Anti-Counterfeiting – Local Authentication Of Items Using The TSL 3138 UHF RFID Reader

UHF RFID is a powerful technology enabling item level traceability without line of sight thanks to:

1. Tag Identifiers (TID). A unique, non-alterable identifier programmed by the IC manufacturer, independent of the physical object to track.
2. Electronic Product Codes (EPC). An identifier assigned to a physical object to identify it.

However, the basic UHF RFID identifiers protection techniques such as password protection or custom encoding provide relatively weak protection. Tag Identifiers and EPCs can both be duplicated so identification alone is NOT proof of authenticity. A robust method of authentication is the most secure way to ensure authenticity and highlight counterfeit items.

Local and Remote Authentication Solutions
TSL’s authentication solutions deliver trusted item identities into people’s hands, using secure keys and cryptographic operation. Authentication may be obtained locally, or by using a remote service. The TSL 3138 Reader is unique in that it supports both methods of authentication, with an embedded HID OMNIKEY secure element providing the local authentication method.

The benefits of using Local Authentication:

• Provides a Chain of Trust
• Faster processing
• No network requirement
• Web-service failure resilient
• No SaaS recurring fee

Authentication Status
During an inventory scan, the TSL reader can provide one of the following authentication statuses for each tag found:

• Tag supports authentication and was successfully authenticated
• Tag supports authentication but did not pass the authentication (the tag may be counterfeit)
• Tag does not support authentication (e.g. does not support the Gen2 Authenticate command or has not been provisioned with a secure key)

Our new RFID Inventory app can be used to demonstrate this feature with a selection of tags. Please contact us for a demo and tag samples. Developers can also get started using the new “-au” parameter added to the Inventory (.iv) Command. This application note details how to implement the new authentication parameter within TSL’s ASCII protocol.

TSL’s popular 2128/2128P series has been updated with new, performance-boosting internal hardware together with the market’s most advanced security features. The inclusion of a ‘Power Handle’ increases battery capacity, which combined with more efficient hardware provides longer operating times than ever before. The 3138 Reader is a highly versatile UHF RFID read/write solution leveraging on TSL’s extensive software environment, whilst providing a superior user experience thanks to:

• faster data acquisition
• better RFID performance and processing capabilities
• the most secure UHF handheld reader on the market
• longer operating times and more tags read in a single charge
• new, patent-pending Command Scan feature allows instant configuration of the RFID reader by scanning special barcodes
• an optional Hot Swap accessory allows continuous, 24/7 operation of the handheld reader.
• and many other new and differentiating features