ADVANCED FUNCTIONALITY OF REMOTE-ACCESS DEVICES
A remote-access device typically used for tagging items, a reader device for the same, system and methods of such devices. The remote-access device has an advanced capability that the device is able to signal by an advanced capability code. The device or the system may carry advanced capability data that can be used to utilize or enhance the advanced capability. The advanced capability data may be stored at the remote-access device, at the reader or in the system at a computer. The results of the advanced functionality may be logged onto a database or they may be stored back to the remote-access device. The advanced capability code, data and results may be stored onto the remote-access device in protected form, and the access key may be derived from identification information on the remote-access device.
The aspects of the present disclosure relate to advanced capabilities of remote-access devices, for example RFID tags. More specifically, the aspects of the present disclosure relate to defining and using advanced capabilities of the remote-access devices, and for detecting the capabilities and enhancing the functions of such devices.
BACKGROUNDModern logistics was to a great degree enabled by the development of the product code system and bar codes. Products and pallets could be quickly identified by reading a bar code with an optical reader, and the tracking of items in the logistic chain became feasible. Furthermore, the products could be counted and sold at the point of sale more quickly and more reliably. Beyond consumer product logistics, industrial material management systems, postal and courier services, healthcare and bio-analytics systems and many other fields of human activity have benefited from the use of bar codes.
Over time, the needs of having various kinds of information available on a product outgrew the capabilities of a simple bar code. To this end, new technologies were developed, such as two-dimensional bar codes. Of such technologies, radio frequency identification (RFID) has rather quickly become the technology of choice for identifying and tracking items. RFID technology has a vast number of applications making use of the ability to read an RFID tag from a distance even without a line-of-sight connection between the reader and the tag. RFID is quickly replacing or at least augmenting the bar code technology in many places.
The basic information that an RFID tag carried has traditionally been electronic product code (EPC) information and/or tag identification information. RFID tags with more capabilities may have the ability to store more information in the tag memory, and even carry out some simpler processing of data.
A radio frequency identification tag (RFID tag) typically comprises an RFID chip and an antenna connected to the chip, attached to or protected inside a plastic layer. The RFID chip contains analog and/or digital processing circuitry, e.g. a state machine and/or a processor and memory for storing information, as well as circuitry for receiving radio frequency (RF) energy and modulating the RF wave. The chip is connected to the antenna, whose shape and size depend on the frequency at which the tag operates and the application for which the tag is used. The chip and the antenna are often laid inside a thin plastic container for protection. The tag as a whole is typically flexible to a certain degree, especially the passive tags that do not contain a power supply.
Passive tags use the energy from the radio-frequency electromagnetic field of the read-out signal to power the operations that the tag carries out. Passive tags operate essentially while they are in the reader field, and are essentially inactive at other times. Therefore, the farther the reader device and the weaker the read-out signal, the less energy is available for the tag to use. This in turn means that the tag cannot perform very complex operations that would require a lot of power, since such tags could only be read from a very short distance away. In other words, the read-out distance of a tag is to a large extent determined by the power consumption requirements of the tag. Naturally, the attenuation and power distribution of the electromagnetic signal emitted by the tag is another concern. To tackle this issue, some passive tags have a battery that may be used to power the processing circuitry and thereby allow longer operating range for the tag. Such tags that use an internal power source to energize the response signal may be called semi-passive tags.
Some applications may necessitate more complex processing and/or more demanding properties of the RFID tag. It may become necessary to arrange more internal power such that these operations may be carried out. Some tags may require an internal power source to communicate with a longer range. Such tags may be called active tags. It may also be necessary to provide internal power so that operations can be carried out at times when the power from the external radio frequency electromagnetic field is not available. Usually this is arranged by means of a battery attached to the RFID tag. The battery may power sensors, memory, processors and/or a transmitter of the tag so that sensing, data logging and processing may be carried out at any time. Such more complex tags may be more complicated to manufacture, more expensive and/or more prone to malfunction than passive or semi-passive tags. Moreover, any tags with an internal power supply may have a limited lifetime, since they cannot be operated properly or at all when the battery runs out. Another practical problem is that when an active tag is taken into use, the battery operation needs to be activated. Otherwise, the battery would be in use e.g. already starting from manufacturing of the tag and prior to actual active use.
There is, therefore, a need for solutions that facilitate the use of simpler tags for more complicated operations.
SUMMARYNow there has been invented an improved method and technical equipment implementing the method, by which the above problems are alleviated and that enable the use of simpler remote-access devices for more complex operations than before. Various aspects of the disclosed embodiments include methods, reader apparatuses, a systems, a remote-access devices and computer readable media comprising computer programs stored therein for carrying out the methods and operating the devices, which aspects are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Various embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed in the dependent claims.
The aspects of the present disclosure relate to a remote-access device typically used for tagging items, such as an RFID tag, a reader device for the same, system and methods of such devices. In one embodiment, a remote-access tag may have advanced capabilities, and the tag is able to communicate the existence of the advanced capabilities to the reader device by giving out an advanced capability code as radio frequency communication. The tag may also comprise data that are useful or necessary in employing the advanced capabilities, for example characteristics of the tag regarding the advanced functionalities like data for processing the information resulting from the use of advanced capabilities. The capability code and/or the data may reside in the memory of the tag, and may be protected by means of a password or encryption. The password or decryption key may be such that it can be derived from other information on the tag such as a tag ID or the electronic product code. It may also be possible to store information back to the tag from the reader after determining the information by employing the advanced capabilities of the tag. The results of the advanced functionality may therefore be logged onto a database or they may be stored back to the remote-access device. The aspects of the present disclosure distributes the tasks of the advanced functionality between a passive remote-access device such as an RFID device and a reader device, and possibly a network system. This may offer several advantages, e.g. making it unnecessary to have a power supply on the remote-access device for complex operations like temperature measurements.
