Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for providing security in an RFID system and provides a secure active RFID architecture that uses a combination of passive and active RFID circuitry and employs authentication and encryption techniques in the processing of data, at rest and over the air. In the method of communicating securely in an RFID system of the present invention, a random number is generated with the passive RFID circuitry. The random number is forwarded to a reader. The reader is authenticated by comparing a first hash value determined from a hash function of the random number generated at the RFID tag and an Authenticated Facility Group ID stored on the RFID tag with a second hash value determined from the hash function of the forwarded random number and an Authenticated Facility Group ID stored in the reader such that if the first hash value matches the second hash value the reader is authenticated.

Abstract: The RFID system of the present invention provides activation of a subscription based device wirelessly using a RFID system. The system for activating of a user for a subscription service comprises a first secure RFID sensor associated with a subscription-based device and a second secure RFID sensor associated with a user device. The first and second secure RFID sensors communicate with one another to establish activation of the user device. For example, the first sensor can receive an authentication value associated with the subscription service from the second RFID sensor. After activation, the subscription-based device can broadcast the subscription service to the user device. Alternatively, the user device can also have a capability to verify its separate or related subscription such as WiFi, WiMAX, GSM, CDMA or other wireless-based connectivity service.