DuoLocker

What DuoLocker is for

DuoLocker is an electronic system designed for managing credit linked to the dispensing or use of consumable products.
It was born in the coffee sector, specifically for home coffee machines, with the goal of protecting and safeguarding the sale of original capsules paired with the machine itself.
The principle is simple: thanks to DuoLocker, the user can use the coffee machine only with original capsules, preventing the use of compatible capsules from competitors or third parties. In this way:

1. the manufacturer safeguards its business model, which relies on recurring capsule sales;
2. the consumer benefits from a machine always calibrated to work at its best with the original product;

the entire system (machine + consumable) is controlled more safely and consistently.
However, the concept behind DuoLocker is not limited to the coffee world: the system can be applied to any consumable product where it is useful to associate the use of a device with a specific original good, thereby providing security, loyalty, and brand protection.

What is DuoLocker

DuoLocker is an RFID reader with advanced security features that operates autonomously and is connected to a main device responsible for dispensing the consumable product. Before dispensing, the main device must request authorization from DuoLocker to provide the requested dose.
The process is completely autonomous: DuoLocker reads the content of the RFID tag, identifies the number of remaining credits, and either authorizes or denies dispensing the dose. When the credit runs out, DuoLocker no longer grants authorization to the main device, thus preventing further dispensing.
This system ensures secure and reliable control over product consumption, protecting the original supply and ensuring that the main device dispenses only when valid and verified credits are present, and it can be installed in any product that dispenses a consumable.

In which fields and with which devices can it be used?

DuoLocker can be installed in any device that has a main board capable of communicating with it via a simple serial connection to verify credit availability.
Thanks to its flexibility, DuoLocker can be integrated into coffee dosing machines, professional coffee machines, beverage vending machines, and, in general, any electronic product that delivers a service or distributes a good while keeping credits internally.
There are therefore no limits to the use of this device.

How does it work?

DuoLocker works similarly to an ATM. Before withdrawing cash, the user must first load their account; afterward, they can go to the ATM to get banknotes whenever they want. DuoLocker adopts the same principle!
DuoLocker must first be installed inside the main device that dispenses the product and be able to communicate with it; this creates the “ATM counter.”
The user finds an RFID TAG (the credit) inside the original product’s package and brings it close to the DuoLocker. DuoLocker reads the RFID tag, transfers the credit internally, and makes the RFID tag unusable for further operations.
From that moment on, the credit is stored in DuoLocker. When the user requests the final product—for example, a coffee—the main device asks DuoLocker for authorization. The latter grants or denies consent based on the available remaining credits.

Special Tags

DuoLocker is designed to be installed on devices that do not necessarily have a display. A typical example is capsule or pod coffee machines, which often do not include a visual interface.
Thanks to the use of Special Tags (Service Tags), it is possible to check or modify DuoLocker’s status without opening the main device. This feature allows quick and intuitive interventions, even in the field.
The typical use of Special Tags is intended for maintenance technicians, not end users. Special Tags differ in type and format from recharge tags and allow the technician to interact with DuoLocker without going through the central device and without opening it.
In the case of a coffee machine, you can easily check the number of remaining doses using the EXPORT Special Tag and then read its content directly from a smartphone (no dedicated app required).
Likewise, you can load new credits through the IMPORT Special Tag, or lock and unlock the protection system with the LOCK and UNLOCK Tags.
Everything happens in a few seconds, with no need to physically access the main device or use a PC. This solution ensures simplicity and convenience especially for maintenance and does not require particular skills or operator training.

Security

DuoLocker’s success is based on the strength of its security architecture, which integrates protections at both hardware and software levels.
Tag contents are signed with a private key using internationally recognized standard cryptographic algorithms, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of the information.
Credit is stored directly inside each DuoLocker using dedicated hardware components specifically designed for high-security applications. At the software level, the most modern countermeasures against cloning and physical attacks are implemented, ensuring long-lasting and reliable protection.
Keeping credit inside DuoLocker, rather than in the central device, offers an additional advantage: the balance is always safe in a single point. If the main unit needs replacing, the customer’s remaining credit stays intact, avoiding the need for recharges or reprogramming. This feature also reduces the risk of disputes related to credit retention.
Duolabs boasts over ten years of experience in protecting and securing electronic devices, gained in the defense of digital content for the broadcasting sector. The technologies adopted in the development of DuoLocker are based on public cryptographic algorithms considered secure worldwide.

How to integrate it into your products

Duolabs provides everyone wishing to integrate DuoLocker into their devices with all the necessary documentation and C-language source code for implementation. The documentation, complete and well-structured, is available in English, with technical manuals also in Chinese.
In addition, Duolabs offers all the technical support needed so that your in-house developers can complete the integration without difficulty.
Besides the libraries in source format, Duolabs also provides NFC readers and Windows-based simulators (also in source format) that enable rapid integration into your product.
DuoLocker has already been successfully implemented by several companies worldwide, including on devices with limited computational capacity.
Based on past integrations, we estimate an average of about 3 person-days to implement DuoLocker on an existing product.

RFID Tag Programming

DuoLocker uses low-cost recharge tags, particularly suitable for inexpensive consumables where the impact on the unit price must remain minimal. The NFC tags used—readily available on the market and supplied directly by Duolabs—can be customized with monochrome or color printing to facilitate product identification.
All supplied tags come from top-tier manufacturers and are delivered only after careful verification of programming. This meticulous attention at every stage guarantees the absence of post-sales disputes from distributors and end customers. Once used, tags are written with the unique serial number of the DuoLocker into which they were loaded, thus ensuring complete traceability from programming to final use.

Batch programming is performed by Duolabs using professional machines that verify and serialize each individual tag, allowing a daily production capacity of tens of thousands of units, so as to promptly respond to emergencies or sales peaks.
Furthermore, to ensure maximum traceability along the entire supply chain, the unique serial number of each RFID tag is recorded and communicated to the customer. The Development Kit includes customized RFID readers and dedicated software that allow you to independently generate special tags.

Learn more about DuoLocker

Find out more about DuoLocker and its features.