RFID authentication architecture and methods for RFID authentication

1. A method for mutual authentication in an RFID system comprising an RFID reader and an RFID tag, the method comprising:

requesting an identification from the tag;

receiving the identification;

using the received identification to select a password associated with the identification;

generating a password key based on the selected password, wherein the password key is generated using a mathematical kernel selected from a set of indexed mathematical kernels, wherein each mathematical kernel is adapted to receive a respective set of inputs, each set of inputs comprising a tap set, a number of cycles to be run, and an initialization vector;

encrypting the selected password using the password key; and

transmitting the encrypted password to the tag.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement from the tag indicating that the tag was able to decrypt the password and authenticate the reader based on the transmitted, encrypted password;

generating a read memory request;

transmitting the read memory request to the tag; and

receiving data from the tag in response to the read memory request.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a negative acknowledgement from the tag indicating that the tag could not decrypt the password and authenticate the reader based on the transmitted, encrypted password;

indexing to a known password key state;

transmitting an index for the known password key state to the tag;

receiving an acknowledgement from the tag indicating that the tag received the index;

encrypting the password with the known password key; and

transmitting the newly encrypted password to the tag.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement from the tag indicating that the tag was able to decrypt the password and authenticate the reader based on the transmitted, newly encrypted password;

generating a read memory request;

transmitting the read memory request to the tag; and

receiving data from the tag in response to the read memory request.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising scrambling the selected password.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein scrambling the selected password comprises shuffling bits of the password.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein scrambling the selected password comprises exchanging bits of the password.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein scrambling the selected password comprises altering bits of the password.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mathematical kernel is selected based on a length of the selected password.

10. A method for mutual authentication in an RFID system comprising an RFID reader and an RFID tag, the method comprising:

providing a tag identifier to the reader;

receiving an encrypted password in response;

decrypting the encrypted password using a password key, wherein the password key is generated using a mathematical kernel selected from a set of indexed mathematical kernels, wherein each mathematical kernel is adapted to receive a respective set of inputs, each set of inputs comprising a tap set, a number of cycles to be run, and an initialization vector;

verifying the decrypted password;

sending an acknowledgement if the password can be detected and verified;

receiving a read memory request in response to the acknowledgement; and

executing the read memory request.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

transmitting a negative acknowledgement if the password cannot be decrypted and verified;

receiving an index to a known password key state in response to the negative acknowledgement;

transmitting an acknowledgement in response to the known password key index;

receiving an encrypted password;

decrypting the encrypted password using the known password key;

verifying the decrypted password;

sending an acknowledgement if the password can be detected and verified;

receiving a read memory request m response to the acknowledgement; and

executing the read memory request.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the encrypted password is also scrambled, and herein the method further comprises descrambling the selected password.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein descrambling the selected password comprises shuffling bits of the password.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein descrambling the selected password comprises exchanging bits of the password.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein descrambling the selected password comprises altering bits of the password.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the mathematical kernel is selected based on a length of the selected password.