RFID Authentication Tag Management via Centralized Server

Solution Overview

Problem

Current authentication systems using RFID tags for IC cards are cumbersome and costly due to the need for multiple management IC cards, especially when the number of IC cards or groups is large, leading to complex management and potential misuse of administrator cards, making it difficult to invalidate or reassign authentication tags efficiently.

Innovation Solution

An authentication registration/invalidation apparatus that uses a single operation tag to manage authentication tags by setting an operation mode for registration or invalidation, allowing easy grouping and ungrouping of authentication tags, enabling easy invalidation of lost tags and simplifying management by ensuring each tag belongs to only one group.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a management IC card is provided for each registered IC card or for each group of registered IC cards, then authentication registration and invalidation can be performed, but the number of management IC cards becomes huge, making management complicated and increasing costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication registration and invalidation capabilityVSAvoidmanagement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server system provides centralized management capabilities that can handle authentication registration and invalidation for all IC cards across multiple groups through a single interface, eliminating the need for multiple specialized management IC cards. The server acts as a universal management point that can process any authentication tag operation regardless of which group the tag belongs to.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The server system serves as an intermediary between the operation IC card and the authentication tags in the database. Instead of requiring direct management IC cards for each tag or group, the server mediates all operations by receiving requests from the operation IC card, validating them, and executing the appropriate authentication registration or invalidation actions on the backend.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a management IC card is provided for each registered IC card or for each group of registered IC cards, then authentication operations can be performed, but the cost associated with the management increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication registration and invalidation capabilityVSAvoidnumber of management IC cards

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The server system provides centralized management capabilities that can handle authentication registration and invalidation for all IC cards across multiple groups through a single interface, eliminating the need for multiple specialized management IC cards. The server acts as a universal management point that can process any authentication tag operation regardless of which group the tag belongs to.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing physical management IC cards for each group, the system uses a single operation IC card that contains data representing multiple groups. The server copies and processes the appropriate group information from the operation IC card to perform the desired authentication operations, eliminating the need to manufacture and distribute multiple physical management cards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If the administrator should manage a large number of management IC cards, then authentication operations can be performed, but the administrator might use an improper management IC card by mistake

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication operation capabilityVSAvoidcorrect card selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The server system provides feedback to the administrator through the operation IC card interface to confirm which group will be affected by the upcoming operation. Before executing invalidation or registration, the system displays the target group information and requires confirmation, preventing accidental selection of the wrong group. The LED indicators and display provide real-time feedback about the current state and the effect of upcoming operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The server system serves as an intermediary between the operation IC card and the authentication tags in the database. Instead of requiring direct management IC cards for each tag or group, the server mediates all operations by receiving requests from the operation IC card, validating them, and executing the appropriate authentication registration or invalidation actions on the backend.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If an IC card belongs to a plurality of groups, then the IC card can access multiple areas, but it is difficult to cancel belonging of the IC card to a certain group among the plurality of groups

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-group access capabilityVSAvoidpartial invalidation operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the invalidation operation into two distinct phases: first selecting the target group, then executing the invalidation. This segmentation allows the administrator to specify which group should be affected while leaving other group memberships intact. The operation IC card can maintain multiple group associations, and the server processes invalidation requests on a per-group basis rather than requiring complete invalidation of all group memberships.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 simplifies the management of authentication tags by allowing easy invalidation of lost tags and reducing administrative complexity, as all tags belonging to a lost tag's group can be invalidated, and reassignment of tags to new or existing groups can be done efficiently with a single operation tag.

Implementation Method 1

an RFID reader 2, which receives signals transmitted from one or more RFID tags 10 in a recognition area A

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRFID (Radio Frequency Identification): Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS9064354B2Authentication registration and cancellation device

Publication Date: 2015.06.23 OPTEX CO LTD

AI summary

An authentication registration/invalidation apparatus is provided, which allows easy invalidation of an authentication tag when the authentication tag is lost, and facilitates management of authentication tags. When an RFID reader (2) receives an RFID signal including an instruction of invalidation, which is transmitted from an operation tag (10b) in a recognition area (A), an invalidation unit (32b) sets an operation mode to an invalidation enabled mode. If an RFID tag recognizer (31a) recognizes an authentication tag (10a) before or after the setting of the invalidation enabled mode, the invalidation unit 32b invalidates the authentication tag (10a), or invalidates all authentication tags (10a) that belong to a group to which the authentication tag belongs.