JP2005065096A - Identification tag system with secrecy tag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system by which convenience of a radio ID tag is held and secrets of individual information are protected. <P>SOLUTION: In an identification tag system using a first identification tag which holds unique information by being attached to goods and which transmits the held unique information in response to a request from the outside, a second tag 2-2, which is placed in the proximity of the first identification tag 2-1, suppresses the unique information 2-3 transmitted by the first identification tag, and outputs an encryption signal stronger than a signal transmitted by the first identification tag, is added. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for affixing a tag having information for identifying an article or an identifier for identifying the article to any article, but preventing reading of the tag information.

  As a means for affixing information on an article or an identifier for identifying an article to an article, an ID tag using radio called RFID is the mainstream, and the basic principle and application example of RFID are described in detail in Patent Document 1. ing. Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe systems for managing distribution of merchandise and preventing unauthorized use using RFID. Note that the RFID used in these systems adopts a passive system in which scanning radio waves from the outside are received and used as an energy source to transmit information.

As described in Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, etc., when a tag is attached to any product using RFID and product information can be read remotely by radio, the product is manufactured and sold. There are many things that are useful when viewed from the other side. Also, from the standpoint of the user who purchases and uses the product, he / she can check his / her portable items and use it to prevent forgotten items, or from the list of products he / she owns There are various ways to use it for your reference.
JP 2003-069549 A JP 2001-031218 A

  These pieces of information are good for your own use, but it may be inconvenient if they are read by others. For example, there is a possibility of infringement of personal information (privacy) that the product you are wearing, for example, everything from portable items to underwear may be known to the person sitting next to you by train etc. . In addition, by knowing the products you are wearing, you may receive unsolicited sales or solicitation, or you may be able to collect market research data without your knowledge.

  In order to prevent this, it is good to be able to remove the RFID. However, in many cases, the RFID is embedded in a product and is difficult to remove. there were.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to protect the confidentiality of personal information while maintaining the convenience of a wireless ID tag.

The identification tag system with a secret tag according to the present invention is an identification tag system using a first identification tag that transmits unique information that is attached to an article and retains unique information and is held in response to an external request.
A second tag that is installed in the vicinity of the first identification tag, suppresses the unique information transmitted by the first identification tag, and outputs an encrypted signal stronger than the signal output by the first identification tag. Added.

  As described above, according to this configuration, there is an effect of preventing information on the tag attached to the article from being easily read.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a flow of information between ID tags in the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the first ID tag 1-1 that emits a weak signal that is originally attached to a product and the first ID tag 1-1 that the user attaches later will output a relatively large signal. There are two ID tags, and the first ID tag unique information 1-3 has a weak signal and only has a transmission capability of several mm. The encrypted signal 1-4 obtained by encrypting the information of the first tag transmitted from the second tag has a strong transmission capability of about several tens of centimeters to 1 meter.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  In a state where only the first ID tag 1-1 is present, the first ID tag information 1-3 is received by an external reception that is not described in FIG. It can be read as it is by the apparatus. However, when the second ID tag 1-2 is pasted, the first ID tag unique information 1-3 in which the second ID tag is relatively weak is encrypted and converted into encrypted information 1-4. Since it is transmitted as a strong signal, the contents of the information held by the first ID tag 1-1 cannot be known unless the encryption is decrypted thereafter.

  As described above, by attaching the second ID tag having a relatively large transmission capability, the information of the first ID tag cannot be read unless the encryption is decrypted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem that the information of the ID tag is read and used by another person while maintaining the convenience of the ID tag information.

  In the configuration of FIG. 1, it is not specified how the information of the first ID tag is transmitted to the second ID tag, but the information of the first ID tag is hereinafter referred to as the second ID tag. Several specific examples specifying the transmission method will be described.