According to a first aspect, there is provided a method for utilizing advanced functionality of a remote-access apparatus, the remote access apparatus being energetically essentially passive, the method comprising receiving an advanced functionality code from the remote-access apparatus, requesting information from the remote-access apparatus, and based on the received advanced functionality code, utilizing the functionality by using the requested information.
According to an embodiment, utilizing the advanced functionality comprises determining a measurement value, and the requested information comprises a signal indicative of the measurement value, and the method comprises determining whether the received advanced functionality code indicates that the remote-access apparatus is capable of being used for the advanced functionality, and in response to the determining, calculating the measurement value using the requested information. According to an embodiment, the method comprises requesting an advanced functionality code from the remote-access apparatus, and requesting the information from the remote-access apparatus according to the determined functionality. According to an embodiment, the method comprises receiving advanced functionality data from the remote-access apparatus, the advanced functionality data being stored on the remote-access apparatus, requesting information from the remote-access apparatus, and based on the received advanced functionality data, utilizing the advanced functionality by using the requested information.
According to a second aspect, there is provided a method for utilizing advanced functionality of a remote-access apparatus, the remote access apparatus being energetically essentially passive, the method comprising receiving advanced functionality data from the remote-access apparatus, the advanced functionality data being stored on the remote-access apparatus, requesting information from the remote-access apparatus, and based on the received advanced functionality data, utilizing the advanced functionality by using the requested information.
According to an embodiment, the advanced functionality data is at least one of the group of data table, data structure, document, functionality parameters, data from another device and a definition of a mathematical function. According to an embodiment, the method comprises deriving an advanced functionality result by utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus, and sending the advanced functionality result to the remote-access apparatus for storing the advanced functionality result onto a memory.
According to a third aspect, there is provided a method for utilizing advanced functionality of a remote-access apparatus, the remote access apparatus being energetically essentially passive, the method comprising deriving an advanced functionality result by utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus, and sending the advanced functionality result to the remote-access apparatus for storing the advanced functionality result onto a memory.
According to an embodiment, the advanced functionality result is a temperature value or another result of a measurement, and the method comprises sending at least one of a location information and a time information to the remote-access apparatus for storing onto a memory in association with the advanced functionality result. According to an embodiment, the method comprises receiving advanced functionality data in protected form from the remote-access apparatus, the advanced functionality data being for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus, receiving key information from the remote-access apparatus, forming an access key using the key information, using the access key to unprotect the advanced functionality data, and based on the unprotected advanced functionality data, utilizing the advanced functionality.
According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a method for utilizing advanced functionality of a remote-access apparatus, the remote access apparatus being energetically essentially passive, the method comprising receiving advanced functionality data in protected form from the remote-access apparatus, the advanced functionality data being for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus, receiving key information from the remote-access apparatus, forming an access key using the key information, using the access key to unprotect the advanced functionality data, and based on the unprotected advanced functionality data, utilizing the advanced functionality.
According to an embodiment, the method comprises receiving key information from the remote-access apparatus, forming an access key using the key information, sending the access key to the remote-access apparatus for unprotecting advanced functionality data from protected functionality data residing on the remote-access apparatus, and receiving unprotected advanced functionality data, and using the advanced functionality data in utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus.
According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a method for utilizing advanced functionality of a remote-access apparatus, the remote access apparatus being energetically essentially passive, the method comprising receiving key information from the remote-access apparatus, forming an access key using the key information, sending the access key to the remote-access apparatus for unprotecting advanced functionality data from protected functionality data residing on the remote-access apparatus, and receiving unprotected advanced functionality data, and using the advanced functionality data in utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus.
According to an embodiment, the method comprises forming the access key from the key information, wherein the key information is at least one of the group of an electronic product code, EAN code, serial number, a remote-access apparatus identification and other non-key information, wherein in the forming the access key is generated by using the key information as a seed or by using the key information at least partly as at least a part of the access key, and unprotecting the advanced functionality data by using the access key in a decryption or decoding algorithm. According to an embodiment, the requested information is information according to a read-out protocol, and the method comprises determining a temperature value by using the requested information and by using advanced functionality data to determine the temperature value.
According to a sixth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the method according to any of the aspects one to five.
According to a seventh aspect, there is provided a reader apparatus for utilizing advanced functionality of a remote-access apparatus comprising a processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive an advanced functionality code from the remote-access apparatus, request information from the remote-access apparatus, and based on the received advanced functionality code, utilize the functionality by using the requested information.
According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether the received advanced functionality code indicates that the remote-access apparatus is capable of being used for the advanced functionality, and in response to the determining, calculate the measurement value using the requested information. According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to request an advanced functionality code from the remote-access apparatus request the information from the remote-access apparatus according to the determined functionality. According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive advanced functionality data from the remote-access apparatus, the advanced functionality data being stored on the remote-access apparatus, request information from the remote-access apparatus, and based on the received advanced functionality data, utilize the advanced functionality by using the requested information.
According to an eighth aspect, there is provided a reader apparatus for utilizing advanced functionality of a remote-access apparatus comprising a processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive advanced functionality data from the remote-access apparatus, the advanced functionality data being stored on the remote-access apparatus, request information from the remote-access apparatus, and based on the received advanced functionality data, utilize the advanced functionality by using the requested information.
According to an embodiment, the advanced functionality data is at least one of the group of data table, data structure, document, functionality parameters, data from another device and a definition of a mathematical function. According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to derive an advanced functionality result by utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus, and send the advanced functionality result to the remote-access apparatus for storing the advanced functionality result onto a memory.
