Hierarchical RFID Tag Ownership and Transfer in Supply Chains

A majority of RFID tag applications are related to tracking and tracing of the RFID-tagged items throughout supply chains. Tracking and tracing require communication with the tag to identify and authenticate the tag. While identification can be readily accomplished in the absence of adversaries, identification and authentication in the presence of adversaries is not a trivial task. This process is exacerbated when the tagged item transfers ownership as it passes through a supply chain. Recent developments in cryptography facilitates accomplishing these in a seamless manner. We consider a specific scenario in supply chains where ownership of RFID-tagged items follow a hierarchical relationship. We present an ownership transfer protocol for this scenario and briefly consider its security properties. The proposed protocol can be used to seamlessly manage hierarchical ownership transfers in supply chains.