Radio frequency certificates of authenticity
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsGerald DeJean, Darko Kirovski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Radio frequency certificates of authenticity (RFCOAs) are presented. In one implementation, a scattering agent is attached to an object to provide a reproducible radio frequency (RF) fingerprint that can be used to authenticate a tag or a seal for the object. In one implementation, the RF fingerprint is measured and digitized, combined with information associated with the object to which the RFCOA is attached, and stored in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system associated with the RFCOA. A scanner receives the fingerprint and the information and authenticates the information by comparing the fingerprint against a new fingerprint obtained from the object.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- embedding a scattering agent in a fixative, wherein the embedded scattering agent is fixed in a unique 3-dimensional physical arrangement that reflects, refracts, scatters, reradiates, and induces radio frequency energy;
- attaching the scattering agent to a physical object;
- reading the embedded scattering agent, wherein the reading includes:
- exposing the scattering agent to radio frequency energy,
- receiving reflected and refracted radio frequency energy from the scattering agent, and
- deriving a digital fingerprint of the unique physical arrangement from the reflected and refracted radio frequency energy;
- combining the digital fingerprint with information associated with the physical object;
- and
- using the digital fingerprint to authenticate the information associated with the physical object.
An authentication system, comprising:
- a radio frequency certificate of authenticity, including:
- a scattering agent consisting of pieces of material for reflecting and refracting radio frequency energy, and
- a fixative, for immobilizing the pieces of material into a unique 3-dimensional physical structure, wherein the scattering agent and fixative are attached to a physical object;
- and
- a reader for detecting a unique pattern of reflected and refracted radio frequency energy and for determining a fingerprint associated with the unique pattern.
A system, comprising:
- means for reproducibly deriving multiple copies of a fingerprint from radio frequency energy scattered from a physical object, wherein the physical object comprises an embedded scattering agent fixed in a unique 3-dimensional physical arrangement that reflects, refracts, scatters, reradiates, and induces radio frequency energy;
- means for associating information about the physical object with a first fingerprint from the physical object;
- means for receiving the first fingerprint and the associated information about the physical object;
- and
- means for authenticating the information by deriving a second fingerprint from the physical object and comparing the second fingerprint with the received first fingerprint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.