RU2241243C1 - Transportation vehicle user radio frequency identification system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: radio frequency identification technique.

SUBSTANCE: proposed system has one or several tags are coupled with reader by the air. Reader has transmitting-receiving radio unit provided with aerial, signal processing unit and micro control unit. All units of the system are connected in series and correlated among each other. Light or audible signaling units are connected to outputs of reader. Tags and readers are made to proceed dynamic identification dialog when tags are located at the area of reader's operation. During dialog between tags and reader the signals with random numbers are periodically transmitted to reader to tags. Then random numbers are subject to non-linear transformation in reader and tags and non-linearly transformed random numbers signals are transmitted from tags to readers and transformed random numbers are subject to comparison with numbers presenting in reader. Tags and reader have the same are made to have the same design which provides their interchangeability. If reader is disposed at user's vicinity the system has signaling which shows how far the user locates from his/her personal stuff and works as personal guard.

EFFECT: improved functional capabilities.

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Description

The invention relates to techniques for radio frequency identification (RFID). RFID is a technology that allows you to automatically collect information about a particular object, for example, the location of automobile, railway and sea vehicles (TS), goods transported by them, identify owners and other users, and get the necessary information quickly and easily, without intervention person and, accordingly, with a minimum number of errors.

According to the forecast of the American CNN agency, published on the website www.cnews.ru, in 2004 RFID will occupy the second place in the ten most promising innovative technologies in the world and will begin active expansion into the market.

According to information published by the tubing group of companies on the website www.smartcard.ru, the main areas of application of RFID technology are currently:

- identification of vehicles, road, rail and sea cargo;

- supply and marketing activities;

- access control, identification of property, people and animals;

- management of production conveyor lines, control of personnel in the production;

- sorting management of mail, parcels, baggage;

- payment systems;

- security and anti-theft systems.

According to international standards in the field of RFID, the frequency ranges for creating RFID systems are divided into:

- low-frequency (100-500) kHz;

- mid-frequency (3-30) MHz;

- high-frequency (850-950) MHz; (2.45-8) GHz.

The following RFID technologies are used: TIRIS (134.2 kHz), Tag-It (13.56 MHz), UHP (850 MHz and higher) and LF / UHF (134.2 kHz / 850 MHz).

In security and anti-theft systems for vehicles, in devices for identifying people and animals and in logistics systems, TIRIS technology is mainly used, while the typical data reading range does not exceed 1 m.

In general, a radio frequency identification system comprises a reader (reader) with an antenna and transponder RF tags (tags) operating in half-duplex (HDX-half-duplex) mode on a “request-response” basis with frequency-modulated signals. When using TIRIS technology, a request from the reader is generated in the form of a radio frequency burst with a frequency of 134.2 kHz approximately every 50 ms. Each tag located in the reader’s field of action and receiving such a pulse forms a response frequency-modulated signal that carries information about the identification object. This information is a binary code that can be written at the factory or programmed by the user. The response signal from the tag is transmitted in the form of frequency manipulation (FSK) at frequencies of 134.2 kHz and 123.2 kHz.

The group of standard TIRIS tags includes products made in the form of capsules 23, 32 and 50 mm long, tags in the form of cards and key fobs, polyester shaped cylindrical tags with a diameter of 21 mm and a length of 120 mm, disk tags with a diameter of 30 or 85 mm made of special acrylate-styrene composition, tags directly mounted on metal, as well as tags packed in a plastic case in the form of a wedge 12 mm long (the so-called Wedge transponders).

TIRIS family tags and readers are described, for example, in Texas Instruments technical guidance: RI45538N / NS TIRIS RF Module IC. Reference Manual. Rev. 1.4. 05/31/94, Texas Instruments Registration and Identification System. TIRIS 23 mm Glass Encapsulated Transponder RI-TRP-RRHB RI-TRP-WRHB. Reference Manual. March 28, 1995, "Texas Instruments Registration and Identification System. TIRIS Digital Signature Block Transponder RI-TRP-A9WK. Reference Manual. 21 June 1996" . Tags are one of the key elements of anti-theft security systems produced by the applicant company. Tags are known in the form of plastic cards, petals and miniature capsules embedded in the ignition key, as well as tags in the form of key fobs (see the catalog "Automotive Security Systems", Altonika LLC, 2003, pp. 32-33).

