RFID protection system, device, combination, and related methods

• US 20070096924A1
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Curio Ltd
• Original Assignee: Curio Ltd
• Inventors: Horne, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,889,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07336 Active means, e.g. jamming or scrambling of the electromagnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/20 for contactless carriers, e.g. RFID carriers record carriers with integrated circuit chips including means for preventing undesired reading or writing from or to record carriers by hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07318; arrangements for sensing record carriers including arrangements for protecting the interrogation against piracy attacks G06K7/10257
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/86 related to preventing deceptive jamming or unauthorized interrogation or access, e.g. WLAN access or RFID reading record carriers with integrated circuit chips including means for preventing undesired reading or writing from or to record carriers by hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07318; arrangements for sensing record carriers including arrangements for protecting the interrogation against piracy attacks G06K7/10257

Abstract

Embodiments of systems, combinations, devices and methods of enhanced Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) protection are provided. An embodiment of a combination of a separate RFID device and a separate RFID blocking device each adapted to be positioned separately into a container includes a separate RFID device adapted to be positioned in the container a separate RFID blocking device adapted to be positioned adjacent the separate RFID device and in the container so that when an unauthorized RFID interrogation device attempts to read the separate RFID device from within the container the separate RFID blocking device positioned adjacent the separate RFID device blocks the attempted read and so that when an authorized user desires to use the separate RFID device for an authorized read the authorized user selectively removes either the separate RFID device or the separate RFID blocking device and presents the separate RFID device for the authorized read.

Claims

1. A combination of a separate radio frequency identification (RFID) device and a separate RFID blocking device each adapted to be positioned separately into a container, the combination comprising:

a separate RFID device adapted to be positioned in the container; and

a separate RFID blocking device adapted to be positioned adjacent the separate RFID device and in the container so that when an unauthorized RFID interrogation device attempts to read the separate RFID device from within the container the separate RFID blocking device positioned adjacent the separate RFID device blocks the attempted read and so that when an authorized user desires to use the separate RFID device for an authorized read the authorized user selectively removes either the separate RFID device or the separate RFID blocking device and presents the separate RFID device for the authorized read.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the separate RFID blocking device includes an incoming signal detector to detect incoming signals from the unauthorized RFID interrogation device and an RFID signal disruptor responsive to the incoming signal detector to respond to the interrogation device with disrupting read signals.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the separate RFID blocking device includes an incoming signal detector to detect incoming signals from the unauthorized RFID interrogation device and an RFID interferer responsive to the incoming signal detector to interfere with activation of operation ability of the separate RFID device.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the separate RFID device includes an anti-collision protocol, and wherein the RFID interferer interferes with the separate RFID device so that the anti-collision protocol fails to activate.

5. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the separate RFID device includes an anti-collision protocol, and wherein the RFID interferer interferes with a product of the anti-collision protocol of the separate RFID device when being transmitted to the unauthorized RFID interrogation device.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the RFID interferer includes a frequency shift generator to generate a frequency shift above and below a center frequency of an RFID communication link to the separate RFID device.

7. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein the RFID blocking device further includes an incoming signal demodulator to demodulate a detected incoming signal, and wherein the disruptor includes an RFID signal generator to generate an RFID signal at the same data rate as the demodulated signal to thereby disrupt the RFID device'"'"'s ability to communicate with the unauthorized interrogation device.

8. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the container is selected from the group of:

a wallet, a passport, a purse, a folder, a pocket, an envelope, a card holder, a sleeve, and a display mount.

9. A device for blocking unauthorized RFID interrogation when the device is positioned adjacent a separate RFID device, the RFID blocking device comprising:

an incoming signal detector to detect an incoming signal in an attempt to interrogate the separate RFID device; and

an RFID signal disruptor responsive to the detection of the incoming interrogation signal to respond to the incoming interrogation signal with disruptive read signals.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, further comprising a demodulator responsive to the incoming signal detector to demodulate a detected incoming signal, and wherein the disruptor includes an RFID signal generator to generate an RFID signal at the same data rate as the demodulated signal to thereby disrupt the separate RFID device'"'"'s ability to communicate when being interrogated.

11. A device for blocking unauthorized RFID interrogation when the device is positioned adjacent a separate RFID device, the RFID blocking device comprising:

an incoming signal detector to detect incoming RFID interrogation signals; and

an RFID interferer responsive to the incoming signal detector to interfere with activation of operation ability of the separate RFID device.

12. A device as defined in claim 11, wherein the RFID interferer interferes an anti-collision protocol associated with the separate RFID device so that the anti-collision protocol fails to activate.

13. A device as defined in claim 11, wherein the RFID interferer interferes with a product of an anti-collision protocol associated with the separate RFID device when being transmitted responsive to interrogation.

14. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the RFID interferer includes a frequency shift generator to generate a frequency shift above and below a center frequency of an RFID communication link to the separate RFID device.

15. A method of enhancing protection against unauthorized interrogation of an RFID device, the method comprising:

positioning a separate RFID blocking device adjacent a separate RFID device to block RFID interrogation; and

selectively separating the separate RFID device from the separate RFID blocking device for authorized interrogation of the separate RFID device.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the positioning includes either the separate RFID blocking device or the separate RFID device being in a container prior to positioning the separate RFID blocking device adjacent the separate RFID device.

17. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the blocked RFID interrogation includes an unauthorized RFID interrogation, and wherein the container is selected from the group of:

a wallet, a passport, a purse, a folder, a pocket, an envelope, a sleeve, a card holder, and a display mount.

18. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the blocking of the RFID interrogation interferes with the activation of an anti-collision protocol associated with the separate RFID device.

19. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the blocking of the RFID interrogation interferes with the transmission of an anti-collision protocol associated with the separate RFID device.

20. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the blocking of the RFID interrogation includes providing disrupting read signals responsive to an attempted interrogation of the separate RFID device.

21. A method of enhanced protection against unauthorized interrogation of a contactless circuiting device, the method comprising:

positioning a separate contactless circuitry blocking device in association with a container and adjacent a separate contactless circuitry device to thereby block unauthorized interrogation of the separate contactless circuitry device; and

selectively separating the separate contactleless circuitry device from being adjacent the separate contactless circuitry block device for authorized interrogation of the separate contactless circuitry device.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein contactless circuitry of the separate contactless circuitry device is selected from the group of:

RFID, Infrared, Bluetooth, WI-FI, radio frequency microwave frequency, cellular frequency, global positioning system and optical.