According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a reader apparatus for utilizing advanced functionality of a remote-access apparatus comprising a processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to derive an advanced functionality result by utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus, and send the advanced functionality result to the remote-access apparatus for storing the advanced functionality result onto a memory.
According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to send at least one of a location information and a time information to the remote-access apparatus for storing the advanced functionality result onto a memory in association with the advanced functionality information. According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive advanced functionality data in protected form from the remote-access apparatus, the advanced functionality data being for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus, receive key information from the remote-access apparatus, form an access key using the key information, use the access key to unprotect the advanced functionality data, and based on the unprotected advanced functionality data, utilize the advanced functionality.
According to a tenth aspect, there is provided a reader apparatus for utilizing advanced functionality of a remote-access apparatus comprising a processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive advanced functionality data in protected form from the remote-access apparatus, the advanced functionality data being for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus, receive key information from the remote-access apparatus, form an access key using the key information, use the access key to unprotect the advanced functionality data, and based on the unprotected advanced functionality data, utilize the advanced functionality.
According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive key information from the remote-access apparatus, form an access key using the key information, send the access key to the remote-access apparatus for unprotecting advanced functionality data from protected functionality data residing on the remote-access apparatus, and receive unprotected advanced functionality data, and use the advanced functionality data in utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus.
According to an eleventh aspect, there is provided a reader apparatus for utilizing advanced functionality of a remote-access apparatus comprising a processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive key information from the remote-access apparatus,
form an access key using the key information, send the access key to the remote-access apparatus for unprotecting advanced functionality data from protected functionality data residing on the remote-access apparatus, and receive unprotected advanced functionality data, and use the advanced functionality data in utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus.
According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to form the access key from the key information, wherein the key information is at least one of the group of an electronic product code, a remote-access apparatus identification and other non-key information, wherein in the forming the access key is generated by using the key information as a seed or by using the key information at least partly as at least a part of the access key, and unprotect the advanced functionality data by using the access key in a decryption or decoding algorithm. According to an embodiment, the requested information is information according to a read-out protocol, and the apparatus comprising computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine a temperature value by using the requested information and by using advanced functionality data to determine the temperature value.
According to a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer program code, the computer program code arranged to, when executed on a processor, to carry out the method according to any of the aspects 1 to 5.
According to a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a method for providing advanced functionality by a remote-access apparatus to a reader device, the remote access apparatus being energetically essentially passive, the method comprising sending an advanced functionality code from the remote-access apparatus to the reader device, receiving a request for information according to the advanced functionality code from the reader device, and sending the requested information according to the advanced functionality code to the remote-access reader.
According to an embodiment, the method comprises accessing a local memory to obtain advanced functionality data associated with the requested information, and sending the advanced functionality data from the remote-access apparatus to a reader device for use in processing the requested information.
According to a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a method for providing advanced functionality by a remote-access apparatus to a reader device, the remote access apparatus being energetically essentially passive, the method comprising receiving a request for information according to the advanced functionality from the reader device, sending the requested information according to the advanced functionality to the reader device, accessing a local memory to obtain advanced functionality data associated with the requested information, and sending the advanced functionality data from the remote-access apparatus to a reader device for use in processing the requested information.
According to an embodiment, the advanced functionality data is at least one of the group of data table, data structure, document, functionality parameters, data from another device and a definition of a mathematical function. According to an embodiment, the method comprises sending information according to the advanced functionality to the reader device for deriving an advanced functionality result, receiving the advanced functionality result from the reader device, and storing the advanced functionality result onto a memory.
According to a fifteenth aspect, there is provided a method for providing advanced functionality by a remote-access apparatus to a reader device, the remote access apparatus being energetically essentially passive, the method comprising sending information according to the advanced functionality to the reader device for deriving an advanced functionality result, receiving the advanced functionality result from the reader device, and storing the advanced functionality result onto a memory.
According to an embodiment, the advanced functionality result is a temperature value or another result of a measurement, and the method comprises receiving at least one of a location information and a time information in association with the advanced functionality result, storing the at least one of a location information and a time information in association with the advanced functionality result in a memory. According to an embodiment, the method comprises sending advanced functionality data in protected form to the reader device, the advanced functionality data being for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus, sending key information to the reader device for forming an access key, the access key being for unprotecting the advanced functionality data, and the unprotected advanced functionality data being for utilizing the advanced functionality.
According to a sixteenth aspect, there is provided a method for providing advanced functionality by a remote-access apparatus to a reader device, the remote access apparatus being energetically essentially passive, the method comprising sending advanced functionality data in protected form to the reader device, the advanced functionality data being for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus, sending key information to the reader device for forming an access key, the access key being for unprotecting the advanced functionality data, and the unprotected advanced functionality data being for utilizing the advanced functionality.
According to an embodiment, the method comprises sending key information to the reader device for forming an access key using the key information, receiving the access key from the reader device, unprotecting advanced functionality data from protected advanced functionality data residing on the remote-access apparatus using the access key, and sending the unprotected advanced functionality data to the reader device for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus.
According to a seventeenth aspect, there is provided a method for providing advanced functionality by a remote-access apparatus to a reader device, the remote access apparatus being energetically essentially passive, the method comprising sending key information to the reader device for forming an access key using the key information, receiving the access key from the reader device, unprotecting advanced functionality data from protected advanced functionality data residing on the remote-access apparatus using the access key, and sending the unprotected advanced functionality data to the reader device for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus.