The principle of operation of the vehicle user identification equipment in the anti-theft alarm system is as follows.

At the request of the reader installed in the vehicle, the tag transmits its identification message. Correspondence of the identification message to certain requirements (detected by the reader) allows the vehicle protection system control equipment to separate users from all other persons considered by the specified equipment as hijackers.

Similar methods of controlling the vehicle protection system against unauthorized use are widely represented in the patent literature (see, for example, RU No. 2076815, 60 R 25/00, 10/31/1995, DE No. 19514074, 60 R 25/04, 13.04. 1995, DE No. 19605836, B 60 R 25/00, 02.16.1994, DE No. 9809624, B 60 R 25/00, 05.27.1999; DE No. 19818263, B 60 R 25/00, 10.28.1999; US No. 5905444 , H 04 Q 1/00, 05/18/1999, etc.). They allow you to effectively protect the vehicle from theft or theft. Protection in the general case may consist in the fact that for any person, except for the users, the doors of the vehicle, windows, hood and trunk are blocked, and when the locking circuits are mechanically broken to penetrate the protected vehicle, sound and / or light alarms are activated. Another protection option can be the use of special immobilizers, which create for all persons, except users, such a state of the engine or vehicle control modules in which the use of the vehicle for movement becomes impossible. At the same time, it is believed that a person who entered a guarded vehicle for the purpose of hijacking will not understand the reasons for the refusal to operate the vehicle, but simply leave it. There may be protection using both of the above methods.

Significantly greater range than low-frequency RFID, have mid-frequency and high-frequency RFID:

- 1.5 m in the range of 13.56 MHz;

- 75 m in the 2.45 GHz band.

Typical areas of their application are:

- access control in banks, offices, in production;

- control and accounting of products in trade;

- identification of railway cars, etc.

This class of systems includes, for example, apparatus for identifying objects according to patent WO No. 03/100732, G 07 C 9/00, 12/04/2003, consisting of a tag that contains memory connected via a control logic circuit to an antenna interacting over the air with the reader’s antenna, the reader contains a central computer with a database, a switching device connected to the reader’s antenna, and a reader designed to enter machine-readable information, for example, video images of a person’s face or picture, into a central computer the shape and color of the object.

As a rule, all the aforementioned RFID systems are used in their activities by organizations, manufacturing and service enterprises. Suggestions regarding the widespread use of RFID in everyday life are still at the idea level.

So, in the journal "Radio" No. 1997, 10, p.6 and 2002, No. 8, p.46-47, the idea of creating systems called "forget-me-not" or "micro watchdog" is described. The essence of this idea is as follows. A micropower radio transmitter located, for example, in a briefcase, backpack, keychain or other similar personal items, periodically emits a radio signal. A miniature radio receiver, located at the owner of these items, receives this signal and automatically responds to the disappearance of contact with "radiofitsirovannymi" objects for personal use by giving a light and / or sound signal. This happens every time the radio receiver is removed from the radio transmitter by a distance exceeding a predetermined threshold.

The disadvantage of this technical idea is the one-sided nature of the connection of the "radio-controlled" personal item with its owner. In this regard, it is not difficult for an attacker to make an “electronic cast” of the code embedded in the signal emitted by the personal use item. After that, the attacker can imitate the code and steal the specified item unnoticed by its owner.

For this reason, in the other RFID systems mentioned above, there is two-way communication between the reader and tags, and some systems use highly efficient request / response encoding technology with randomly changing code - the so-called dynamic identification dialog (DID). This technology is used, in particular, in the construction of computer networks (US No. 2003/0018893, H 04 L 9/00, 01/23/2003), in security and anti-theft systems (US No. 6658328, G 08 C 19/00, 2.12.2003 ) Under the brand name DIDialog® (certificate for trademark No. 214589 dated 06/14/2002), this technology is also used in elite and middle class security and anti-theft systems.

The closest analogue of the proposed technical solution is a system of radio-frequency user identification according to patent US No. 6639509, G 01 V 3/00, 10.28.2003, which contains a tag connected via radio to a reader. The reader consists of a series-connected transceiver radio module with an antenna, a signal processing unit and a microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to connect to external peripheral devices, for example, to light and sound indication blocks. The signal processing unit can be made, for example, in the form of a digital processor, a clock generator connected to a digital processor, digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters and bandpass filters. The digital processor is connected to a microprocessor and a transceiver radio module, which, in turn, is connected via radio to a tag. The specified system is selected as a prototype of the proposed technical solution.

