METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE EXECUTION OF AT LEAST ONE FUNCTION IN A SHORT RANGE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION MODULE OF A MOBILE PHONE

• US 20100105322A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEMIA France (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oberthur Technologies SA (Advent International Corporation)
• Inventors: Bertin, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 9,338,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A method and device for controlling the execution of at least one function in a short-range wireless communication module of a mobile apparatus adapted for receiving at least one identification card. After transmitting an information request to the identification card, to obtain at least one piece of information characteristic of the identification card, an answer including at least one piece of information characteristic of the identification card is received therefrom. When the answer is identified and in response to the at least one piece of information, the at least one function is executed. An authentication request is received by the short-range wireless communication module. If the answer is authenticated, the short-range wireless communication module sends an authorization to the authentication request in response to the at least one piece of information characteristic of the identification card before the execution of the at least one function.

Claims

1. Method of controlling execution of at least one function in a wireless near field communication module of a mobile apparatus adapted to receive identification means, this method comprising the following steps:

transmission of an information request (RA2) by said wireless near field communication module to said identification means, said information request aiming to obtain at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means;

reception of a response (RS2) to said information request from said identification means, said response containing at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means;

authentication of said response by said wireless near field communication module; and

if said response is authenticated, execution of said at least one function in response to said at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means.

2. Method according to claim 1 further comprising the following steps:

reception of an authentication request (RA1) by said wireless near field communication module; and

if said response is authenticated, before execution of said at least one function, transmission by said wireless near field communication module of an authorization (RS1) to said authentication request in response to said at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means.

3. Method according to claim 1 wherein the transmission of information between said identification means and said wireless near field communication module is at least partially effected through a microprocessor of said mobile apparatus, the method comprising the following steps:

transmission of said information request to said microprocessor, said microprocessor being adapted to transmit said information request to said identification means; and

/or

reception of said response from said microprocessor, said microprocessor having received said response from said identification means.

4. Method according to claim 2 wherein said response and/or said authorization is coded or secured so that it can be authenticated.

5. Method according to claim 4 wherein said coding or securing of said response and/or said authorization is based on authentication information stored locally in said identification means or in said wireless near field communication module, coding or securing said response and/or said authorization.

6. Method according to claim 5 wherein authentication information is a private cryptographic key.

7. Method according to claim 5 wherein said coding or securing of said response and/or said authorization is effected locally in said identification means or in said wireless near field communication module, coding or securing said response and/or said authorization on the basis of authentication information stored locally in said identification means or in said wireless near field communication module coding or securing said response and/or said authorization.

8. Method according to claim 1 wherein the object of said at least one function is to update data stored in said wireless near field communication module, to authorized wireless communication to or from an external device by said wireless near field communication module, or to access at least one service offered by an external device.

9. Method according to claim 1 wherein at least some communication between said identification means and said wireless near field communication module is secure.

10. Method according to claim 1 wherein said information request includes an indication relating to said at least one function.

11. Computer program comprising

instructions adapted to execute each of the steps of the method according to claim 1.

12. Removable or non-removable information storage means partly or totally readable by a computer or a microprocessor and containing code instructions of a computer program for the execution of each of the steps of the method according to claim 1.

13. Control device for the execution of at least one function in wireless near field communication means of a mobile apparatus adapted to receive identification means, this device comprising the following means:

means for transmitting at least one information request to said identification means, said information request aiming to obtain at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means;

means for receiving a response to said information request from said identification means, said response including at least one item of information characteristic of said identification card;

means for authenticating said response; and

means for executing said at least one function in response to said at least one item of information characteristic of said identification card.

14. Device according to claim 13 wherein said mobile apparatus comprises a microprocessor separate from said authentication means and said execution means.

15. Device according to claim 13 further comprising the following means:

means for receiving at least one authentication request; and

means for transmitting an authorization to said authentication request in response to said at least one item of information characteristic of said identification card before the execution of said at least one function.

16. Device according to claim 15 further comprising coding or securing means adapted to code or secure said authorization so that said authorization can be authenticated.

17. Device according to claim 16 further comprising storage means for storing authentication information used by said coding or securing means to code or secure said authorization.

18. Device according to claim 17 wherein said storage means are nonvolatile.

19. Device according to claim 17 wherein said storage means are adapted also to store data for authenticating said response.

20. Device according to claim 13 wherein the identification means are an identification card of a mobile telephone network subscriber.

21. Device according to claim 13 wherein said wireless near field communication means conform to the ISO 14443 standard.

22. Device according to claim 13 wherein said wireless near field communication means are integrated into said mobile apparatus non-removably.