Method and system for supplying target information
In a method and a system ( 1 ) for providing target information of an event message for an event occurring at a tag reader ( 2 ), the target information is extracted from a signed digital certificate of a tag ( 4 ). The event is triggered at a tag reader ( 2 ) and can be evaluated by a target computer ( 6 ), for example a server. The method and system enhance reconfiguration flexibility and also increase security against manipulation.
1. A method for transferring payload data between tags, comprising:
wirelessly communicating a certificate request to a first tag, the certificate request comprising a request for a digital certificate from the first tag,
wirelessly receiving the digital certificate from the first tag, the digital certificate including target information comprising an address of a second tag,
wirelessly receiving payload data from the first tag,
extracting from the received digital certificate of the first tag the target information comprising the address of the second tag, and
transferring the payload data from the first tag to the second tag using the address of the second tag extracted from the digital certificate of the first tag.
2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising generating and forwarding an event message associated with an event triggered by the first tag via a network to at least one target computer addressed based on the extracted target information.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the event message has a tag ID of the first tag and a reader ID of tag reader.
4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the event message contains data which includes location data of the tag reader, an event time and the payload data received from the first tag.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the target information extracted from the first tag includes the address of the second tag and an address of a target computer, and wherein the method further comprises:
authenticating the first tag by a tag reader based on a public tag key extracted from the digital certificate, and
reporting an event triggered by the first tag by generating and sending an associated event message to the target computer addressed by the extracted target information.
6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the event triggered by the first tag comprises a base event in the form of a data access to the first tag or an application-specific event of an application program.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the address of the target commuter comprises a URL address, an IP address, or a MAC address of the target computer.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the extracted target information comprises a compressed mapping value which references a target address stored in a memory.
9. A system for transferring payload data between tags, comprising:
a tag reader configured to:
wirelessly communicate a certificate request to a first tag, the certificate request comprising a request for a digital certificate from the first tag,
wirelessly receive the digital certificate from the first tag, the digital certificate including target information comprising an address of a second tag,
wirelessly receive payload data from the first tag,
extract from the received digital certificate of the first tag the target information comprising the address of the second tag, and
forward the payload data for delivery to the second tag based on the address of the second tag extracted from the digital certificate of the first tag.
10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein:
the target information extracted from the first tag includes the address of the second tag and an address of a target computer, and
forwarding the payload data for delivery to the second tag comprises generating and forwarding an event message associated with an event triggered by the first tag via at least one network to the target computer addressed by the extracted target information.
11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the event message contains data which includes location data of the tag reader, an event time and the payload data received from the first tag.
12. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the tag reader is mobile and has a location detection device for generating location data.
13. A tag comprising:
a radio interface for exchanging data with a tag reader,
a nonvolatile memory having a reserved memory area for a signed digital certificate and having an unreserved memory area for payload data, and
an authentication unit for authenticating the tag,
wherein the signed digital certificate includes target information comprising the address of another tag, and
wherein the tag is configured to:
wirelessly receive a certificate request from the tag reader, the certificate request comprising a request for the signed digital certificate from the tag, and
wirelessly transmit to the tag reader (a) the sinned digital certificate including target information comprising the address of the other tag, and (b) payload data, such that the tag reader can forward the payload data for delivery by the other tag using the address of the other tag included in the signed digital certificate.
14. The tag according to claim 13 , wherein the tag comprises at least one sensor for generating sensor payload data.
15. The tag according to claim 13 , wherein the tag is an RFID tag which is attached to product packaging or to a product, or is integrated in a product.
16. The tag according to claim 13 , wherein the event message includes a data packet which may be forwarded via at least one network to a target computer which is addressed by the target information.
17. The tag according to claim 13 , wherein the event message contains data which includes location data of the tag reader, an event time and the payload data provided by the first tag.
18. The tag according to claim 13 , wherein the tag reader is mobile and has a location detection device for generating location data.