Active RFID systems are called "active" when the transponder contains a battery (Disadvantages: maintenance, temperature range, environmental issues. Advantage: often longer operating range than passive systems.)
Anticollision Technology used to communicate with two or more transponders simultaneously when they are within the RF field of one read/write unit.
Authentication A method to prevent fraud with contact and contactless smart cards by ensuring that only a read/write unit and a smart card, belonging to the same service, can communicate with each other.
Auto-Talking A transponder is called "auto-talking" when it starts sending its memory content as soon as it enters an RF field from a read/write unit, without the need of a special command.
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B
Base Station (synonym: read/write unit) An electronic device, comprising a RF-transmitter and receiver and an antenna to communicate with RFID transponders and contactless smart cards. With its digital interface it connects to host systems like access control terminals, ticket vending machines, car immobilizer units etc.
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C
Challenge-Response Security method used for authentication.
Chip Card In contrast to magnetic stripe cards it contains at least one integrated circuit (IC) to perform its functionality.
Combi-Card Chip card that combines the functionality of a contactless and contact card in one card, often allowing the use of shared memory using either the contactless or the contact interface.
Contactless Smart Card A chip card with contactless (RF) interface, that has the functionality (but sometimes not exactly the architecture) of a smart card, namely: multi-application memory, security procedures like authentication and encryption, and calculation capabilities for values stored on the card.
Co-Processor Dedicated hardware implementation of functions that can be performed faster in parallel logic than in sequential software.
CORSAIR Computing RSA In-a-Rush. A cryptographic acceleration coprocessor. CORSAIR was the first to solve public key cryptography on smart cards in a fast and cost efficient way, spurring the growth of new products.
CPU Central Processing Unit. The functional unit in a processor that does the computing. It reads instructions and data from memory and performs the arithmetic and logic operations defined by the instruction. A complete computer system includes CPU, memory, input and output devices and ports for parallel or serial communication links.
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D
Data Carrier (synonym: tag, transponder.) Mobile RFID memory consisting of memory, a transmitter and a receiver in a plastic housing unit or plastic card. Some transponders have additional functions to secure, protect or select access to the transponder. Data Retention Time stating how long an EEPROM memory cell can store its content before it needs to be refreshed. (Typically 10 years, value is highly dependable on ambient temperature.)
Debit Card See Memory Card.
DES Data Encryption Standard. First crypto algorithm function to be implemented on a smart card. It represents the first generation of crypto smart card ICs by Philips. Its successful launch in 1985 by Philips was a breakthrough for the further spread of smart cards in the field of security applications.
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E
EDI Electronic Data Interchange.
EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory. Special non-volatile memory that can be erased and (re)programmed electrically. Commonly used in RFID systems, contact and contactless smart cards. Retains the content of its memory even when the power is turned off.
Encryption A method used to hide the content of a message or data from unauthorized access. In RFID systems and contactless smart cards encryption is used to protect secrets (access rights) or values (electronic purse) stored in the card's memory.
EPROM Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory. A special non-volatile memory that can be erased when exposed to strong doses of ultraviolet light. After erasing, EPROM memory can be reprogrammed. Erasing requires physically removing the device and placing it under a strong UV light for several minutes. Programming requires placing it into a special programmer unit.
EUROCHIP Part of Philips Memory Card IC Family of products, the EUROCHIP family is dedicated to highly secured stored value applications with decrement control. The goal behind the EUROCHIP concept is to meet e.g. the specific requirements of various global telecom companies. With the necessary agreements in place among the different telecom companies regarding access, security and billing systems, it would be possible for a EUROCHIP based phone card to be used in a country other from where it was issue.
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F
FabKey® is a security procedure developed and implemented by Philips to take care of total chip security before shipment to the customer.
FAME Fast Accelerator for Modular Exponentiation. The leading coprocessor in public key cryptography acceleration on smart chip cards. FAME offers flexibility of variable keys of any length (e.g. even 2048 bits) to be calculated in an extremely short time. Such performance brings new applications for chip cards requiring maximum security with complex and fast calculation procedures.
Frequencies Used Common frequencies for RFID and contactless smart cards are: Low: 125 kHz; Medium: 2 to 15 MHz, especially: 13.56 MHz; High (Microwave): 455 MHz, 2.45 GHz.
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G
GSM Global System for Mobiles. The European digital radio system protocol. It's the world's leading standard mobile communications system.
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H
HiTag - Phillips Brand Memory Chip
Hybrid card Chip card that contains a contactless IC and a contact IC in the same housing (plastic card), but acts as two separate cards. No direct interface between the two IC's exist.