According to an embodiment, the method comprises retrieving key information from a memory for forming an access key using the key information, generating an access key using the key information, unprotecting advanced functionality data from protected advanced functionality data residing on the remote-access apparatus using the access key, and sending the unprotected advanced functionality data to the reader device for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus.
According to an eighteenth aspect, there is provided a method for providing advanced functionality by a remote-access apparatus to a reader device, the remote access apparatus being energetically essentially passive, the method comprising retrieving key information from a memory for forming an access key using the key information, generating an access key using the key information, unprotecting advanced functionality data from protected advanced functionality data residing on the remote-access apparatus using the access key, and sending the unprotected advanced functionality data to the reader device for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus.
According to an embodiment, the key information is at least one of the group of an electronic product code, a remote-access apparatus identification and other non-key information, and wherein in the forming the access key is generated by using the key information as a seed or by using the key information at least partly as at least a part of the access key, and wherein the unprotecting the advanced functionality data is done by using the access key in a decryption or decoding algorithm. According to an embodiment, the requested information is information according to a read-out protocol, and the providing advanced functionality is for determining a temperature value by using the requested information and by using advanced functionality data to determine the temperature value. According to an embodiment, the sending is carried out by the remote-access apparatus by utilizing back-scattering modulation of a radio-frequency field.
According to a nineteenth aspect, there is provided a remote-access apparatus, the apparatus being energetically essentially passive and arranged to operate by using energy from a received wireless signal, and the apparatus comprising an antenna, logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on the processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to perform the method according to any of the aspects 13 to 18.
According to a twentieth aspect, there is provided a remote-access apparatus, the apparatus being energetically essentially passive and arranged to operate by using energy from a received wireless signal, and the apparatus comprising an antenna, logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on the processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to send an advanced functionality code from the remote-access apparatus to a reader device, receive a request for information according to the advanced functionality code from the reader device, and send the requested information according to the advanced functionality code to the remote-access reader.
According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to access a local memory to obtain advanced functionality data associated with the requested information, and send the advanced functionality data from the remote-access apparatus to a reader device for use in processing the requested information.
According to a twenty-first aspect, there is provided a remote-access apparatus, the apparatus being energetically essentially passive and arranged to operate by using energy from a received wireless signal, and the apparatus comprising an antenna, logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on the processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to receive a request for information according to an advanced functionality from a reader device, send the requested information according to the advanced functionality to the reader device, access a local memory to obtain advanced functionality data associated with the requested information, and send the advanced functionality data from the remote-access apparatus to a reader device for use in processing the requested information.
According to an embodiment, the advanced functionality data is at least one of the group of data table, data structure, document, functionality parameters, data from another device and a definition of a mathematical function. According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on the processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to send information according to the advanced functionality to the reader device for deriving an advanced functionality result, receive the advanced functionality result from the reader device, and store the advanced functionality result onto a memory.
According to a twenty-second aspect, there is provided a remote-access apparatus, the apparatus being energetically essentially passive and arranged to operate by using energy from a received wireless signal, and the apparatus comprising an antenna, logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on the processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to send information according to the advanced functionality to the reader device for deriving an advanced functionality result, receive the advanced functionality result from the reader device, and store the advanced functionality result onto a memory.
According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to receive at least one of a location information and a time information in association with the advanced functionality result, store the at least one of a location information and a time information in association with the advanced functionality result in a memory. According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on the processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to send advanced functionality data in protected form to a reader device, the advanced functionality data being for utilizing advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus, send key information to the reader device for forming an access key, the access key being for unprotecting the advanced functionality data, and the unprotected advanced functionality data being for utilizing the advanced functionality.
According to a twenty-third aspect, there is provided a remote-access apparatus, the apparatus being energetically essentially passive and arranged to operate by using energy from a received wireless signal, and the apparatus comprising an antenna, logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on the processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to send advanced functionality data in protected form to a reader device, the advanced functionality data being for utilizing advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus, send key information to the reader device for forming an access key, the access key being for unprotecting the advanced functionality data, and the unprotected advanced functionality data being for utilizing the advanced functionality.
According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on the processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to send key information to a reader device for forming an access key using the key information, receive the access key from the reader device, unprotect advanced functionality data from protected advanced functionality data residing on the remote-access apparatus using the access key, and send the unprotected advanced functionality data to the reader device for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus.
According to a twenty-fourth aspect, there is provided a remote-access apparatus, the apparatus being energetically essentially passive and arranged to operate by using energy from a received wireless signal, and the apparatus comprising an antenna, logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on the processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to send key information to a reader device for forming an access key using the key information, receive the access key from the reader device, unprotect advanced functionality data from protected advanced functionality data residing on the remote-access apparatus using the access key, and send the unprotected advanced functionality data to the reader device for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus.
According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on the processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to retrieve key information from a memory for forming an access key using the key information, generate an access key using the key information, unprotect advanced functionality data from protected advanced functionality data residing on the remote-access apparatus using the access key, and send the unprotected advanced functionality data to a reader device for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus.
According to a twenty-fifth aspect, there is provided a remote-access apparatus, the apparatus being energetically essentially passive and arranged to operate by using energy from a received wireless signal, and the apparatus comprising an antenna, logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on the processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to retrieve key information from a memory for forming an access key using the key information, generate an access key using the key information, unprotect advanced functionality data from protected advanced functionality data residing on the remote-access apparatus using the access key, and send the unprotected advanced functionality data to a reader device for utilizing the advanced functionality of the remote-access apparatus.
