July 06, 2006
Combining RFID and Biometrics For Security
Semiconductor manufacturer Broadcom now has a processor chip that requires fingerprint authorization to give up data on an integrated RFID tag. Other companies have also recently released what they call secure RFID chips. However, this is one of the first (if not the first) that integrates biometrics and RFID natively.
This is different than the identification system used by the US Coast Guard at their facilities in Washington state and Washington, D.C. This system also uses both RFID and biometrics, but the two technologies are actually running independent of each other. The biometrics component allows access to various areas at the facilities, and the RFID smartcard component is acts as a redundancy check. RFID tags are also used on authorized vehicles to allow vehicle access.
The Broadcom processor chip is a decided step forward in security for RFID applications because the biometrics and RFID work in tandem. If a fingerprint scan does not match one that's stored, information from the integrated RFID tag will not be accessible.
The chip is designed to be used for secure access applications to physical areas, devices such as laptops, or electronic funds. Now while the press release mentions the use of this chip for contactless payment applications, obviously once biometrics enters the picture, the system ceases to be contactless.
However, if the processor were used with some sort of keyfob, users could simultaneously verify their identify with the fingerprint reader and wave the fob to make a payment or otherwise gain access. Their privacy is also protected, as they would carry the device that both stores and verifies their fingerprint.
Privaris is one company that has developed such a biometric fob that uses the Broadcom processor. Their fob works on four different communications channels: 125 Khz and 13.56 Mhz RFID, 2.45 Ghz Bluetooth, and USB.
Sensing other similar developments, Broadcom has released an API (Application Programmer Interface) kit for developers who want to write software applications for their processor. The primary drawback for some companies might be that the processor chip costs US$15 for quantites of 10,000 and up.
Sources: PR Newswire and numerous other sites.
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