Microwave Engineering Europe - October 2007 - (Page 20)

20 COVER FEATURE — UHF RFID DATA PROTECTION Figure 2: Secure and unsecured data communication. interface and is therefore highly susceptible to the attack methods previously described. With Atmel’s TagSEcure security concept, the level of privacy and data protection can be ﬂexibly conﬁgured. The communication on the right of ﬁgure 2 shows the protection of data using access passwords (1 to 3 32-bits passwords). In addition, the complete communication can be XOR encrypted using random numbers, which were previously transmitted in an encrypted format. For higher security requirements, an s-box algorithm structure can further increase the level of encryption. These security methods reduce the threat of attack and make the manufacture of tag copies next to impossible. Additional security features Atmel’s tags have an asynchronous digital design and a special metal cover on the memory cell, both of which render power spectrum analysis impossible. An additional UV protective layer on the wafer prevents erasing of the EEPROM memory by strong UV light sources. Atmel’s IDIC® ATA5593 offers the ﬁrst EPC Gen2 conforming product with the TagSEcure security concept. Its 3-kBit memory enables decentralized data storage and unique security methods. The TagSEcure concept prevents the cloning of tags and delivers excellent data protection for the information stored in the tags’ memory. Atmel’s RFID road map contains tag ICs with higher memory density and tag ICs with integrated sensors for temperature, pressure and shock, all based on passive, semi-passive, or active RFID technology. About the author Alexander Kurz (Dipl.-Ing.) studied Electronic Engineering with a focus on system and semiconductor engineering at the Technical University in Heilbronn, Germany. After working as an RFID application engineer for TEMIC (later Atmel) in Heilbronn, Germany, he moved to the system and IC development group where he was responsible for various high-volume infrared receiver projects. Later he was responsible for the RFID LF development. Since 2005, he is Atmel’s marketing manager for the RFID UHF product line. made up of ﬁve banks (or pages) – EPC, TID, Reserved, User (optional) and Shadow memory. The basis of the EPC business model, the 96-bit EPC number, framed by protocol information bits (PC protocol control) and the checkbits (CRC16), is stored in the EPC bank. With Atmel’s ATA5593, the EPC page, instead of the normal 96 bits (+16bit PC), is extended to 576 bits. For special applications, the page can also be subdivided into two independent ID blocks. In addition, for many closed applications with an existing ISO number scheme, a expansion of the EPC number up to 496 bits is possible. Manufacturer information, version numbers, and ISO information is stored in the TID bank. The optional user bank, can reach a size of 2048 bits and can be used for memory intensive applications required by the automotive, aircraft, and AVI industries. To write to or kill a tag, passwords are required, which are stored in a special “reserved” area. An extended “reserved” bank used to stored additional passwords, in combination with a non-readable shadow bank, where access rights to each of Atmel’s 64 x 32/bit blocks are conﬁgured, provide the basis for the Atmel’s TagSecure™ security concept. Encrypted communication with TagSEcure Figure 2 shows communication between a reader and a tag during the access of special private data in the user memory. With the model on the left of the illustration, the EPC mandatory speciﬁcation, there is no additional data protection employed. The data is transmitted in “plain” format over the air Company Information Atmel www.atmel.com/products/RFID Microwave Engineering Europe ● October 2007 ● www.mwee.com 018-019-020_MWEE.indd 20 19/09/07 12:04:01 http://www.atmel.com/products/RFID http://www.mwee.com

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Microwave Engineering Europe - October 2007 Contents Comment News CMOS RF: Si-On-Sapphire Goes Mainstream Cover Feature: New Data Protection Concept for UHF RFID Tags CMOS RF: RF Design Team Touts CMOS Spin for 3G PAs Wireless HID – Are You Following the Standard to Another “Average” Product Development? Phase Optimisation of the RF Front-End Direct Synthesis of UWB-WiMedia Signal Generation 4G Chips to Target 700 MHz Applications Femtocells Mobilize to Fight Wi-Fi in the Home Products Product Feature: AXIEM Pioneers the Future of EM Technology Calendar

Microwave Engineering Europe - October 2007

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