According to an embodiment, the key information is at least one of the group of an electronic product code, a remote-access apparatus identification and other non-key information, and wherein in the forming the access key is arranged to be generated by using the key information as a seed or by using the key information at least partly as at least a part of the access key, and wherein the unprotecting the advanced functionality data is arranged to be done by using the access key in a decryption or decoding algorithm. According to an embodiment, the requested information is information according to a read-out protocol, and the advanced functionality is for determining a temperature value by using the requested information and by using advanced functionality data in determining the temperature value. According to an embodiment, the apparatus is at least one of the group of an RFID tag, an RFID inlay, an embedded tag, a food package, a container, a box, a barrel, a pallet, a vehicle, a piece of furniture, a chip and the combination of a chip an antenna. According to an embodiment, the apparatus is arranged to send data by utilizing back-scattering modulation of a radio-frequency field or load modulation of a magnetic field.
According to a twenty-sixth aspect, there is provided a method for storing temperature data in a network system, the method comprising sending an advanced functionality code from the remote-access apparatus, receiving a request for information according to the advanced functionality code at the remote-access apparatus, and sending the requested information according to the advanced functionality code to be accessible by the network system, the information to be used for forming a temperature value, and storing a temperature value to a memory in the network system, wherein the temperature value having been formed from the requested information by processing.
According to an embodiment, the method comprises accessing a local memory at a remote-access apparatus to obtain advanced functionality data associated with the requested information, the advanced functionality data to be used for temperature measurement, and sending the advanced functionality data from the remote-access apparatus for use in processing the requested information. According to an embodiment, the method comprises using an identifier of the remote-access apparatus, accessing a network memory to obtain advanced functionality data associated with the requested information, the advanced functionality data to be used for temperature measurement, and using the advanced functionality data in processing the requested information. According to an embodiment, the method comprises obtaining advanced functionality data in protected form, and using an access key for unprotecting the advanced functionality data, the unprotected advanced functionality data being for utilizing the advanced functionality.
According to a twenty-seventh aspect, there is provided a system comprising at least one network computer and at least one remote-access apparatus, the network computer and the remote access apparatus comprising a processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the system to perform the method according to the twenty-sixth aspect.
According to a twenty-eighth aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing an energetically essentially passive remote-access device, the method comprising combining at least a chip and an antenna to form a remote-access device, forming an advanced capability code onto the remote-access device, wherein the advanced capability code is indicative of an advanced capability of the remote-access device, and forming identification data into a memory of the remote-access device.
In the following, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which
In the following, several embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in the context of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. It is to be noted, however, that the aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to RFID tags and systems only. In fact, the different embodiments have applications widely in any environment where advanced functionalities of small devices with limited power supply are needed.
It has been noticed in the context of the aspects of the present disclosure that certain advanced applications of RFID tags would require active RFID tags (such tags that have a power supply), and that this would in turn make the tags more complicated and more expensive. Alternatively, straightforward implementation of advanced functionality on passive RFID tags would increase the power consumption of the tags and thereby reduce the effective reading range or operational range of the tag. Various embodiments of the invention are envisioned to be used with RFID tags that are energetically essentially passive, that is, with tags that operate essentially while being in the reader field and being able to draw energy from the field.
In accordance with the aspects of the present disclosure, some of the processing required by the advanced functionality of a passive RFID tag may be carried out in the reader device or elsewhere in the system. This makes it possible to reduce the power consumption of the RFID tag and for the tag to have an improved operational range. The aspects of the present disclosure may help to keep the tag electronics simple and thus usable in weaker reader fields and/or longer reading ranges. On the other hand the aspects of the present disclosure may also reduce need for powerful readers to compensate for the tag power consumption. The latter benefit may be significant in some environments with many readers in the same area and/or where interfering electromagnetic fields need to be kept to a minimum.
Functionalities such as computing a measurement value and managing information security may be carried out in the reader or a network computer, and implementing such advanced functionality in a traditional manner would have increased the power consumption of the tag significantly. The novel arrangement according to the various embodiments therefore makes it possible to implement advanced functionality to a passive tag. For example, a temperature measurement may be implemented using a passive RFID tag wherein some of the measurement processing is carried out at the reader or the rest of the system.
In certain cases it has been noticed in the aspects of the present disclosure that it may be problematic if it is not known what operations the rest of the system is required to carry out. These operations may e.g. be such that they are not governed by any standard such as the UHF Gen 2 standard. An advanced functionality code has been invented to alleviate this problem. An advanced functionality code is a piece of information associated with the tag and communicated to the reader (or the rest of the system) so that the advanced functionality provided by the tag is then known. For example, an advanced functionality code may indicate that a passive tag provides an advanced functionality of a temperature measurement arranged so that part of the required processing is carried out at the reader device. The tag may send this advanced functionality code to the reader device, and the reader may then adjust its operation accordingly. As another example, the advanced functionality code may indicate an allowed condition for using or accessing the tag, for example by indicating who is allowed to used the tag, when the tag is allowed to be used, or a geographic range where the tag is allowed to be used.
In certain other cases it has been noticed in the aspects of the present disclosure that carrying out an advanced functionality in a distributed manner between the tag and the rest of the system may require some additional data that is not easily available to the system. For example, such additional data may be advanced functionality data that can be used in carrying out the advanced functionality of the tag. The advanced functionality data may for example be information specific to the tag to enhance the advanced functionality, a mathematical formula, or an access key or access code, or any other data that are specific to the tag, specific to the advanced functionality, specific to the system or otherwise associated with the tag. The advanced functionality data may be carried on the tag in a memory, or it may be accessible to the system by means of identifying the tag and using the identifier as key to accessing the advanced functionality data. The advanced functionality data therefore enables the use of the advanced functionality of the tag, or improves the use of the advanced functionality.
The advanced functionality code and the advanced functionality data may be stored on the chip or elsewhere on the tag either in easily accessible form or in protected form for example behind an access key or in encrypted form.
