Device for Authenticating Wanted NFC Interactions

• US 20160087682A1
• Filed: 11/30/2015
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: ROYSTON, Philip Stewart
• Granted Patent: US 9,742,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/101 for measurement of specific parameters of the transmitter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/73 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

An electronic device that includes a sensor module, a measuring module and a near field communication (NFC) device. The sensor module receives an input signal. The measuring module measures the strength of the input signal and determines whether the input meets a predefined threshold. If the strength of the input signal meets the predefined threshold, the measuring module activates the NFC device. If the strength of the input signal does not meet the predefined threshold, the measuring module de-activates the NFC device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a near-field communication (NFC) device configured to;

activate in response to an input signal generated by user contact with the electronic device and the input signal is above a predefined threshold; and

deactivate when the input signal falls below the predefined threshold, wherein communication between the NFC device and a second NFC device occurs only when the NFC device is activated in response to the input signal generated by the user contact.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to sense the input signal generated by the user contact with the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, further comprising a casing, wherein the casing includes the sensor.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, further comprising a measuring module configured to measure when strength of the input signal exerted on the casing reaches above the predefined threshold.

5. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the sensor further comprises an oscillating circuit configured to sense the input signal;

and

further comprising a frequency detection module configured to measure strength of the input signal sensed using the oscillating circuit.

6. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a resonance device comprising conductive ink.

7. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the sensor is resonance device comprising a printed circuit board (PCB).

8. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor configured to sense the input signal;

and

further comprising a measuring module, wherein the measuring module includes a resistor configured to measure strength of the input signal.

9. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the sensor module includes a conductive surface;

and

further comprising a receiver frequency circuit configured to measure strength of a signal measured using the conductive surface, wherein strength of the signal above a predefined threshold corresponds to the input signal that activates the NFC.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a light source configured to emit light; and

a photodetector configured to measure rate of reflection of the emitted light, wherein the rate of reflection corresponds to the input signal that activates the NFC.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna module configured to issue a signal; and

a measuring module configured to measure change in frequency of the signal emitted by the antenna module, wherein the change in frequency corresponds to the input signal that activates the NFC.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a measuring module configured to measure strength of the input signal, and wherein the measuring module is an ohmmeter.

13. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

activating an NFC device included in an electronic device, in response to an input signal generated by user contact with the electronic device reaching a predefined threshold; and

deactivating the NFC device when the input signal falls below the predefined threshold, wherein communication between the NFC device and a second NFC device occurs only when the NFC device is activated in response to the input signal generated by the user contact.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sensing the input signal generated by the user contact with the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein sensing the input signal further comprises:

sensing a change in capacitance of a tuning element included in the electronic device, wherein increase in the capacitance indicates user contact with the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein sensing the input signal further comprises:

sensing pressure exerted on a pressure sensor included in a casing of the electronic device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein sensing the input signal further comprises sensing light emitted from a light source included in the electronic device;

and

further comprising measuring rate of reflection of the sensed light, wherein the rate of reflection corresponds to the input signal that activates the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

measuring when the strength of the input signal generated by the user contact reaches above the predefined threshold.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising:

activating an NFC device included in the electronic device, in response to an input signal generated by user contact with the electronic device reaching a predefined threshold; and

deactivating the NFC device when the input signal falls below the predefined threshold, wherein communication between the NFC device and a second NFC device occurs only when the NFC device is activated in response to the input signal generated by the user contact.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising:

sensing the input signal generated by the user contact with the electronic device; and

measuring strength of the input signal, wherein the measuring determines when the input signal is above the predefined threshold.