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Firewall Protection for Paper Documents
A new chipless RFID system could protect sensitive documents and banknotes and eventually create "hands-free" bar code scanning.
Feb. 11, 2004—CrossID, an Israeli startup founded by two engineers formerly at the telecommunications equipment provider RAD Group, has developed an innovative, chipless RFID system that can protect sensitive documents, such as intelligence agency reports, financial securities and banknotes. The technology could also be used to create a "hands-free" bar code.
The system uses "nanometric" materials—tiny particles of chemicals with varying degrees of magnetism—that resonate when bombarded with electromagnetic waves from a reader. Each chemical emits its own distinct radio frequency, or “note," that is picked up by the reader, and all the notes emitted by a specific mix of different chemicals are then interpreted as a binary number. Since the system uses up to 70 different chemicals, each chemical is assigned its own position in a 70-digit binary number.
For example, if the chemicals A, B, C and D were assigned to the first, second, third and fourth positions in the 70-digit number, then a mixture consisting of A and C would represent the binary number 1010 followed by 66 zeros. CrossID is testing readers that operate at three to 10 GHz, which is higher than the frequencies commonly used by wireless LANs and handheld computers, although the company has not made a final determination on what frequency the readers will use.
The tiny chemical particles can be embedded in or printed on paper. Readers can be placed inside copy machines to prevent unauthorized copying. One application would be to require that any document printed on CrossID's special paper be photocopied onto the same type of paper. That way, an intelligence agency, financial institution or even a company wanting to protect its intellectual property could install readers at building exits to prevent unauthorized people from copying documents and leaving the building with them.
"Previously, there has been no way to protect paper documents," says Moshe Glickstein, who cofounded CrossID with Michael Shafir. "We have created the first firewall for paper documents."
The technology is similar to a system developed by Inkode. The Inkode system randomly embeds tiny aluminum fibers in paper or packaging and then interprets the reflected signal (see 1-Cent RFID Tags for Supermarkets). Like Inkode, CrossID's technology can be used for applications beyond just protecting documents. It can be used for anticounterfeiting and tracking of goods.
Glickstein says CrossID's big advantage is that the tag can be printed on just about anything. "Because it's printable, it does not complicate the process of producing the product," he says. "It's as easy to create as a printed bar code. And we can print in invisible mode for extra security. Printing the tags cost less than 1 cent each."
Glickstein envisions companies using CrossID ink to print bar codes representing a product’s stock-keeping unit (SKU) number or unique EPC number, with the printer applying a specific chemical mix corresponding to the number being printed. Once a product’s bar code is printed using CrossID ink, a company could scan the bar code from 10 feet away, without a line-of-sight requirement. In environments where there are lots of metallic or water-filled objects, however, CrossID readers may not be able to scan bar codes printed with CrossID ink because metal reflects RF signals and water absorbs them (conventional RFID systems have the same issues).
But the CrossID system has the advantage of being able to work with existing bar code systems. Companies using the system, therefore, do not have to do major upgrades to their application software and databases. Instead, they can just match the CrossID number gleaned from the resonating ink to the existing bar code number.
CrossID has built a laboratory prototype reader and proved the concept. It is now in the process of raising $15 million in funding to create its first commercial products. Glickstein says that by the end of the year, the company should have its document-protection system ready. A year after that, the system for printing bar codes should be commercially available.
The system uses "nanometric" materials—tiny particles of chemicals with varying degrees of magnetism—that resonate when bombarded with electromagnetic waves from a reader. Each chemical emits its own distinct radio frequency, or “note," that is picked up by the reader, and all the notes emitted by a specific mix of different chemicals are then interpreted as a binary number. Since the system uses up to 70 different chemicals, each chemical is assigned its own position in a 70-digit binary number.
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| Moshe Glickstein |
The tiny chemical particles can be embedded in or printed on paper. Readers can be placed inside copy machines to prevent unauthorized copying. One application would be to require that any document printed on CrossID's special paper be photocopied onto the same type of paper. That way, an intelligence agency, financial institution or even a company wanting to protect its intellectual property could install readers at building exits to prevent unauthorized people from copying documents and leaving the building with them.
"Previously, there has been no way to protect paper documents," says Moshe Glickstein, who cofounded CrossID with Michael Shafir. "We have created the first firewall for paper documents."
The technology is similar to a system developed by Inkode. The Inkode system randomly embeds tiny aluminum fibers in paper or packaging and then interprets the reflected signal (see 1-Cent RFID Tags for Supermarkets). Like Inkode, CrossID's technology can be used for applications beyond just protecting documents. It can be used for anticounterfeiting and tracking of goods.
Glickstein says CrossID's big advantage is that the tag can be printed on just about anything. "Because it's printable, it does not complicate the process of producing the product," he says. "It's as easy to create as a printed bar code. And we can print in invisible mode for extra security. Printing the tags cost less than 1 cent each."