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide advanced functionality for RFID tags and systems employing RFID tags. The RFID tags and readers may operate according to a standard, and the advanced functionality code and advanced functionality data may be used to enhance the operations of passive RFID tags. For example, the RFID tag may carry in its memory the information necessary to carry out a function that goes beyond the standard. As an example, the determination of temperature may be considered.
For some applications it may suffice to use the advanced functionality code only, and advanced functionality data may not be required. For some other applications, the advanced functionality data may contain information that is necessary for the use of the advanced functionality, or the advanced functionality data may enhance the operation of the advanced functionality. The advanced functionality code AFC and the advanced functionality data AFD may for example be such that the AFC informs the reader that the tag is suitable for temperature measurement, and the AFD provides information to be used in the determination of the temperature.
An RFID tag or a device may operate according to a standard. For example, the air interface may be standardized to enable interoperability of tags and reader devices. The air interface may operate according to an UHF standard wherein the tag utilizes back-scattering modulation in communication. The air interface may operate according to an HF standard wherein the tag utilizes load variation in the magnetic field. The various pieces of information stored in the tag and sent by the tag such as the EPC code may be standardized e.g. according to a Gen2 standard. The tag and/or a reader device may be standardized as a whole.
The remote-access device or a tag may have various forms. For example, the tag may comprise an inlay placed inside plastic protective layers, or inside paper or cardboard. The remote-access device may also be a tag embedded in an object, e.g. a tag inside a food package. The remote-access device may also be any object capable of operating according to the various embodiments and being otherwise energetically essentially passive. For example, the remote-access device may be a food package, container, box, barrel, pallet, vehicle or a piece of furniture like a shelf. It also needs to be understood that a remote-access device can be without definite form or it may not be an end-product. For example, a chip for an RFID device, or the combination of a chip and an antenna may form a remote-access device in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
The advanced functionality code AFC sent by the tag may be a code stored in the user data area and accessed by the tag when it needs to be sent. Alternatively, the AFC may be part of another code, such as the electronic product code (EPC) or the tag identifier, or an access password, or any other piece of information stored on the tag. The AFC may be a number, a series of characters and numbers, or a bit sequence. The AFC may comprise multiple non-contiguous parts. The AFC enables the reader device and/or the system beyond the reader device to determine that the tag provides an advanced functionality. The tag may have specific physical or programmatic means for providing this functionality, or the tag may be a regular tag that has been determined to be suitable for use in employing the advanced functionality. The advanced functionality code may indicate that the tag is allowed to be used for the specific functionality, e.g. the tag may be approved or licensed by the manufacturer for use with this functionality. The presence and use of the AFC may indicate that the tag is able to perform the advanced functionality with certain accuracy. In addition, the AFC may indicate that the tag carries additional information such as advanced functionality data for using the advanced functionality. The advanced functionality code may also indicate the configuration of the tag, e.g. to indicate whether the tag is able to store advanced functionality results and/or whether some of the data on the tag is stored in a protected form. For example, an AFC for temperature measurement may indicate that the tag contains data for the temperature determination, that this data is in protected form, and the tag is able to store temperature values determined by the reader. There may also be more than one advanced functionalities provided by a tag, associated with one or more advanced functionality codes.
The methods carried out by the RFID tag and the reader device may be interlinked so that some the method steps of the RFID tag happen in response to the method steps of the RFID reader device and vice versa.
The advanced functionality data AFD may be a data table or a data structure, functionality parameters, a definition of a mathematical function or any other data structure or object that may be used in utilizing the advanced functionality. For example, the AFD may comprise a single number, a series of numbers, a data table, a plurality of data tables, a data structure, an object definition and data, a database, and/or any combination of these alone or together with other information. The AFD may comprise a single packet of data, or the AFD may be distributed across a plurality of packets. The AFD may be complete and usable as such, or it may be such that it is augmented by other data and/or code that resides elsewhere in the system to save memory on the tag. The AFD may be intended to be used in the advanced functionality, or it may be intended for presenting the result of an advanced functionality (such as HTML code or XML representation, or a Adobe PDF file, Word document or Excel worksheet).
In
In
The access key may be stored on the tag memory or a seed for generating the access key may be stored on the tag memory. An algorithm may be used to generate the access key from the access key seed, wherein the algorithm is such that it is unlikely that two different algorithms would produce the same exact access key. Moreover, it may be desirable that the algorithm is such that two different seeds are unlikely to produce the same access key.
The seed or the access key may be a value stored on the tag, for example the electronic product code or part of it, the tag identification or part of it, or another unique identifier or a combination of these or any parts of these. As an example, the access key may be an EPC (electronic product code) Class I Gen2 compliant access key for accessing locked memory areas of the tag. The EPC access key may be calculated from the EPC on the tag e.g. with a hash function, an XOR function with a mask, as a digital digest or another cryptographic key. The EPC may also be used as an index to a table of access keys e.g. cryptographic keys. The length of the key may be less than the length of the seed, it may be the same length or it may be longer. For example, the EPC may be 96 to 240 bits long, and the access key may be 32 bits long. Bit puncturing may be used in shortening the key and bit padding may be used to lengthen the key. A memory area containing data for the advanced functionality, e.g. the AFD, may be locked using the access key and can only be opened using the access key formed from the EPC or another seed. The locking and opening or encryption and decryption may be done in a symmetric manner wherein the encryption and decryption keys are the same, or it may be done in asymmetric manner, where the keys are different. A public key infrastructure (PKI) may be used for the latter. Every tag in the system may have a different access key (if the EPC or other seed on the tag is different), and the reader or the system can calculate the access key using the seed from the tag. Using this access key, the reader or the system can access or decrypt the AFD located on the tag or in an external database.