  A configuration example in a so-called active method in which information of the first ID tag is transmitted by its own power source will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram thereof. In the figure, the first ID tag 2-1 originally attached to the product has a weak signal transmission unit 2-3 for transmitting information of the first ID tag, and the second pasted by the user later. The ID tag 2-2 includes a reception unit 2-4 that receives a weak signal from the transmission unit 2-3 in the vicinity, an encryption unit 2-5 that encrypts information received by the reception unit 2-4, The transmission unit 2-6 transmits the encrypted signal to the outside with a signal of relatively strong power. This transmits the signal encrypted by the encryption unit 2-5.

  Next, the operation of this configuration will be described.

  First, in the 1st ID tag 2-1, the information of the ID tag is transmitted with respect to the range of several mm-several cm from the transmission part 2-3, for example. The 2nd ID tag 2-2 is stuck in the range which can receive the transmitted signal 2-3, and receives a signal by the receiving part 2-4. The received signal is encrypted using an encryption key designated in advance in the encryption unit 2-5, and transmitted from the transmission unit 2-6. Since the output of the transmission unit 2-6 is set to about 1 m from several tens of centimeters, the signal itself can be received by any nearby ID tag detection device, but unless the encryption key is known. The contents of the first ID tag 2-1 cannot be decrypted.

  In FIG. 2, it is assumed that the second ID tag 2-2 is an active tag having a transmission unit 2-6 that transmits information using its own power source. However, the second ID tag is transmitted from an external transmitter. It is good also as a passive tag activated by receiving the scanning radio wave. Even in such a case, if the second ID tag is placed outside the first ID tag 2-1, the signal transmitted by the first ID tag 2-1 is prevented from reaching the external transmitter directly. The same effect can be obtained.

  Since the transmission distance of the first tag is limited so that the transmission distance can be controlled by the second tag, there is also an effect that the distance for receiving the tag information can be changed according to the usage status of the user. is there.

  Next, a configuration example in a so-called passive system in which the information of the first ID tag is transmitted using the energy of the scanning radio wave from the outside will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a general passive ID tag. In this figure, a passive first ID tag 3-1 has a transmission / reception unit 3-2 that holds ID tag information therein. The transmission / reception unit 3-2 does not have a power supply by itself, but has a function of receiving the scan radio wave 3-3 from the outside and transmitting ID tag information as a signal 3-4 using the received scan radio wave 3-3 as an energy source. The output of the transmission is proportional to the strength of the received radio wave. If you receive a strong radio wave, you will receive a strong (and therefore reach far) output; if you receive only a weak radio wave, you will only receive a weak (and therefore short distance) output. I can't put it out. In this configuration, the transmission / reception unit 3-2 mounted on the first ID tag has a relatively weak transmission / reception capability, and the external transmission / reception unit 3-13 mounted on the second ID tag has a strong transmission / reception capability. Give it.

  In the present embodiment, the passive first ID tag 3-1 that operates as described above has a substance that interferes with reception or transmission of the first ID tag radio wave, and the second ID tag 3-10. Is attached so as to cover as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the plan view of FIG. 4 seen from the side, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the first and second ID tags.

  The operation of the second ID tag 3-10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  (1) The second ID tag 3-10 covers the first ID tag 3-1, thereby blocking the scanning radio wave 3-3 from the outside. The first ID tag transmits the transmission radio wave 3-4. Do not put out.

  (2) The transmission / reception unit 3-11 with the first tag by the weak radio wave existing in the second ID tag 3-10 emits the weak radio wave 3-21 and reacts to the first ID tag 3- 1, a weak transmission radio wave (including information on the first ID tag) 3-22 is received.

  (3) The weak radio wave transmission / reception unit 3-11 encrypts the received first ID tag information by the encryption unit 3-12 and holds the encrypted information in the encryption unit.

  (4) The transmission / reception unit 3-13 transmits the encrypted first ID tag information in the encryption unit 3-12 as the transmission signal 3-24 when the scan radio wave 3-23 comes from the outside.

  With this operation, when a scanning radio wave comes from the outside, the first ID tag does not respond, and the second ID tag responds by encrypting the first ID tag information. The information of the first ID tag cannot be decrypted without knowing the decryption key.

