MIFARE is reputedly the most widely installed contactless smartcard technology in the world with 500 million smart card chips and 5 million reader modules sold. The technology is patented by NXP Semiconductors. With the respective busines sites in Hamburg, Germany and in Gratkorn, Austria. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a method of remotely storing and retrieving data using devices called RFID tags. ... A smart card, or integrated circuit(s) card (ICC), is defined as any integrated circuitry embedded into a flat, plastic body. ... A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a state to a patentee (the inventor or assignee) for a fixed period of time in exchange for the regulated, public disclosure of certain details of a device, method, process or composition of matter (substance) (known as an invention) which... For other uses of NXP, see NXP (disambiguation). ...

The MIFARE propietary technology is based upon the ISO 14443 (RFID) Type A 13.56 MHz contactless smart card standard. ISO 14443 defines a proximity card used for identification that usually uses the standard credit card form factor defined by ISO 7810 ID-1. ... MegaHertz (MHz) is the name given to one million (106) Hertz, a measure of frequency. ...

The technology is embodied in both cards and readers (also referred to as a Proximity Coupling Device).

The MIFARE name covers 2 really different kind of contactless cards : Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a method of remotely storing and retrieving data using devices called RFID tags. ...

• MIFARE Standard (or Classic) cards employ a proprietary high-level protocol instead of ISO 14443-4, with a Philips proprietary security protocol for authentication and ciphering. MIFARE UltraLight cards employ the same protocol, but without the security part.
• MIFARE ProX, and SmartMX, are NXP Semiconductors brand names for smartcards that comply to ISO 14443-4 (T=CL).

For other uses of NXP, see NXP (disambiguation). ... A smartcard or smart card is a tiny secure cryptoprocessor embedded within a credit card-sized or smaller (like the GSM SIM) card. ...

MIFARE Standard

The MIFARE Classic and MIFARE UltraLight cards are fundamentally just memory storage devices, where the memory is divided into segments and blocks with simple security mechanisms for access control. They are ASIC based and therefore have limited computational power. Thanks to their low cost and reliability, those cards are widely used for electronic wallet, access control, corporate ID cards, transportation or stadium ticketing. In security, specifically physical security, the term access control refers to the practice of restricting entrance to a property, a building, or a room to authorized persons. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

The MIFARE Standard 1k offers about 768 bytes of data storage, split into 16 sectors; each sector is protected by two different keys, called A and B. They can be programmed for operations like reading, writing, increasing value blocks, etc.). MIFARE Standard 4k offers 3 kB split into 64 sectors.

The MIFARE UltraLight has only 512 bits of memory (i.e. 64 bytes), without security. This card is so inexpensive it is often used for disposable tickets.

MIFARE T=CL cards

MIFARE ProX and SmartMX are microprocessor based cards. The hardware does nothing on its own, it has to be programmed with dedicated software - an operating system. Most of the time, the microprocessor is coupled to a co-processor dedicated to fast cryptographic computations (e.g., Triple DES, AES, RSA, etc.). These Cards are capable to execute complex operations as secure and fast as known from contact based cards, which includes Java based operating systems such as JCOP. A microprocessor (sometimes abbreviated µP) is a programmable digital electronic component that incorporates the functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on a single semiconducting integrated circuit (IC). ... A microprocessor (sometimes abbreviated µP) is a programmable digital electronic component that incorporates the functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on a single semiconducting integrated circuit (IC). ... In cryptography, Triple DES (also 3DES) is a block cipher formed from the Data Encryption Standard (DES) cipher. ... In cryptography, the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), also known as Rijndael, is a block cipher adopted as an encryption standard by the U.S. government. ... This article is about an algorithm for public-key encryption. ...

Depending on the installed software, the card can be used for almost any kind of application. This kind of card is mostly used where a high level of security is required (e.g., secure travel documents, electronic passports, payment card, etc.)

MIFARE DESFire

The MIFARE DESFire is a special release of Philips SmartMX platform. It is sold already programmed with a general purpose software (the DESFire operating system) that offers more or less the same functions as MIFARE Standard (4kB data storage split into 16 areas) but with higher flexibility, stronger triple-DES security, and faster T=CL communication. Philips HQ in Amsterdam Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Royal Philips Electronics N.V.), usually known as Philips, (Euronext: PHIA, NYSE: PHG) is one of the largest electronics companies in the world. ...

The typical read/write distance between card and reader is 10 cm (4 inches), but actual distance depends on the field power generated by the reader and its antenna size.

The simplicity of the basic cards means that they are inexpensive, which is largely the reason for their success in large-scale deployments, such as Oyster card. The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing designed for use on Transport for London and National Rail services within the Greater London area of England. ...

History

• 1994 — MIFARE Standard 1k contactless technology introduced.
• 1996 — First transport scheme in Seoul using MIFARE Standard 1k.
• 1997 — MIFARE PRO with Triple DES coprocessor introduced.
• 1999 — MIFARE PROX with PKI coprocessor introduced.
• 2001 — MIFARE UltraLight introduced.
• 2002 — MIFARE DESFire introduced, microprocessor based product.
• 2004 — MIFARE DESFire SAM introduced, secure infrastructure counterpart of MIFARE DESFire.

Mifare was developed by Mikron, which stands for MIkron FARE-collection System. It was acquired by Philips in 1998. Before Mifare, Mikron developed LEGIC with contract paid by Kaba in Switzerland. Because of the LEGIC contract, Mikron developed a new chip based on their former development. Mikron licensed the Mifare technology to Atmel in the US, Philips in the Netherlands, and Siemens in Germany. 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Seoul (Sŏul[1] 서울)   is the capital and largest city of South Korea (Republic of Korea). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In cryptography, Triple DES (also 3DES) is a block cipher formed from the Data Encryption Standard (DES) cipher. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... In cryptography, a public key infrastructure (PKI) is an arrangement that provides for trusted third party vetting of, and vouching for, user identities. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... A microprocessor (sometimes abbreviated µP) is a programmable digital electronic component that incorporates the functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on a single semiconducting integrated circuit (IC). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

After the Philips acquisition, Hitachi contracted Mifare license with Philips which was introduced for the development of the contactless smartcard solution for NTT IC telephone card which started in 1999 and finished in 2006. In the NTT contactless IC telephone card project, 3 parties joined. They are Tokin-Tamura-Siemens, Hitachi-(Philips-contract for technical support), Denso-(Motorola-only production). NTT asked 2 version of chips, i.e. wired-logic chip (like Mifare classic) with small memory and big memory capacitance. Hitachi developed only big memory version and cut part of the memory to fit for the small memory version. Siemens developed only wired-logic chip based on their Mifare technology with some modification. Motorola tried to develop Mifare-like chip for wired-logic version but finally gave up. The project expected 1 million cards per month for start, but fell to 0.1 million per month just before they gave up the project.

See also

• RFID
• Touch 'n Go
• Upass, T-money - first Mifare-based system.
• Mybi also uses Mifare technology.
• Oyster card - uses MIFARE technology.
• SAG - Securitag Assembly Group - uses MIFARE technology

An EPC RFID tag used for Wal-Mart Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. ... The Touch n Go smart card is used by Malaysian toll highway operators as the sole electronic payment system. ... Upass card Upass is a pre-paid card for transportation system in Seoul and its suburbs. ... T-money logo T-money is a pre-paid RF card mainly used for transportation in the Seoul area of South Korea. ... Mybi card is a kind of contactless smartcard. ... The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing designed for use on Transport for London and National Rail services within the Greater London area of England. ... The Securitag Assembly Group Co. ...

External links

• MIFARE official website.
• Philips MIFARE page including success stories and articles.