As an example, temperature calculation may happen so that the reader requests information from the tag that it can use for temperature measurement, and in order to achieve a result, it uses data stored on the tag in the measurement. The reader may have determined by using an AFC that the tag is suitable for temperature measurement. The advanced functionality code AFC may be part of the electronic product code indicating, for example, that the item is a perishable product and therefore its temperature needs to be monitored. The AFD may be data for calculating or determining the temperature of the tag from local oscillator frequency shift polled from the tag. The reader may request the data from the tag, and the data may reside on the tag in protected form, e.g. on a protected memory area or in encrypted form. The reader therefore uses an algorithm to obtain an access key based on the EPC or tag identification, and then unprotects the data using this access key. The unprotecting may happen e.g. by opening a protected memory area on the tag or by decrypting the data. The unprotected data may then be used for calculating the tag temperature. The access key may also be used to write data onto the tag in protected form, e.g. in a protected memory area or in encrypted form.
The algorithm may be a secret algorithm known only to the reader device or the system, or it may be a widely public algorithm. The algorithm may depend on the advanced functionality code. The data protected on the tag may be advanced functionality data or it may be any other data.
In the methods according to
In
In
A tag may combine any or all functionalities as explained in the context of
At phase 1140, the reader may then request key information such as the electronic product code, and the tag may send the requested information at phase 1145. The EPC may then be used to determine an access key that the reader may then send to the tag in phase 1150 to access advanced functionality data AFD for temperature. Using the access key, the RFID tag grants access to the data and sends the information to the reader or the rest of the system at phase 1155. It needs to be understood that this information may also reside in the system e.g. in a database, and the access key is then used to access this information from the database. When the reader or the system has the advanced functionality data for temperature, it may use them in determining the temperature at phase 1160, or it may at this phase compute the temperature using the AFD.
What has been described above in the various embodiments regarding RFID tags is often implemented by a chip on the RFID tag. Therefore, one target of the invention is an RFID chip providing advanced functionality by RFID tags.
The various embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented with the help of computer program code that resides in a memory and causes the relevant apparatuses to carry out the aspects of the disclosed embodiments. For example, a tag, a chip or a reader device may comprise circuitry and electronics for handling, receiving and transmitting data, computer program code in a memory, and a processor that, when running the computer program code, causes the reader device to carry out the features of an embodiment. Alternatively or in addition, a tag or a chip for a tag or a reader device may comprise logic circuitry for implementing the same functionality as may be carried out by means of program code run on a processor. Yet further, a network device may comprise circuitry and electronics for handling, receiving and transmitting data, computer program code in a memory, and a processor that, when running the computer program code, causes the network device to carry out the features of an embodiment. A system may comprise any number of tags of the same kind or different kinds, and reader devices and network computers in any combination.
It is clear that the aspects of the present disclosure are not limited solely to the above-presented embodiments, but it can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1-72. (canceled)
73. A method for utilizing advanced functionality of an RFID device, said advanced functionality being functionality other than providing an identification, said RFID device being energetically passive, the method comprising:
- receiving an advanced functionality code from said RFID device, said advanced functionality code indicating that said RFID device provides said advanced functionality, and said advanced functionality code enabling a reader to adjust its operation according to said advanced functionality,
- requesting information from said RFID device, said information relating to said advanced functionality, and
- based on said received advanced functionality code, utilizing said advanced functionality by using said requested information.
74. A method according to claim 73, wherein utilizing said advanced functionality comprises determining a temperature measurement value, and said requested information comprises a signal indicative of said temperature measurement value, and the method further comprises:
- determining whether said received advanced functionality code indicates that said RFID device is capable of being used for said advanced functionality of temperature measurement, and
- in response to said determining indicating that said RFID device is capable of being used for said advanced functionality of temperature measurement, calculating said temperature measurement value using said requested information.
75. A method according to claim 73, further comprising:
- requesting an advanced functionality code from said RFID device, and
- requesting said information from said RFID device according to said determined functionality.
76. A method according to claim 73, the method comprising:
- receiving advanced functionality data from said RFID device, said advanced functionality data being stored on said RFID device, and said advanced functionality data being specific to the RFID device,
- requesting information from said RFID device, said information relating to said advanced functionality, and said information being different from said advanced functionality data, and
- using said received advanced functionality data in using said requested information for utilizing said advanced functionality in a distributed manner.
77. A method according to claim 76, wherein said advanced functionality data is at least one of the group of data table, data structure, document, functionality parameters, data from another device and a definition of a mathematical function.
78. A method according to claim 73, the method comprising:
- deriving an advanced functionality result by utilizing said advanced functionality of said RFID device, and
- sending said advanced functionality result to said RFID device for storing said advanced functionality result onto a memory.
79. A reader apparatus for utilizing advanced functionality of an RFID device, said advanced functionality being functionality other than providing an identification, said reader comprising a processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the reader apparatus to:
- receive an advanced functionality code from said RFID device, said advanced functionality code indicating that said RFID device provides said advanced functionality, and said advanced functionality code enabling said reader to adjust its operation according to said advanced functionality,
- request information from said RFID device, said information relating to said advanced functionality, and
- based on said received advanced functionality code, utilize said advanced functionality by using said requested information.
80. An apparatus according to claim 79, further comprising computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
- determine whether said received advanced functionality code indicates that said RFID device is capable of being used for advanced functionality of temperature measurement, and
- in response to said determining indicating that said RFID device is capable of being used for said advanced functionality of temperature measurement, calculate a temperature measurement value using said requested information.
81. An apparatus according to claim 79, further comprising computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
- request an advanced functionality code from said RFID device,
- request said information from said RFID device according to said determined functionality.
