Anti-Interrogation For Portable Device

• US 20080256642A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hachey, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,505,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0081 with antenna coils loop aerials H01Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/122 Counter-measures against attacks; Protection against rogue devices

Abstract

A portable consumer device is disclosed. One or more contact regions in the portable consumer device may be provided on the contactless portable consumer device. The user may be required to place a finger on the one or more contact regions while holding the portable consumer device proximate to the interrogation device to enable it to be interrogated. The user'"'"'s fingers may be used to electrically bridge an open portion of a circuit so as to enable operation of the portable consumer device.

Claims

1. A portable consumer device comprising:

a memory for storing information;

a near field transmitting antenna coupled to the memory; and

a contact region coupled to the near field transmitting antenna, wherein the portable consumer device is capable of transmitting the stored information to an interrogation device using the near field transmitting antenna when a finger is on the contact region, but is not capable of transmitting the stored information to the interrogation device using the near field transmitting antenna when the finger is not on the contact region, wherein the contact region comprises an open portion of a circuit.

2. The portable consumer device of claim 1, further comprising a trigger antenna, wherein at least part of the contact region forms at least part of the trigger antenna, and wherein the contact region comprises two spaced apart electrical contacts.

4. The portable consumer device of claim 1, wherein the contact region comprises a pressure switch.

5. The portable consumer device of claim 1, wherein the portable consumer device is capable of being interrogated by an interrogation signal generated by the interrogation device.

6. The portable consumer device of claim 1, wherein the portable consumer device comprises one of a payment card, a key fob, and a cellular phone.

7. The portable consumer device of claim 1, wherein the portable consumer device is batteryless.

8. The portable consumer device of claim 2, wherein the near field transmitting antenna comprises a triggering electronic component that is capable of being triggered to enable activation of the transmitting antenna.

9. The portable consumer device of claim 8, further comprising at least part of a trigger antenna coupled to the triggering electronic component.

10. The portable consumer device of claim 8, wherein the triggering electronic component comprises at least one of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), a triode for alternating current (TRIAC), or a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET).

11. The portable consumer device of claim 9, wherein current in the trigger antenna is induced when the finger is on the contact region and the portable consumer device is proximate to the interrogation device.

12. The portable consumer device of claim 11, wherein the portable consumer device is a payment card.

13. The portable consumer device of claim 12, wherein the two electrical contacts are located on opposite sides of the portable consumer device.

14. The portable consumer device of claim 12, wherein the two electrical contacts are located on the same side of the portable consumer device.

15. A system comprising:

the interrogation device; and

the portable consumer device of claim 1 in communication with the interrogation device.

16. A method of using the portable consumer device of claim 1, the method comprising:

obtaining the portable consumer device;

placing the finger on the contact region; and

placing the portable consumer device near the interrogation device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the portable consumer device is placed within about 10 inches or less of the interrogation device.

3. (canceled)

18. A method for forming a portable consumer device comprising:

attaching a memory for storing information to a substrate;

forming a near field transmitting antenna on the substrate, wherein the near field transmitting antenna is coupled to the memory in the portable consumer device; and

forming a contact region on the substrate, wherein the contact region is coupled to the near field transmitting antenna in the portable consumer device, wherein the contact region comprises an open portion of a circuit,

wherein the portable consumer device is capable of transmitting the stored information to an interrogation device using the near field transmitting antenna when a finger is on the contact region, but is not capable of transmitting the stored information to the interrogation device using the near field transmitting antenna when the finger is not on the contact region.

19. A portable consumer device comprising:

a memory for storing financial information;

a transmitting antenna coupled to the memory; and

a contact region coupled to the transmitting antenna, wherein the portable consumer device is capable of transmitting the stored financial information to an interrogation device using the transmitting antenna when a finger is on the contact region, but is not capable of transmitting the stored information to the interrogation device using the transmitting antenna when the finger is not on the contact region, wherein the contact region comprises an open portion of a circuit.

20. The portable consumer device of claim 19 wherein the portable consumer device is a cell phone or contactless payment card.

21. A system comprising:

the portable consumer device of claim 19; and

the interrogation device in communication with the portable consumer device.

22. A method of using the portable consumer device, the method comprising:

obtaining the portable consumer device of claim 19;

placing the finger on the contact region; and

placing the portable consumer device near the interrogation device.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the portable consumer device is placed within about 10 inches or less of the interrogation device.

24. A method for forming a portable consumer device comprising:

attaching a memory for storing financial information to a substrate;

forming a transmitting antenna on the substrate, wherein the near field transmitting antenna is coupled to the memory in the portable consumer device; and

forming a contact region on the substrate, wherein the contact region is coupled to the transmitting antenna in the portable consumer device, wherein the contact region comprises an open portion of a circuit,

wherein the portable consumer device is capable of transmitting the stored information to an interrogation device using the transmitting antenna when a finger is on the contact region, but is not capable of transmitting the stored information to the interrogation device using the transmitting antenna when the finger is not on the contact region.

25. A method of providing secure wireless communication with an interrogation device, comprising:

providing an electronic device that comprises a memory for storing information, a transmitting antenna, and a contact region coupled to the transmitting antenna, wherein the contact region comprises an open portion of a circuit;

allowing a user to place the electronic device proximate to the interrogation device; and

configuring the electronic device to activate the transmitting antenna only when the user places a finger on the contact region while the electronic device is proximate to the interrogation device.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting the information stored on the memory to the interrogation device when the transmitting antenna is activated.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising configuring the electronic device to be interrogated by a radio frequency (RF) signal.