  As a change in this configuration, the first ID tag may be a storage element that does not have a transmission unit or a transmission / reception unit, but stores only unique information. In this case, a connection terminal is provided as a transmission unit or a transmission / reception unit of the first ID tag. And the junction terminal with the said connection terminal is provided in the reception part or transmission / reception part equivalent to a 1st ID tag of a 2nd ID tag.

  Further, the encryption unit reads the unique information from the first ID tag via this junction terminal and encrypts it.

  Even if it does in this way, the same effect is acquired.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the previous embodiment, the configuration in which the second tag interferes with the transmission of the first tag to the outside has been described. In this embodiment, the first tag is provided with a time delay in the response, A description will be given of another configuration having the same effect that restricts the reading of specific information directly from the tag.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the first tag in the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a flow of information of the both at the same time, also illustrating the second tag. In these drawings, the transmission delay unit 7-5 provided in the first ID tag 7-1 is a new element. The transmission / reception unit 7-2 transmits the unique information as a response signal 7-4 after the delay time set by the transmission delay unit 7-5 by excitation with the scan radio wave 7-3 from the outside. That is, when the first tag is affixed alone, a normal operation is performed in which unique information is responded to an externally scanned radio wave.

  In contrast to the first ID tag configured in this way, the second ID tag 7-10 receives and encrypts and stores the transmission / reception unit 7-11 with the first tag and the information received by the transmission / reception unit 7-11. An encryption unit with memory 7-12, an external transmission / reception unit 7-13 for transmitting a response signal 7-24 to the outside with respect to the scan radio wave 7-23 from the outside, and a first tag Is provided with an instruction unit 7-14 for instructing to stop response to the first ID tag, and the transmission / reception unit 7-11 and the encryption unit with memory 7-12 for the first tag are active elements. And

  In addition, when the first tag 7-1 receives the response stop instruction signal 7-25, the delay setting of the transmission delay unit 7-5 becomes infinite and has a function of not responding.

  The operation of the tag system configured as shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the operation sequence diagrams shown in FIGS.

  For example, when the first ID tag 7-1 receives the scan signal 7-21 from the second ID tag, the response signal 7-22 is output after a predetermined time. The second ID tag 7-10 is received by the transmission / reception unit 7-11 with the first tag, and is encrypted and stored by the encryption unit with memory 7-12.

  For externally scanned radio waves, the first ID tag indicating unit 7-14 in the second ID tag operates and the first tag is sent and received through the transmitting / receiving unit 7-11 with the first tag. Response stop instruction signal 7-25 is transmitted to the tag. The first ID tag 7-1 does not immediately give a response, and receives this stop instruction signal, the transmission delay unit 7-5 of the first ID tag 7-1 operates, and the first ID tag Does not respond.

  On the other hand, the second ID tag 7-10 transmits the encrypted information stored for the external scan as response information 7-24 from the transmission / reception unit 7-13 with the outside.

  When the first ID tag and the second ID tag in this embodiment are combined, only the second ID tag returns a response to the external scan, so information is not provided unless the decryption key corresponding to encryption is known. I can't know. Conversely, if the decryption key corresponding to the encryption of the second ID tag is known, the information of the first ID tag can be immediately known.

  As a change in the configuration, for example, a program for controlling a time for responding to an external scan of the transmission / reception unit 7-2 may be incorporated as the transmission delay unit 7-5 mounted on the first ID tag. Thus, by extending the set time, it is possible to prevent reading of unique information without returning a program set time response to a short external scan.

  As another change, the transmission delay unit is eliminated from the first ID tag, the instruction unit 7-14 for the second ID tag to the first ID tag is used as a synchronization unit, and the transmission / reception unit 7- 13 may be configured to transmit power more powerful than the transmission / reception unit 7-2 of the first ID tag.

  The synchronization unit 7-14 transmits a response signal output by the transmission / reception unit 7-13 with the outside of the second ID tag 7-10 in synchronization with the response signal 7-4 output by the first ID tag 7-1. So synchronize.

