Detection of tampering with RFID scan information
The devices, systems, and methods described herein facilitate the detection of tampering with RFID scan information associated with an item carried by a cargo transport platform. In some examples, an RFID reader scans a cargo area of the cargo transport platform to detect RFID tags that are each associated with a particular item carried by the cargo transport platform. The RFID scan information generated by the RFID reader is recorded in a database. If any of the records in the database were tampered with after being recorded, the system uses blockchain technology to enable interested parties to detect the tampering and identify which records were modified, added, or deleted.
1 . A system to detect tampering with data associated with an item carried by a cargo transport platform, the system comprising:
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader comprising:
a receiver configured to receive, from an RFID tag coupled to the item, a radio signal containing identifying information,
a first controller configured to record RFID scan information, which includes the identifying information, in a current record in a first database stored within the RFID reader,
a memory, located within the RFID reader, on which at least one previous record and a public encryption key are stored,
wherein the first controller recording the RFID scan information in the current record in the first database includes the first controller:
performing a hash function on the RFID scan information to obtain a data hash,
generating a record cipher, using the public encryption key, based at least partially on the data hash, a universally unique identifier (UUID) of the previous record, and a UUID of the current record,
generating a blockchain hash of the previous record,
storing, in the memory, the current record, which includes the RFID scan information, the blockchain hash of the previous record, the record cipher, and the UUID of the current record,
encrypting the UUID of the previous record with the public encryption key, and
storing, in the memory, the encrypted UUID of the previous record, and
transmitter configured to transmit the first database to a server,
the server comprising a second controller configured to:
utilize a private decryption key that corresponds with the public encryption key to decrypt records in the first database,
synchronize the first database with a second database stored on the server,
compare the first database with the second database, and
detect, based on the comparison of the first database and the second database, that the first database has been tampered with when there is a discrepancy between the first database and the second database.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader is movable through a cargo area of the cargo transport platform.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the RFID reader is a handheld, portable device.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the RFID reader is controlled by a robotic operator.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader is coupled to the cargo transport platform.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader is disposed at a fixed location within RFID reading range of the RFID tag.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the identifying information includes one or more of the following: a unique identifier (UID) of the RFID tag, and information associated with the item.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID scan information further includes one or more of the following that are associated with an RFID scan: a time at which the RFID scan occurred, a date on which the RFID scan occurred, and geolocation information associated with a geolocation where the RFID scan occurred.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter comprises one or more of the following: a wired transmitter, and a wireless transmitter.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein tampering with the first database includes one or more of the following: modification of one or more of the records in the first database, addition of one or more of the records in the first database, and deletion of one or more of the records in the first database.
11 . A server to detect tampering with tracking data associated with an item, the server comprising:
a receiver configured to receive signals containing data representing a first database stored within a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, the first database comprising records representing RFID scan information associated with the item, the first database generated by:
performing a hash function on the RFID scan information to obtain a data hash,
generating a record cipher, using a public encryption key, based at least partially on the data hash, a universally unique identifier (UUID) of a previous record, and a UUID of a current record,
generating a blockchain hash of the previous record,
storing, in a memory located within the RFID reader, the current record, which includes the RFID scan information, the blockchain hash of the previous record, the record cipher, and the UUID of the current record,
encrypting the UUID of the previous record with the public encryption key, and
storing the encrypted UUID of the previous record; and
a controller configured to:
utilize a private decryption key that corresponds with the public encryption key to decrypt the records in the first database,
synchronize the first database with a second database stored on the server,
compare the first database with the second database, and
detect, based on the comparison of the first database and the second database, that the first database has been tampered with when there is a discrepancy between the first database and the second database.
12 . The server of claim 11 , wherein the RFID scan information includes one or more of the following that are associated with an RFID scan: a time at which the RFID scan occurred, a date on which the RFID scan occurred, and geolocation information associated with a geolocation where the RFID scan occurred.
13 . The server of claim 11 , wherein the receiver comprises one or more of the following: a wired receiver, and a wireless receiver.
14 . The server of claim 11 , wherein tampering with the first database includes one or more of the following: modification of one or more of the records in the first database, addition of one or more of the records in the first database, and deletion of one or more of the records in the first database.
15 . A method of detecting tampering with tracking data associated with an item, the method comprising:
receiving signals containing data representing a first database stored within a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, the first database comprising records representing RFID scan information associated with the item, the first database generated by:
performing a hash function on the RFID scan information to obtain a data hash,
generating a record cipher, using a public encryption key, based at least partially on the data hash, a universally unique identifier (UUID) of a previous record, and a UUID of a current record,
generating a blockchain hash of the previous record,
storing, in a memory located within the RFID reader, the current record, which includes the RFID scan information, the blockchain hash of the previous record, the record cipher, and the UUID of the current record,
encrypting the UUID of the previous record with the public encryption key, and
storing the encrypted UUID of the previous record;
utilizing a private decryption key that corresponds with the public encryption key to decrypt the records in the first database;
synchronizing the first database with a second database stored on a server;
comparing the first database with the second database; and
detecting, based on the comparison of the first database and the second database, that the first database has been tampered with when there is a discrepancy between the first database and the second database.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the RFID scan information includes one or more of the following that are associated with an RFID scan: a time at which the RFID scan occurred, a date on which the RFID scan occurred, and geolocation information associated with a geolocation where the RFID scan occurred.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving signals containing data representing a first database comprises one or more of the following: receiving the signals via a wired receiver, and receiving the signals via a wireless receiver.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein tampering with the first database includes one or more of the following: modification of one or more of the records in the first database, addition of one or more of the records in the first database, and deletion of one or more of the records in the first database.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first database is further generated by:
deleting an unencrypted version of the UUID of the previous record.