RFID Protection System, Device, Combination, and Related Methods

• US 20110095868A1
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Curio Ltd
• Original Assignee: Curio Ltd
• Inventors: Horne, Gregory L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• 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
• 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 being adapted to be positioned separately into a container so that the separate RFID device and the separate RFID blocking device are each adjacent the other, the combination comprising:

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

a separate RFID blocking device adapted to be positioned in the container adjacent the separate RFID device to detect and block an attempted read of the otherwise separate RFID device from the container when an RFID interrogation device is positioned to read the separate RFID device from the container, the separate RFID blocking device being positioned to operatively receive power from the RFID interrogation device during an attempted read of the separate RFID device and including an RFID signal disruptor positioned to produce disrupting signals responsive to the attempted read of the separate RFID device by the RFID interrogation device that form a blocking zone extending adjacent the separate RFID device, the blocking zone being defined as a region of disrupting signals being generated from the separate RFID blocking device when positioned adjacent the separate RFID device so that the disrupting signals disrupts with the ability of the separate RFID device to receive an interrogation signal from the RFID interrogation device when the RFID interrogation device is positioned to read the separate RED device from the container, the separate RFID blocking device further being adapted to be positioned separate and spaced apart from the separate RFID device to thereby allow an attempted read of the separate RFID device by the RFID interrogation device when the separate RFID device is no longer positioned adjacent the separate RFID blocking device.

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

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the separate REID blocking device further includes an incoming signal demodulator to demodulate an initial and detected incoming signal, and wherein the RFID signal 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 receive the interrogation signal from interrogation device.

4. 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.

5. A radio frequency identification (RFID) blocking device to block RFID interrogation when the device is positioned adjacent a separate RFID device, the RFID blocking device comprising:

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

an RFID signal disruptor responsive to the detection of the initial incoming signal to produce disrupting signals that form a blocking zone extending adjacent the separate RFID device, the blocking zone being defined as a region of disrupting signals being generated from the RFID blocking device so that the disrupting signals disrupt with the ability of the separate RFID device to receive the initial incoming signals when positioned adjacent the separate RFID blocking device.

6. An RFID blocking device as defined in claim 5, further comprising a demodulator responsive to the incoming signal detector to demodulate a detected incoming signal, and wherein the RFID signal 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 receive the incoming signal.

7. A contactless circuitry blocking device to block interrogation when the contactless circuitry blocking device is positioned adjacent a separate contactless circuitry device, the contactless circuitry blocking device comprising:

an incoming signal detector to detect an initial incoming signal in an attempt to interrogate the separate contactless circuitry device; and

an signal disruptor responsive to the detection of the initial incoming signal to produce disrupting signals that form a blocking zone extending adjacent the separate contactless circuitry device, the blocking zone being defined as a region of disrupting signals being generated from the contactless circuitry blocking device so that the disrupting signals disrupt with the ability of the separate contactless circuitry device to receive the initial incoming signals when positioned adjacent the contactless circuitry blocking device.

8. An contactless circuitry blocking device as defined in claim 7, further comprising a demodulator responsive to the incoming signal detector to demodulate a detected incoming signal, and wherein the signal disruptor includes a signal generator to generate a signal at the same data rate as the demodulated signal to thereby disrupt the separate contactless circuitry device'"'"'s ability to receive the incoming signal.

9. A contactless circuitry blocking device as defined in claim 7, wherein the 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.

10. 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 during an attempt to interrogate the separate RFID device so that the separate RFID blocking device produces disrupting signals that form a blocking zone extending adjacent the separate RFID device responsive to the attempted read of the separate RFID device signals by an RFID interrogation device so that the disrupting signals disrupts with the ability of the separate RFID device to receive an attempted read from a RFID interrogation device when the RFID interrogation device is positioned to read the separate RFID device and the separate RFID blocking device is positioned adjacent the separate RFID device; and

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

11. A method as defined in claim 10, 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 RED device.

12. A method as defined in claim 10, 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.

13. 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 so that the separate contactless circuitry blocking device produces disrupting signals that form a blocking zone extending adjacent the separate contactless circuitry device responsive to the unauthorized interrogation of the separate contactless circuitry device by an contactless circuitry interrogation device so that the disrupting signals disrupts with the ability of the separate contactless circuitry device to receive an attempted read from the contactless circuitry interrogation device when the contactless circuitry interrogation device is positioned to interrogate the separate contactless circuitry device and the separate contactless circuitry blocking device is positioned adjacent the separate contactless circuitry blocking device; and

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

14. A method as defined in claim 13, 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.