The subject of the present invention is a system for radio-frequency identification of a TS user, including a tag connected by radio to a reader containing sequentially connected and interconnected radio transceiver with an antenna, a signal processing unit and a microcontroller, to the outputs of which light and / or sound signaling units are connected, - in this case, the tag has a design identical with the reader, ensuring their interchangeability, while the tag and reader are configured to maintain a dynamic identifier a typification dialogue with periodic transmission from the reader to the tag or from the tag and the reader of signal packets with random numbers randomly changing from packet to packet, receiving said signal packets, respectively, with a tag or reader, non-linear conversion of these random numbers, re-emission of signal packets with non-linear transformed by random numbers, the identical nonlinear conversion of random numbers in a reader or tag that transmitted the indicated signal packets with random numbers, compared by identifying identically non-linearly converted and accepted non-linearly converted random numbers and turning on, in case of mismatch of these non-linearly converted random numbers, light and / or sound signaling blocks to indicate the use of an unregulated tag by an attacker or when a user’s regulated tag is removed from the reader outside the radio communication area.

Particular features of the invention are as follows.

The radio transceiver contains a switch with an antenna, the input of which is connected to the output of the transmitting node, and the output to the input of the receiving node.

The microcontroller is made in the form of a microprocessor, to the first input of which a clock generator is connected, and the second input is configured to connect external computing devices, for example, a personal computer.

The signal processing unit contains a processor, the output of which is connected to a digital-to-analog converter, as well as a series-pass bandpass filter and an analog-to-digital converter, the output of which is connected to the first input of the processor, and a synchronization unit, the output of which is connected to the second input of the processor.

The objective of the present invention is to enable normal operation of the system of the "forget-me-not" in the case of confusion of the tag with the reader and the timely detection of attempts to replace the tag in order to steal the item on which it is installed.

The technical result provided in this case consists in the possibility of organizing large-scale or mass production of products of the "forget-me-not" type for their subsequent sale on the market and for widespread use in everyday life.

The essence of the proposed technical solution is illustrated by the drawings of figures 1-4.

Figure 1 shows the structural diagram of the proposed system.

Figure 2 presents the structural diagram of a transceiver radio module.

Figure 3 shows the structural diagram of the microcontroller.

Figure 4 presents a possible embodiment of the signal processing unit.

Figure 1-4 used the following notation: 1 - reader; 1 '- tag; 2 - microcontroller; 3 - block sound alarm; 4 - light signaling unit; 5 - signal processing unit; 6 - transceiver radio module; 7 - transmitting node; 8 - receiving node; 9 - switch; 10 - microprocessor; 11 - clock generator; 12 - processor; 13 - block synchronization; 14 - digital-to-analog converter; 15 - analog-to-digital Converter; 16 - band-pass filter.

As already noted above, the identity of the tag 1 'and reader 1 is fundamental to the present invention. The schemes of construction and construction of these nodes are identical. Therefore, for the tag 1 'in Fig. 1, the same notation is used as for the reader 1, but with a dash, and the circuits shown in Figs. 2 - 4 equally apply to the tag 1' and to the reader 1 .

The reader 1 contains a series-connected interconnected microcontroller 2, the outputs of which are connected to a sound signaling unit 3 and to a light signaling unit 4, as well as a signal processing unit 5 and a radio transceiver 6.

Since the design of the tag 1 'used in the system is identical to the design of the reader 1, the tag 1' also contains a microcontroller 2 ', the outputs of which are connected to the sound 3' and light 4 'signaling units, and the signal processing unit 5' connected to the microcontroller 2 'and transceiver radio module 6 '.

Figure 2-4 shows possible embodiments of, respectively, the transceiver radio module 6, the microcontroller 2 and the signal processing unit 5.

The transceiver radio module 6 contains a switch 9 with an antenna, the input of which is connected to the output of the transmitting node 7, and the output to the input of the receiving node 8. The input of the transmitting node 7 and the output of the receiving node 8 are, respectively, the input and output of the transceiving radio module 6, which are used for communication with a signal processing unit 5.

