AUTHENTICATION FOR NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20130309969A1
• Filed: 04/22/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Armstrong, Andrew A., Phillips, Christopher, Whitbourne, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,755,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/30 Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

Methods, computer program products, and systems for use in near field communications systems for authenticating at a near field communications receiver, a user of a near field communications transmitter. The system includes a data receiver for receiving a signal comprising a first unique identifier from a near field communications transmitter. The system also includes a received signal strength indicator for measuring a signal strength of the received signal. The system further includes a signal strength tracker for tracking a variation with time of the signal strength of the received signal and converting the variation with time into a second unique identifier. The system further includes a comparator for comparing the received first unique identifier and the tracked and converted second unique identifier and for outputting a signal indicating the result of the comparison. The user is authenticated if the signal indicates that the first and second identifiers correlate correctly.

Claims

1. A system for use in a near field communications system for authenticating, at a near field communications receiver, a user of a near field communications transmitter, the system comprising:

a data receiver configured to receive a signal comprising a first unique identifier from a near field communications transmitter;

a received signal strength indicator configured to measure a signal strength of the received signal;

a signal strength tracker configured to track a variation with time of the signal strength of the received signal and to convert the variation with time into a second unique identifier; and

a comparator configured to compare the received first unique identifier and the tracked and converted second unique identifier and to output a signal indicating the result of said comparison, wherein

the user is authenticated if the signal indicates that the first and second identifiers correlate correctly.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variation with time of the signal strength of the received signal is associated with a predetermined pattern of movement of the near field communications transmitter closer to and further from the near field communications receiver.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal received by the data receiver receives packets of data and the signal strength of the received signal is measured after receipt of each of the packets of data.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal indicating the result of the comparison is used to determine the outcome of a transaction.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein after a plurality of results indicating that the first unique identifier and the second unique identifier are different, the transaction is denied.

6. A method for use in a near field communications system for authenticating, at a near field communications receiver, a user of a near field communications transmitter, the method comprising:

receiving a signal comprising a first unique identifier from a near field communications transmitter;

measuring a signal strength of the received signal;

tracking a variation with time of the signal strength of the received signal and converting the variation with time into a second unique identifier;

comparing the received first unique identifier and the tracked and converted second unique identifier and outputting a signal indicating the result of the comparison;

and authenticating the user if the signal indicates that the first and second identifiers correlate correctly.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the variation with time of the signal strength of the received signal is associated with a predetermined pattern of movement of the near field communications transmitter closer to and further from the near field communications receiver.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the signal received by the data receiver receives packets of data and the signal strength of the received signal is measured after receipt of each of the packets of data.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the signal indicating the result of the comparison is used to determine the outcome of a transaction.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein after a plurality of results indicating that the first unique identifier and the second unique identifier are different, the transaction is denied.

11. A computer program product for use in a near field communications system for authenticating, at a near field communications receiver, a user of a near field communications transmitter, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured for;

receiving a signal comprising a first unique identifier from a near field communications transmitter;

measuring a signal strength of the received signal;

tracking a variation with time of the signal strength of the received signal and converting the variation with time into a second unique identifier;

comparing the received first unique identifier and the tracked and converted second unique identifier and outputting a signal indicating the result of the comparison; and

authenticating the user if the signal indicates that the first and second identifiers correlate correctly.

12. A computer program product as claimed in claim 11, wherein the variation with time of the signal strength of the received signal is associated with a predetermined pattern of movement of the near field communications transmitter closer to and further from the near field communications receiver.

13. A computer program product as claimed in claim 11, wherein the signal received by the data receiver receives packets of data and the signal strength of the received signal is measured after receipt of each of the packets of data.

14. A computer program product as claimed in claim 11, wherein the signal indicating the result of the comparison is used to determine the outcome of a transaction.

15. A computer program product as claimed in claim 14, wherein after a plurality of results indicating that the first unique identifier and the second unique identifier are different, the transaction is denied.