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I
IC(s) Integrated Circuit(s). Inductive Coupling Method for transmission of data and power using coils to transmit and receive electromagnetic fields. Inductive coupling is commonly used for RFID systems and contactless smart cards. ISO 10536 Contactless Smart Card standard. ISO 11784/85 Animal ID standard defining frequencies, baud rate, bit coding and data structures of the transponders used for animal identification. ISO 7816 Contact Smart Card standard.
ITAG Dalton RFID eartag rated within top 3 RFID eartags worldwide. Read distance >1.6m ISO standard, ICAR Approved, DEFRA Approved, BSI PAS, ISO 9000
ISO 11784 and 11785 are standards agreed for the specification of transponder and reader format and protocol. The tag format allows for a binary code up to; 274 877 906 944 to be written to the chip.
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M
Memory Card A chip card designed for applications needing a first level of access control. Used for prepaid telephone cards, identification, loyalty cards or simplified electronic purses with secured access and deduction control, for data storage with read and write access every kind of information can be stored as digital data in its non-volatile memory with serial access.
Microcontroller A complete microprocessor on a chip. Includes CPU, local RAM or EPROM, clock and control circuits, and serial and parallel I/0 ports.
Microprocessor The computing heart of a system placed on a single chip. Includes CPU, internal registers, control logic and bus interfaces to external memory and I/O ports. Some advanced systems also include floating point processors and some memory.
Multimode Transponders are called "multimode" when they can be programmed to operate according to several different standards.
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O
OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer.
OTP One Time Programmable memory. OTP can be programmed once and are afterwards write protected. The programmed memory acts like a read only memory (ROM). Often used to program the RFID number to match a number printed on the outside of the transponder packaging (such as livestock eartags).
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P
Passive RFID systems are called "passive" when the transponders do not contain a battery for power supply. Passive RFID systems receive the required energy by RF transmission from the read/write unit. Password Check Security procedure used for authentication.
PKA Public Key Algorithm. A cryptosystem based on asymmetric calculations implemented into the architecture of a smart card for dependable and highly secured smart card transactions.
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R
RAM Random Access Memory. A memory that stores data or instructions in static or dynamic cells. Content can be read and written freely. Static RAMs can be faster and require low power just to maintain memory contents. Dynamic RAMs require additional refresh circuitry that provides an electrical refresh pulse on a regular basis.
Read Only Transponders that have a (often factory programmed) code that cannot be altered. Usually this is cross linked in a database if required.
Read/Write Transponders that have a programmable memory that can be reprogrammed by the user or system. Read/Write Unit (synonym: base station) an electronic device, comprising an RF-transmitter and receiver and an antenna to communicate with RFID transponders and contactless smart cards. With its digital interface it connects to host systems like access control terminals, ticket vending machines, car immobilizer units etc.
RF Radio Frequency. Electromagnetic waves in the range of some hundred KHz upto 2 GHz. RFID Radio Frequency Identification. A technology that uses contactless communication to identify objects or people, to store data or values, or to secure information and access, without physical or visual contact between the read/write unit and the transponder or chip card. Generally comprises two components, namely transponders, that are attached to the goods to be labeled or carried by persons, and read/write units for communication with the transponders.
ROM Read Only Memory. A memory that stores data and instructions permanently. Contents are placed into memory at the time of manufacture and cannot be altered. Widely used in microcontroller applications.
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S
Serial Interface A data channel that transfers digital data (1's and 0's) in a serial fashion, one bit after another. Serial interfaces save space by requiring few lines compared to parallel interfaces but at the sacrifice of data transfer speeds.
SIM Card Subscriber Identity Module. Inserted via a smart card into the mobile digital phone to identify the subscriber.
Smart Card A chip card that has a microcontroller-based IC embedded in a credit card size piece of plastic that stores various data in on-chip non-volatile memories. Because there is a computer architecture at the heart of these card-ICs, it is also possible to build in very high levels of computing power and security. Invariably, however, there is a trade-off between chip size, cost, access time and level of security.
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T
Tag (synonym: transponder, data carrier.) Mobile RFID memory consisting of memory, a transmitter and a receiver in a plastic housing unit or plastic card. Some transponders have additional functions to secure, protect or select access to the transponder.
Transponder (synonym: tag, data carrier) Mobile RFID memory consisting of memory, a transmitter and a receiver in a plastic housing unit or plastic card. Some transponders have additional functions to secure, protect or select access to the transponder.
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W
Write Endurance Number of times the memory of an EEPROM can be rewritten. Typical values are 10,000 or 100,000 times.
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