The microcontroller 2 contains a microprocessor 10, to the input of which a clock generator 11 is connected. In this case, the microprocessor 10 has outputs to the blocks 3 of sound and 4 light signaling. In addition, the microprocessor 10 provides the ability to interact with external computing devices, for example, with a personal computer, using the standard RS-232 interface.

The microprocessor 10 is also configured to interact with the signal processing unit 5 - with the processor 12 included in it.

The signal processing unit 5 contains the aforementioned processor 12, the output of which is connected to a digital-to-analog converter 14, as well as a series-connected bandpass filter 16 and an analog-to-digital converter 15, the output of which is connected to the first input of the processor 12, and a synchronization unit 13, the output of which is connected to the second the input of the processor 12. The band-pass filter 16 can be implemented by connecting a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter in series. The input of the band-pass filter 16 and the digital-to-analog converter 14 are, respectively, the input and output of the signal processing unit 5 through which interaction with the transceiver radio module 6. In addition, the processor 12 is configured to exchange data with the microcontroller 2 - with its microprocessor 10.

All the blocks shown in Figs. 1–4 are used in anti-theft security systems and accessories commercially available by the applicant company, in particular in radio pagers (see the catalog "Automotive Security Systems", Altonika LLC, 2003). Therefore, the possibility of practical implementation of the claimed system is not in doubt.

The considered system for radio-frequency identification of the user of the vehicle operates as follows.

One of the components of the system under consideration (let’s say, for certainty, reader 1) is located at the user’s place, for example, in the pocket of his jacket. Then another component (respectively, tag 1 ') is placed in the subject of personal use. These can be keys to the vehicle, documents for the vehicle, passport, notebook, etc.

If the personal use item “radio-infected” in this way is located at the vehicle user, for example, in a trouser pocket, the distance between the two above-mentioned system components is quite small and radio contact between them is possible.

Radio contact is made between reader 1 and tag 1 'or between tag 1' and reader 1 in the form of a dynamic identification dialog.

In a dynamic identification dialogue, the following steps should be distinguished:

- lack of communication;

- entry into dialogue mode;

- dialogue.

At the stage of lack of communication in reader 1 or tag 1 ', the microcontroller 2 or 2' is in the initial installation state when there is no connection with another system unit in its microprocessor 10 (tag 1 'or reader 1). In this case, the microprocessor 10, using the pulses of the clock generator 11 for synchronization, provides control signals for the sound 3 and light 4 signaling units in accordance with the commands that were previously entered into the microcontroller 2 via the standard RS-232 interface. That is, reader 1 or tag 1 'generates a pre-set light and sound alarm. The microprocessor 10 periodically issues to the signal processing unit 5 commands for generating an “Initial Request” signal.

Having received each of these commands, the processor 12, which is part of the signal processing unit 5, generates an “Initial Request” code. This code is issued by certain groups of digits from the processor 12 to the digital-to-analog converter 14. For each code group, the digital-to-analog converter 14 generates an analog value (multi-position, for example, four-position code) corresponding to the code group applied to the digital-to-analog converter 14. According to this multi-position code in the transmitting unit 7, which is part of the signal processing unit 5, a corresponding frequency is generated, which is transmitted through the switch 9 to the antenna and transmitted to the air.

That is, at the stage of lack of communication, each reader 1 or tag 1 'with predetermined time intervals emits an “Initial Request” message in the form of a sequence of radio frequencies. This package may include, for example, the following parts:

- marker "Initial request";

- user identification system code;

- a random number code that randomly changes when each of the packages of the "Initial Request" is submitted.

Using the random number code transmitted as part of the “Initial Request” package, the processor 12 implements the nonlinear conversion algorithm strictly established for this user identification system. The result of the nonlinear conversion is stored in the processor 12.

After emitting the “Initial Request” package, the switch 9 switches to the standby mode of the external package.

Upon receipt of such an external package, the tag 1 'or reader 1 proceeds from the stage of lack of communication to the stage of entering the dialogue mode. The source of the external package can be reader 1 or tag 1 ', located in the communication zone.

