Secure Authentication using RFID

TL;DR: Using feature provided by RFID to detect multiple individuals with very short amount of time and provide security with image pattern matching algorithm, one can speed up authentication process.

Abstract: Authentication is an essential issue for any organization. Previously, automated authentication was present using punch cards system, but it had security issues. Now days, organizations prefer to have biometrics based authentication. But using biometrics applications is very costly and time consuming. We can derive a time and cost effective solution for this problem using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). Using feature provided by RFID to detect multiple individuals with very short amount of time and provide security with image pattern matching algorithm. To implement this system, we will interface camera with RFID enabled system which will use Low Frequency (LF) RFID tags. On every detection the camera will capture photograph. Then authentication is processed by using image pattern matching algorithm. Such system will be cost and time effective. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is old technology but more widely used in location tracing and tracking applications, due to wider reading ranges, and larger memory capacities, making it a key contributor to the growth of the radio technology industry. Many large corporations are interested in research and development within the field of RFID due to potential growth in various RFID applications. The people management system is an application where masses data needs to be collected and managed in a short duration. But due to authentication issues with this technology makes it less effective. RFID is an automated data collection technology in which radio communication for data transfer across two entities: a reader and a tag. The tag has two sections: one for radio communication and other for data storage. The tags are broadly classified into 3 categories namely active, passive and semi passive. The active tags have an internal power source e.g. a battery, which limits the life time. A passive tag doesn't have a power source and obtain the energy from the magnetic field of the reader. These types of tags are smaller, cheaper and can be used for long time. The scope of the paper is limited to passive tags. The functionality of RFID Passive tags is very simple. When a tag comes in the vicinity of the reader, it detects the radio signals generated by the reader and start to transmit the data stored in the memory. The radio signal generated by the reader offers the power needed to function and the synchronization data for communication between two entities. RFID has emerged as a key technology for automatic data collection. Using this, one can speed up authentication process. Every individual having RFID enabled identity can be detected in very short amount of time. But problem of secured authentication comes into the picture here. One way is proceeding with camera and matching the pattern for individual's photograph.