of the current position information.