The external package is received on the antenna of the transceiver radio module 6 and through the switch 9 and through the receiving node 8 enters the signal processing unit 5. In this block, the external package to increase the signal-to-noise ratio passes the band-pass filter 16 and is fed to the analog-to-digital converter 15. At the output of the analog-to-digital converter 15, a serial code of the external package is sent to the tag 1 'or reader 1.

The external parcel code is analyzed in processor 12. The analysis can give two results: either the received code is recognized as false (for example, due to the fact that not all bits of the “Initial Request” parcel have been received), or it is established that a valid variant of the external parcel has been received. If the external parcel code is considered false, its receipt is ignored, and the operation of the tag 1 'or reader 1 continues at the stage of no communication.

Reception of a valid variant of an external message serves for the user identification system to begin the transition from the stage of lack of communication to the stage of entering into dialogue mode.

One of the acceptable options for an external parcel is to receive an “Initial Request” from outside the parcel. This code is identified by the presence of the known “Initial Request” marker and the user identification system code in it (the last code must be stored in the processor 12, but it does not have to coincide with the same code generated by the tag 1 'or reader 1 in question). According to the random number code extracted from the “Initial Request”, the processor 12 implements a nonlinear conversion algorithm strictly established for this user identification system. The result of the nonlinear conversion by the signals of the synchronization unit 13 is transmitted to the digital-to-analog converter 14 as part of the "Password". Other constituent parts of the “Password” are a password attribute and a random number code arbitrarily selected in the processor 12. Above this code, the processor 12 again implements the non-linear conversion algorithm and stores the new non-linear conversion result.

The “password” received by tag 1 'or reader 1 is the second variant of a valid external message, which can come after tag 1' or reader 1 broadcasts the “Initial Request” package. A "password" is received at the antenna of the information processing unit 5 and transmitted through the switch 9 and the receiving unit 8 to the signal processing unit 5. In this block, sending a "Password" passes a band-pass filter 16 and is converted into a code in the analog-to-digital converter 15. From this code, the result of the nonlinear conversion is extracted and compared with the result of the nonlinear conversion stored in the processor 12. If they match, the tag 1 'or reader 1 goes from the stage of entering into dialogue mode to the stage of dialogue. In this case, the processor 12 transmits a command to the microcontroller 2, according to which the microprocessor 10, which is part of the microcontroller 2, prohibits the operation of the sound 3 and light 4 signaling units. In the tag 1 'or reader 1, the light and sound warning signals are stopped. In addition, the processor 12 extracts a random number code from the "Password" and implements a nonlinear conversion algorithm over it. The result of the non-linear conversion comes from the processor 12 through a digital-to-analog converter 14 to a transceiver radio module 6, in which it is transmitted through a transmitting unit 7 to a switch 9, after which it is transmitted through the antenna in the form of a “Response signal”.

For reader 1 or tag 1 ', which broadcasts "Password", the receipt of a "Response Signal" on its antenna means the transition from the stage of entering the dialogue mode to the stage of dialogue. After the receipt of the "Response signal" code to the processor 12 of the signal processing unit 5, the processor 12 compares it with the stored result of the nonlinear conversion. When they coincide, the processor 12 transmits a command to the microcontroller 2, according to which the microprocessor 10, which is part of the microcontroller 2, prohibits the operation of the sound 3 and light 4 signaling units. In reader 1 or tag 1 ', the light and sound warning signals are stopped. After that, the processor 12 selects an arbitrary random number code and, through the digital-to-analog converter 14, transmits it to the transceiver radio module 6, from where this code is broadcast in the form of a “Request”. Above the "Request" code, the processor 12 again implements the non-linear transformation algorithm and stores the result of the non-linear transformation.

At the stage of dialogue, one of the blocks included in the user identification system (tag 1 'or reader 1) sequentially generates "Requests", receives "Response signals" and monitors their correctness, and the other block (reader 1 or tag 1') receives "Requests" and for each of them generates a "Response signal". In this case, each of the blocks should be in the coverage area of another block of the system.

Since reader 1 is always with the user, and tag 1 'is mounted in a personal use item, the presence of which is monitored by the system, the system's operation at the stage of dialogue (in the absence of sound and light warning signals) indicates that this personal use item is on place to him. Thus, the principle of "forget-me-not" is implemented. Moreover, the system has all the advantages inherent in systems with two-way communication, made with the possibility of conducting dynamic identification dialogue.