Glickstein envisions companies using CrossID ink to print bar codes representing a product’s stock-keeping unit (SKU) number or unique EPC number, with the printer applying a specific chemical mix corresponding to the number being printed. Once a product’s bar code is printed using CrossID ink, a company could scan the bar code from 10 feet away, without a line-of-sight requirement. In environments where there are lots of metallic or water-filled objects, however, CrossID readers may not be able to scan bar codes printed with CrossID ink because metal reflects RF signals and water absorbs them (conventional RFID systems have the same issues).
But the CrossID system has the advantage of being able to work with existing bar code systems. Companies using the system, therefore, do not have to do major upgrades to their application software and databases. Instead, they can just match the CrossID number gleaned from the resonating ink to the existing bar code number.
CrossID has built a laboratory prototype reader and proved the concept. It is now in the process of raising $15 million in funding to create its first commercial products. Glickstein says that by the end of the year, the company should have its document-protection system ready. A year after that, the system for printing bar codes should be commercially available.
READERS' COMMENTS
As if anybody would stick to that rule ...
CrossID's premise of "One application would be to require that any document printed on CrossID's special paper be photocopied onto the same type of paper" is so flawed that it is pitiful they even dared mentioning it. Which intellectual property thief would be stupid enough to do that? Those who would could probably be nominated for an off-spring of the Darwin Award. Anybody with an intent to photocopy would simply use regular copy paper (if s/he wanted to risk being caught with it). Alternatively, the information could easily be scanned and stored in a less obtrusive form, i.e. in an USB drive key chain attachment or on a CD-ROM or writeable DVD with an inoccuous label (to name just a few).
Posted By: I. Matos 2/12/2004 at 6:37:24 AM
RFID ink
What happens if I paint over the bar code with one of the 70 chemicals that is not on the paper. Does this result in putting a binary 1 into the code where it doesn't belong changing the classification of the paper?
Posted By: S. Jain 2/13/2004 at 4:17:05 AM
RE: As if anybody would stick to that rule ...
In high security environments, where Top Secret information is accessed, there are numerous applications for this technology. Use your imagination.... First of all, in these type of environments, people just plain dont have USB drives, cameras, cell phones, etc. You dont enter the buildings with them, or leave. Second, it would not be completely far fetched that these institutions would install maybe a RFID reader on their copy machines, if the reader detected a 'protected' document, it just plain wouldnt copy the document. There are many ways this COULD work, and is really an interesting application of the technology.
Posted By: M. Chang 2/14/2004 at 5:25:15 AM
Is this an attempt to raise money?
This appears to be a copycat, I wonder if Inkode is aware? I recall that Inkode also has inks which work and I have seen their system work with and definately without barcodes. $ 0.001 seems to be around the cost of ink without any additional things added, is this another claim in the family of the shrinking price which is related to shrinking realities. I have, and our company members have seen a demonstration of the Inkode system using special NWA baggage tags being tested at 40 ft. I was then told that thy (airlines) were waiting for the chip tag, since it would do the same. I wonder if the Inkode system is now used by TSA?
Posted By: R. 2/14/2004 at 11:54:36 AM
CrossID Contact Information
Does anyone have contact informatin for CrossID?
Posted By: G. Gotthelf 2/19/2004 at 6:24:02 AM
RE: CrossID Contact Information
> > Does anyone have contact informatin for CrossID? moshe@crossid.com
Posted By: S. Aggarwal 3/06/2004 at 7:26:06 AM
RE: As if anybody would stick to that rule ...
You forgot the spy camera. Their technology only makes it slightly more difficult to leak documents. A digital camera can do the job regardless how bullet-proof their system is.
Posted By: R. 4/12/2004 at 8:31:29 PM
Do you use same chemical particles for the same paper
What I am confused about is that the chemical particles used will be converted to binary format which then give a unique number.Now this unique number will solve what sort of purpose? Will all the paper have same unique number or just a bunch of papers will have same unique numbers? What will be effect when a reader reads a paper with such a binary number? Do we really need an unique binary format? These documents can be copied on printers which doesnt have readers installed? What is the solution for that? Can these doucments be scanned? Well I might sound stupid but please englighten me with this new technology. NOVICE
Posted By: R. 5/10/2004 at 3:57:02 AM
Copier control...
Daniel, We at Guardbook Technologies (www.guardbook.com) have been successfully experimenting with copier control for sensitive documents. The copier in this case does not make any copies unless the person is authorised to make copies. Regards, Punya > Second, it would not be completely far fetched that these > institutions would install maybe a RFID reader on their > copy machines, if the reader detected a 'protected' > document, it just plain wouldnt copy the document. >
Posted By: R. 11/20/2004 at 7:40:14 PM