System and method for coupling users to a retail computer system with low risk of eavesdropping

• US 20030184430A1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Kumar, Alok
• Granted Patent: US 7,352,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

A system reduces the risk of eavesdropping on data used to access an establishment'"'"'s computer network. The system comprises a personal area network (PAN) access device that couples a low power, low frequency modulated signal to a wearer and a personal area network receiver for receiving the modulated signal. The personal area network access device includes a personal data storage unit and a low power data modulator. The low power data modulator modulates a low power, low frequency signal with the data from the storage unit. This signal is capacitively coupled to the wearer'"'"'s body so it may be emitted to a PAN receiver. When the wearer brings a body part such as a finger in proximity to or in contact with the PAN receiver, the receiver may receive the modulated signal. The signal may then be demodulated to obtain the user data so it may be encoded in data messages provided to a server of an establishment computer system. The user data may then be used to access marketing data for the customer or to implement a financial transaction. An advantage of the PAN transmitter is that it may be incorporated within a piece of jewelry such as a watch, necklace, or bracelet as a wearable computer. Transmission of the modulated signal by the low power, low frequency signal emitted by the wearer'"'"'s body helps reduce the opportunity for eavesdropping as the signal is not radiated at a distance that facilitates undetected eavesdropping. Thus, access to marketing and financial transaction data for a customer is made more secure by a system of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for providing user access to an establishment'"'"'s computer network comprising:

a personal area network (PAN) access device that couples a low power, low frequency modulated signal to a wearer; and

a personal area network receiver for receiving the modulated signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the PAN access device includes a data storage unit for storing user data;

and

a modulator for modulating a low power, low frequency signal with user data.

3. The system of claim 2 further including an electrode for capacitively coupling the modulated signal to a wearer'"'"'s body for transmission to the PAN receiver.

4. The system of claim 3, the PAN access device further including a receiver for receiving a low power, low frequency modulated signal;

and

a demodulator for demodulating the received signal for obtaining user data to be stored in the data storage unit.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the data storage unit contains personal identification data.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the data storage unit contains financial transaction data.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the personal identification data is biometric data for a user.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the PAN access device is a wearable computer.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the PAN access device is a piece of jewelry.

10. A method for providing access to an establishment'"'"'s computer network comprising:

modulating a low power, low frequency signal with user data; and

capacitively coupling the modulated signal to a user'"'"'s body for transmission.

11. The method of claim 10 further including:

retrieving the user data from a data storage unit worn on the user'"'"'s body.

12. The method of claim 11, the user data retrieval further including:

retrieving personal identification data in the data storage unit.

13. The method of claim 12, the personal identification retrieval further including:

retrieving biometric data of the user from the data storage unit.

14. The method of claim 11, the user data retrieval further comprising:

retrieving financial account data from the data storage unit.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving a low power, low frequency modulated signal from the PAN receiver; and

demodulating the received signal to obtain data for storage.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

transmitting the modulated signal to the PAN receiver by bringing a body part of the user into proximity to the PAN receiver.

17. A personal access network device for providing user access to an establishment'"'"'s computer network comprising:

means for modulating a low power, low frequency modulated signal with user data; and

means for coupling the modulated signal to a wearer.

18. The device of claim 17 further comprising:

means for storing the user data used to modulate the low power, low frequency signal.

19. The device of claim 17 further including:

means for capacitively coupling the modulated signal to a wearer'"'"'s body for transmission.

20. The device of claim 18 further including:

means for receiving a low power, low frequency modulated signal; and

means for demodulating the received signal for obtaining user data to be stored in the means for data storage.