In each cycle of dynamic identification dialogue between reader 1 and tag 1 ', only one single code is recognized as true. This means that simulating code by an attacker is practically impossible, since the code changes from cycle to cycle randomly. Therefore, replacing the tag 1 'will not lead to the desired result for the attacker.

It should be noted that through the standard RS-232 interface, the processor 12 (via the microprocessor 10) can be introduced the maximum permissible limits on possible communication errors. This is due to the fact that even if reader 1 and tag 1 'are mutually in each other's areas of operation, there may be separate failures when receiving "Requests" or "Response signals", caused, for example, by external interference. That is, during programming, it can be indicated how many consecutively the tag 1 'or reader 1 should receive, forming “Requests”, of external “Response signals” that do not coincide with the stored result of the nonlinear conversion, in order to consider the completion of the dialogue stage.

In particular, the removal of the tag 1 'from the range of the reader 1 will immediately lead to the completion of the dialogue stage. In this case, for the tag 1 'or reader 1, forming the "Requests", the processor 12 transmits to the microcontroller 2 the alarm enable signal. According to this signal, the microcontroller 2 includes blocks of sound 3 and / or light 4 signaling and goes into the initial installation state, that is, the tag 1 'or reader 1 are at the stage of no communication. On the other hand, the removal of tag 1 'from the range of reader 1 means, for reader 1 or tag 1', which forms “Response signals”, the termination of receipt of “Request” signals to it. If these signals do not arrive within the time period set during programming, then in reader 1 or tag 1 ', which forms “Response signals”, microcontroller 2 turns on sound 3 and / or light 4 signaling units and switches to the initial installation state, i.e. this reader 1 or tag 1 'is at the stage of lack of communication.

Thus, the theft (or user forgetfulness) is warned by an alarm generated in each of the system units. Moreover, this will happen even if the attacker tries to replace tag 1 '.

Currently, prototype prototypes of the system described above that implements the idea of "forget-me-not" have been created and tested at the applicant enterprise.

A serial production of the specified system has been prepared. The obtained test results, high manufacturability and relatively low price of the product allow us to count on the widespread use in the future of everyday life of "forget-me-not" systems.

The identity of tag 1 'and reader 1 eliminates the influence on the operation of the confusion system, and the use of a dynamic identification dialog significantly reduces the likelihood of tag 1' being replaced in order to steal the personal item on which it is installed.

The technical result provided in this case consists in the possibility of organizing large-scale or mass production of this new type of products using RFID technology for their subsequent sale on the market and for widespread use in everyday life.

Claims (4)

1. A system for radio-frequency identification of a vehicle user, which includes a tag connected over the air with a reader containing sequentially connected and interconnected radio transceiver with an antenna, a signal processing unit and a microcontroller, the outputs of which are connected with light and / or sound signaling units, characterized in the fact that the tag has an identical design with the reader, ensuring their interchangeability, while the tag and reader are configured to conduct dynamic identification an ionic dialogue with periodic transmission from the reader to the tag or from the tag to the reader of signal packets with random numbers randomly changing from parcel to parcel, receiving the indicated signal parcels, respectively, with a tag or reader, non-linear conversion of these random numbers, re-emission of signal parcels with non-linear transformed by random numbers, the identical nonlinear conversion of random numbers in a reader or tag that transmitted the indicated signal premises with random numbers, comparison ozhdestvenno nonlinearly transformed nonlinearly transformed and received random numbers and the inclusion, in the case of a mismatch of said transformed nonlinear random, block light and / or audible alarm to indicate the use of a tag over an unregulated or regulated at deleting user tag reader from outside the radio communication area. 2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the transceiver radio module contains a switch with an antenna, the input of which is connected to the output of the transmitting node, and the output to the input of the receiving node. 3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the microcontroller is made in the form of a microprocessor, to the first input of which a clock generator is connected, and the second input is configured to connect to external computing devices, such as a personal computer. 4. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the signal processing unit comprises a processor, the output of which is connected to a digital-to-analog converter, as well as a series-pass bandpass filter and an analog-to-digital converter, the output of which is connected to the first input of the processor, and a synchronization unit whose output is connected to the second input of the processor.

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