Patent ID: 7287693

Claim:
A method for providing secure access to a workstation, comprising: broadcasting an interrogation signal within a predetermined operation area; if an RFID tag is within the predetermined operation area, transmitting a response signal from the RFID tag to a transceiver; forwarding the response signal to a remote server; comparing user credential data of the response signal to user credential data stored in a database accessed by the remote server; if the credential data of the response signal matches the stored user credential data, sending a log-on command from the remote server to a workstation located within the predetermined operation area to enable access to the workstation; wherein transmitting comprises signing the response signal and wherein signing comprises: generating a hash value from tag identification data using a hash function stored on the RFID tag; combining the hash value and a tag private key to form a signature function; and transmitting the signature function as part of the response signal.