82. A reader apparatus according to claim 79, further comprising computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
- receive advanced functionality data from said RFID device, said advanced functionality data being stored on said RFID device, and said advanced functionality data being specific to the RFID device,
- request information from said RFID device, said information relating to said advanced functionality and said information being different from said advanced functionality data, and
- use said received advanced functionality data in using said requested information for utilizing said advanced functionality in a distributed manner.
83. An apparatus according to claim 82, wherein said advanced functionality data is at least one of the group of data table, data structure, document, functionality parameters, data from another device and a definition of a mathematical function.
84. An apparatus according to claim 79, further comprising computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
- derive an advanced functionality result by utilizing said advanced functionality of said RFID device, and
- send said advanced functionality result to said RFID device for storing said advanced functionality result onto a memory.
85. An apparatus according to claim 84, further comprising computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
- send at least one of a location information and a time information to said RFID device for storing said advanced functionality result onto a memory in association with said advanced functionality information.
86. A method for providing advanced functionality by an RFID device to a reader device, said advanced functionality being functionality other than providing an identification, said RFID device being energetically passive, the method comprising:
- sending an advanced functionality code from said RFID device to said reader device, said advanced functionality code indicating that said RFID device provides said advanced functionality, and said advanced functionality code enabling a reader to adjust its operation according to said advanced functionality,
- receiving a request for information according to said advanced functionality code from said reader device, said information relating to said advanced functionality, and
- sending said requested information according to said advanced functionality code to said reader device for utilizing said advanced functionality.
87. A method according to claim 86, the method further comprising:
- accessing a local memory to obtain advanced functionality data associated with said requested information, said advanced functionality data being specific to the RFID device, said information relating to said advanced functionality, and said information being different from said advanced functionality data, and
- sending said advanced functionality data from said RFID device to a reader device for use in processing said requested information.
88. A method for providing advanced functionality by an RFID device to a reader device, said advanced functionality being functionality other than providing an identification, said RFID device being energetically passive, the method comprising:
- receiving a request for information according to said advanced functionality from said reader device, said information relating to said advanced functionality,
- sending said requested information according to said advanced functionality to said reader device,
- accessing a local memory to obtain advanced functionality data associated with said requested information, and said information being different from said advanced functionality data, and
- sending said advanced functionality data from said RFID device to a reader device for use in processing said requested information.
89. An RFID device, said RFID device being energetically passive and arranged to operate by using energy from a received wireless signal, and said RFID device comprising an antenna, logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on said processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the RFID device to:
- send an advanced functionality code from said RFID device to a reader device, said advanced functionality code indicating that said RFID device provides said advanced functionality, and said advanced functionality code enabling a reader to adjust its operation according to said advanced functionality,
- receive a request for information according to said advanced functionality code from said reader device, said information relating to said advanced functionality, and
- send said requested information according to said advanced functionality code to said remote-access reader for utilizing said advanced functionality.
90. An RFID device according to claim 89, further comprising logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the RFID device to:
- access a local memory to obtain advanced functionality data associated with said requested information, said advanced functionality data being specific to the RFID device, said information relating to said advanced functionality, and said information being different from said advanced functionality data, and
- send said advanced functionality data from said RFID device to a reader device for use in processing said requested information.
91. An RFID device, said RFID device being energetically passive and arranged to operate by using energy from a received wireless signal, and said RFID device comprising an antenna, logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on said processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the RFID device to:
- receive a request for information according to an advanced functionality from a reader device, said information relating to said advanced functionality,
- send said requested information according to said advanced functionality to said reader device,
- access a local memory to obtain advanced functionality data associated with said requested information, and said information being different from said advanced functionality data, and
- send said advanced functionality data from said RFID device to a reader device for use in processing said requested information.
92. An RFID device according to claim 91, said RFID device further comprising logic circuitry such as a logic gate arrangement or a processor and memory including computer program code executable on said processor, the logic circuitry or computer program code configured to cause the RFID device to:
- send information according to said advanced functionality to said reader device for deriving an advanced functionality result,
- receive said advanced functionality result from said reader device, and
- store said advanced functionality result onto a memory.
93. A method for storing temperature data in a network system, said method comprising:
- sending an advanced functionality code from an RFID device, said advanced functionality code indicating that said RFID device provides advanced functionality of temperature measurement,
- receiving a request for information according to said advanced functionality code at said RFID device, said information being indicative of temperature, and
- sending said requested information according to said advanced functionality code to be accessible by said network system, said information to be used for forming a temperature value, and
- storing a temperature value to a memory in said network system, wherein said temperature value having been formed from said requested information by processing.
94. A method according to claim 93, further comprising:
- accessing a local memory at an RFID device to obtain advanced functionality data associated with said requested information, said advanced functionality data to be used for temperature measurement, and
- sending said advanced functionality data from said RFID device for use in processing said requested information.
95. A method of manufacturing an energetically passive RFID device, the method comprising:
- combining at least a chip and an antenna to form an RFID device,
- forming an advanced capability code onto the RFID device, wherein the advanced capability code is indicative of an advanced capability of the RFID device, said advanced capability being capability other than providing an identification, and
- forming identification data into a memory of the RFID device, said identification data being different from said advanced capability code.
96. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, said computer program product comprising computer program code, said computer program code arranged to, when executed on a processor, to carry out the method according to claim 73.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 22, 2010
Publication Date: Oct 31, 2013
Inventors: Juhani Virtanen (Tampere), Antti Manninen (Tampere), Mikko Nikkanen (Tampere)
Application Number: 13/880,683
International Classification: G06K 7/10 (20060101);