MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE PROVIDING NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) SECURITY FEATURES AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20130173455A1
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: ADAMS, NEIL PATRICK, SINGH, RAVI, MARCOVECCHIO, VINCENZO KAZIMIERZ
• Granted Patent: US 10,318,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-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

Abstract

A mobile communications device may include a near field communication (NFC) device, a movement determining device, and a processor coupled with the NFC device and the movement determining device. The processor may be capable of selectively switching between a first operating mode, in which the NFC device is enabled for NFC communication, and an second operating mode. The processor may also be capable of, when switched to the unsecure operating mode, enabling the NFC device for NFC communication until the mobile communications device moves beyond a threshold distance based upon the movement determining device.

Claims

1. A mobile communications device comprising:

a near field communication (NFC) device;

a movement determining device; and

a processor coupled with the NFC device and the movement determining device, the processor being capable of

selectively switching between a first operating mode in which the processor enables the NFC device for NFC communication and a second operating mode, and

when switched to the second operating mode, enabling the NFC device for NFC communication until the mobile communications device moves beyond a threshold distance based upon the movement determining device.

2. The mobile communications device of claim 1 wherein the processor, when switched to the second operating mode, is further capable of enabling the NFC device for NFC communication until a number of NFC transactions are performed via the NFC device.

3. The mobile communications device of claim 1 wherein the processor, when switched to the second operating mode, is further capable of enabling the NFC device for NFC communication until a duration from a time of switching to the second operating mode elapses.

4. The mobile communications device of claim 1 wherein the processor is further capable of performing payment transactions via the NFC device;

and wherein the processor, when switched to the second operating mode, is further capable of enabling the NFC device for NFC communication until a payment amount associated with at least one payment transaction performed while in the second operating mode exceeds a payment threshold.

5. The mobile communications device of claim 1 wherein the movement determining device comprises a satellite positioning system device.

6. The mobile communications device of claim 1 wherein the movement determining device comprises a wireless communications device.

7. The mobile communications device of claim 6 wherein the wireless communications device comprises at least one of a Bluetooth device or a wireless local area network (WLAN) device.

8. The mobile communications device of claim 1 wherein the movement determining device comprises an accelerometer.

9. The mobile communications device of claim 1 further comprising an input device coupled with the processor;

and wherein the processor is configured to selectively switch between the secure operating mode and the second operating mode based upon the input device.

10. A communications system comprising:

a first near field communication (NFC) device; and

a mobile communications device comprising

a second NFC device,

a movement determining device, and

a processor coupled with the second NFC device and the movement determining device, the processor being capable of

selectively switching between a first operating mode, in which the second NFC device is enabled for NFC communication with the first NFC device, and a second operating mode, and

when switched to the second operating mode, enabling the second NFC device for NFC communication with the first NFC device until the mobile communications device moves beyond a threshold distance based upon the movement determining device.

11. The communications system of claim 10 wherein the processor, when switched to the second operating mode, is further capable of enabling the second NFC device for NFC communication with the first NFC device until a number of NFC transactions are performed via the NFC device.

12. The communications system of claim 10 wherein the processor, when switched to the second operating mode, is further capable of enabling the second NFC device for NFC communication with the first NFC device until a duration from a time of switching to the second operating mode elapses.

13. The communications system of claim 10 wherein the processor is further capable of performing payment transactions with the first NFC device via the second NFC device;

and wherein the processor, when switched to the second operating mode, is further capable of enabling the second NFC device for NFC communication with the first NFC device until a payment amount associated with at least one payment transaction performed while in the second operating mode exceeds a payment threshold.

14. A communications method for a mobile communications device comprising a near field communication (NEC) device and a movement determining device, the method comprising:

selectively switching the mobile wireless communications device between a first operating mode in which the NFC device is enabled for NEC communication and a second operating mode; and

when switched to the second operating mode, enabling the NEC device for NEC communication until the mobile communications device moves beyond a threshold distance based upon the movement determining device.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising, when the mobile communications device is switched to the second operating mode, enabling the NFC device for NFC communication until a number of NFC transactions are performed via the NEC device.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising, when the mobile communications device is switched to the second operating mode, enabling the NEC device for NEC communication until a duration from a time of switching to the second operating mode elapses.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to perform payment transactions via the NEC device;

and further comprising, when the mobile communications device is switched to the second operating mode, enabling the NFC device for NEC communication until a payment amount associated with at least one payment transaction performed while in the second operating mode exceeds a payment threshold.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for a mobile communications device comprising a near field communication (NEC) device and a movement determining device, the computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile wireless communications device to perform steps comprising:

selectively switching the mobile wireless communications device between a first operating mode in which the NEC device is enabled for NFC communication and a second operating mode; and

when switched to the second operating mode, enabling the NEC device for NEC communication until the mobile communications device moves beyond a threshold distance based upon the movement determining device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 further having computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile communications device, when switched to the second operating mode, to perform a step comprising enabling the NFC device for NFC communication until a number of NFC transactions are performed via the NFC device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 further having computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile communications device, when switched to the second operating mode, to perform a step comprising enabling the NFC device for NFC communication until a duration from a time of switching to the second operating mode elapses.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the mobile communications device is further configured to perform payment transactions via the NFC device;

and further having computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile communications device, when switched to the second operating mode, to perform a step comprising enabling the NFC device for NFC communication until a payment amount associated with at least one payment transaction performed while in the second operating mode exceeds a payment threshold.