Detecting RFID tag and inhibiting skimming

摘要

A method of detecting an RFID tag includes transmitting a bait RFID read signal at a bait power level and a simulated response signal at a simulated-response power level. A selected reader frequency is monitored for a selected detection time. A skimmer is determined to be present if a skimmer RFID read signal is detected during that time. If a skimmer is not determined to be present, multiple read signals are transmitted sequentially, each signal at a respective read power level. At least one of the read power levels is lower than the bait power level, at least one of the read power levels is lower than the simulated-response power level, and at least two of the read power levels are different from each other. A selected response frequency for a tag is monitored for a response from an RFID tag.

主权项

1. A method of detecting an RFID tag, comprising:
transmitting a bait RFID read signal at a bait power level using an RFID reader; transmitting a simulated response signal at a simulated-response power level; a skimmer-detection step of automatically monitoring a selected reader frequency for a selected detection time using a controller, wherein a skimmer is determined to be present if a skimmer RFID read signal is detected during the selected detection time; if a skimmer is not determined to be present, transmitting multiple read signals sequentially; monitoring a selected response frequency for a tag response from an RFID tag, wherein the tag is detected if the tag response is received; and transmitting each read signal at a respective read power level and wherein at least two of the read power levels are different from each other to indicate that the reader is an authorized reader and receiving the tag response only if the reader is an authorized reader and at least one of the read power levels is lower than the bait power level and at least one of the read power levels is lower than the simulated-response power level.