Method and apparatus for transferring data via radio frequency (RF) memory tags

• US 8,547,232 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Boldyrev, Sergey, Haikonen, Mikko Sakari, Kaaja, Jari-Jukka Harald, Arponen, Jarmo Tapani, Jantunen, Joni Jorma Marius
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): EUSTAQUIO, CAL J
• Application Number:
  US12/790,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20110291834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1416 by checking the object accessibility, e.g. type of access defined by the memory independently of subject rights G06F12/1458 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

An approach is presented for transferring data via radio frequency (RF) memory tags. The UE manager receives a request, at a device, to grant access for interaction between a first RF memory tag and a second RF memory tag, the first RF memory tag associated with one or more trusted storage. Further, the UE manager determines an accessibility state of the first RF memory tag, the one or more trusted storage, or a combination thereof. Then, the UE manager causes, at least in part, granting of the access based, at least in part, on the accessibility state. The access is via a connection between the first RF memory tag and the second RF memory tag.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request, at a device, to grant access for interaction between a first Radio Frequency (RF) memory tag and a second RF memory tag, the first RF memory tag being associated with two or more trusted storage areas in the device that store data that respectively require two or more different levels of security or protection;

determining an accessibility state of the first RF memory tag, the one or more trusted storage, or a combination thereof; and

causing, at least in part, granting of the access based, at least in part, on the accessibility state,

wherein the access is via a connection between the first RF memory tag and the second RF memory tag, and

wherein the first RF memory tag is associated with the device.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the first RF memory tag, one or more of the two or more trusted storage, or a combination thereof is in a locked state,

wherein the accessibility state is based, at least in part, on the determination of the locked state.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein the locked state is initiated if the first RF memory tag, the one or more of the two or more trusted storage, the device, or a combination thereof is lost or stolen.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining authentication credentials associated with the first RF memory tag, the second RF memory tag, the device, a user of the device, one or more of the two or more trusted storage, or a combination thereof,

wherein the accessibility state is based, at least in part, on the authentication credentials.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining one or more characteristics of the access, data associated with the access, or a combination thereof;

selecting one or more of the two or more trusted storage based, at least in part, on the one or more characteristics,

wherein the granting of the access is further based on the selected one or more of the two or more trusted storage.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the access is a write operation from the second RF memory tag to the first RF memory tag, the method further comprising:

causing, at least in part, a first transfer of the content from the second RF memory tag to the first RF memory tag into an untrusted storage associated with the first RF memory tag; and

causing, at least in part, a second transfer of the content from the untrusted storage to at least one of the two or more trusted storage based, at least in part, on the granting of the access.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining one or more limitations associated with the access,

wherein the granting of the access is further based on the one or more limitations.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the request is further associated with a third RF memory tag, and wherein the granting of access relates to the first RF memory tag, the second RF memory tag, the third RF memory tag or a combination thereof.

9. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, synchronization, transfer, or a combination thereof of content associated with the first RF memory tag, one or more of the two or more trusted storage, the second RF memory tag, or a combination thereof to a server, another device, or combination thereof.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the first RF memory tag is further associated with a user interface component:

causing, at least in part, accessing of the component by the device,

wherein the request is received, granted, or a combination thereof via the component at the device.

11. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, recording of the access; and

associating the recording with the first RF memory tag, one or more of the two or more trusted storage, the second RF memory tag, or a combination thereof.

12. A method of claim 1, wherein the access relates to obtaining consent information, and wherein the granting of the access is further based on the consent information.

13. A method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining one or more areas of the trusted storage based, at least in part, on the consent information,

wherein the access further relates to the one or more areas of the trusted storage.

14. A method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a scope of the access based, at least in part, on the consent information,

wherein the scope includes at least a time, a location, a duration, a party, a role of the party, an activity, a record, or a combination thereof.

15. A method of claim 1, wherein the access relates to a financial transaction, financial information, medical information, personal information, privileged information, or a combination thereof.

16. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive a request, at a device, to grant access for interaction between a first RF memory tag and a second RF memory tag, the first RF memory tag associated with two or more trusted storage areas in the device that store data that respectively require two or more different levels of security or protection;

determine an accessibility state of the first RF memory tag, the one or more trusted storage, or a combination thereof; and

cause, at least in part, granting of the access based, at least in part, on the accessibility state,

wherein the access is via a connection between the first RF memory tag and the second RF memory tag, and

wherein the first RF memory tag is associated with the device.

17. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine whether the first RF memory tag, one or more of the two or more trusted storage, or a combination thereof is in a locked state,

wherein the accessibility state is based, at least in part, on the determination of the locked state.

18. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine authentication credentials associated with the first RF memory tag, the second RF memory tag, the device, a user of the device, one or more of the two or more trusted storage, or a combination thereof,

wherein the accessibility state is based, at least in part, on the authentication credentials.

19. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine one or more characteristics of the access, data associated with the access, or a combination thereof;

select one or more of the two or more trusted storage based, at least in part, on the one or more characteristics,

wherein the granting of the access is further based on the selected one or more of the two or more trusted storage.

20. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, synchronization, transfer, or a combination thereof of content associated with the first memory tag, one or more of the two or more trusted storage, the second memory tag, or a combination thereof to a server, another device, or combination thereof.