SECURITY FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

• US 20090215385A1
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
• Original Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
• Inventors: Waters, Patrick, Manning, Stephanie
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile terminal is disclosed which includes a near field or RF ID tag (41). The mobile terminal (1) communicates with the mobile telecommunications network and is authenticated with that network using the SIM (15). The mobile terminal (1) is operable to obtain security data from the user thereof, such as a PIN or biometric data, or the mobile terminal (1) incorporates a sensor such as a light sensor, pressure sensor, heat sensor, skin resistant sensor or inertial sensor. The input device or sensor is used to confirm the identity of the user or to evaluate whether the user wishes to use the near field tag (41) to make a payment or obtain entry to a building (for example). Data from the sensor is passed to the SIM (15), which issues a command enabling the near field tag (41), via link (43). The near field tag (41) may then be read by a reader. The near field tag (41) may be automatically disabled after being read by the reader, after a predetermined time, or when the stimulus to the sensor is no longer present.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling use of a near field communication device, the apparatus comprising:

a smart card associable with a mobile telecommunications network and configured to authenticate with the network,

wherein the smart card is further configured to receive from the mobile telecommunications network data for controlling use of the near field communication device and is operable to selectively enable the near field communication device in dependence upon the data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smart card means is operable to selectively enable the near field communication device by selectively enabling the near field communication device to be read by a reader

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including means for operatively coupling the smart card means to the mobile telecommunications network.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the coupling means includes a mobile terminal for communicating wirelessly with the mobile telecommunications network.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the coupling means includes a device for coupling the smart card to data processing apparatus, which data processing apparatus is connectable to the mobile telecommunications network.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smart card stores predetermined authentication information respective to a user, the smart card being registered with the mobile telecommunications network, which includes means for authenticating.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including means for entering security data.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the security data entry means comprises an alphanumeric data entry device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the security data entry means comprises a keypad.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the security data comprises a Personal Identification Number (PIN) and the security data entry means includes means for comparing the PIN obtained by the security data entry means with a PIN stored on the apparatus and only enables operation of the near field device when the respective PINs match.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the security data entry means is operable to detect biometric data from a user.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a display configured to display security information.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a pressure detector coupled to the smart card means to selectively enable the near field communication device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a heat detector coupled to the smart card to selectively enable the near field communication device.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an electronmagnetic radiation detector coupled to the smart card to selectively enable the near field communication device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a movement detector coupled to the smart card to selectively enable the near field communication device.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further including electrical characteristic detector coupled to the smart card to selectively enable the near field communication device.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a near field radio jamming or disrupting device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further including means for detecting the distance between the near field device and a reader therefor.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the detecting means is operable to measure the time taken to transmit a signal between the near field device and the reader therefor.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a near field radio shield.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the shield allows the near field device to receive near field radio from only a predetermined direction.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smart card means comprises a SIM.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data is for programming the smart card.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the data comprise over-the-air updating messages.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the data comprise SMS messages.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus receives location data from the mobile telecommunications network and enables the near field device independence upon the location data.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the smart card selectively enables the near field communication device in dependence upon whether the smart card is or has been authenticated with the mobile telecommunications network

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data controls the time at which the near field device is enabled.

30. A mobile telecommunications network including the apparatus of claim 1.

31. A method of controlling use of a near field communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

associating a smart card means with a mobile telecommunications network for authenticating the smart card means with the network;

transmitting to the smart card means from the mobile telecommunications network data for controlling use of the near field communication device; and

selectively enabling the near field communication device in dependence upon the data.

32. A communication device including

a near field communication means;

smart card means for authenticating the communication device with a mobile telecommunications network;

means for enabling the smart card means to receive data from the mobile telecommunications network to authenticate the device; and

means for selectively enabling the near field communication means in dependence upon the data received by the smart card.

33. A mobile telecommunication device for use with a mobile telecommunications network, the mobile communication device comprising:

a near field device, wherein the mobile telecommunication device is operable to selectively enable the near field communication device.

34. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 33, further including a SIM and wherein the SIM is operable to selectively enable the near field communication device

35. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 33, further including a pressure detector coupled to the smart card means to selectively enable the near field communication device.

36. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 33, further including a heat detector coupled to the smart card means to selectively enable the near field communication device.

37. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 33, further including an electromagnetic radiation detector coupled to the control means to selectively enable the near field communication device.

38. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 33, further including a movement detector coupled to the control smart card means to selectively enable the near field communication device.

39. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 33, further including electrical characteristic detector coupled to the smart card means to selectively enable the near field communication device.

40. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 33, further including a near field radio jamming or disrupting device.

41. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 33, further including means for detecting the distance between the near field device and a reader therefor.

42. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 41, wherein the detecting means is operable to measure the time taken to transmit a signal between the near field device and the reader therefor.

43. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 33, further including a near field radio shield.

44. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 43, wherein the shield allows the near field device to receive near field radio from only a predetermined direction.