  In this way, response signals from the second ID tag occupy a large number due to interference with respect to scans from the outside, so that unique information from the first ID tag cannot be detected.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the flow of the information between ID tags in Embodiment 1 of this invention. 3 is a diagram showing a specific element configuration and information flow in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram of a passive type tag, and is a figure explaining the operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the other specific structure in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure cross section of FIG. 4, and is a figure explaining the transmission / reception relationship of a signal. It is a figure which shows the other element structure in Embodiment 1, and the flow of information. It is a figure which shows the structure of the 1st tag in Embodiment 2 of this invention, and the transmission / reception relationship of a signal. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an element configuration and information flow in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation sequence in the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1-1, 2-1, 3-1 first (ID) tag, 1-2, 2-2, 3-10 second (ID) tag, 1-3 (first tag) specific information, 1-4 encryption information, 2-3 transmitting unit (on the first tag), 2-4 receiving unit (on the second tag), 2-5, 3-12 encryption unit, 2-6 ( Transmitter on second tag), 3-2 Transmitter / receiver (on first tag), 3-11 Transmitter / receiver with first tag (on second tag), 3-13 (Second 7-1 first (ID) tag, 7-2 transceiver (on the first tag), 7-5 transmission delay unit, 7-10 second (on the first tag) ID) tag, 7-11 transmission / reception unit with the first tag (on the second tag), 7-12 encryption unit with memory, 7-13 transmission / reception unit with the outside (on the second tag), 7-14 Pointer to the first tag.

Claims (8)

In the identification tag system in which the first identification tag that holds the unique information attached to the article and transmits the retained unique information to the outside is installed,
An encryption unit that is installed in the vicinity of the first identification tag, obtains and encrypts unique information of the first identification tag, suppresses the unique information transmitted by the first identification tag, and An identification tag system with a secret tag, characterized in that a second tag that outputs a stronger encrypted signal output from the encryption unit than a signal output by the first identification tag is added.   The first tag and the second tag respectively have a first transmission unit and a second transmission unit that transmit information, and the second transmission unit is stronger than the transmission power of the first transmission unit. The identification tag system with a secret tag according to claim 1, wherein a transmission signal is output.   The second tag has a second transmitter that is excited by a request from the outside and transmits information, and covers the first tag so as to obstruct the signal transmitted by the first tag. The identification tag system with a secret tag according to claim 1.   The first tag and the second tag have first and second transmission / reception units that are excited by a request signal from the outside, respectively, and the second tag excites the first tag from the outside. 2. The secret tag according to claim 1, wherein the secret tag covers the intermediate portion to prevent excitation of the first tag and outputs the encrypted signal to the outside in response to the information of the first tag. With identification tag system.   2. The first tag is configured not to directly output unique information to the outside, and the second tag is electrically contacted to obtain the first unique information. Identification tag system with secret tag.   The first tag has a first transmission / reception unit that is excited by a request from the outside to transmit information, and includes a transmission delay unit that controls a time for the first transmission / reception unit to respond to a request from the outside, The identification tag system with a secret tag according to claim 1, wherein the second ID tag is omitted.   The first tag has a first transmission / reception unit that is excited by an external request to transmit information, and includes a transmission delay unit that controls a time for the first transmission / reception unit to respond to an external request, The ID tag of 2 is provided with an instruction unit that is activated upon request from the outside and issues an instruction to suppress transmission to the transmission delay unit of the first tag, and the encryption unit has a built-in memory to display the encryption result. 2. The identification tag system with a secret tag according to claim 1, wherein the identification result is stored and the encryption result is output upon request from the outside.   A synchronization unit that controls to output a signal from the second tag at the same time as the transmission of the first tag to the second tag, and a signal output by the first tag that is excited by an external request to transmit information A second transmission / reception unit that outputs an interference signal stronger than the output, and the encryption unit has a built-in memory to store an encryption result, and the encryption result is stored in the second request when requested from the outside. 2. The identification tag system with a secret tag according to claim 1, wherein the identification tag system outputs the information via a transmission / reception unit.

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