Security for wireless communication

• US 8,594,563 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
• Original Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
• Inventors: Waters, Patrick, Manning, Stephanie
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): AYOTUNDE, AYODEJI O
• Application Number:
  US11/816,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20090215385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,206 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/410, 455/411, 455/412.2
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile terminal is disclosed which includes a near field or RFID tag (41). The mobile terminal (1) communicates with the mobile telecommunications network and is authenticated with that network using the SIM (15). The mobile terminal (1) is operable to obtain security data from the user thereof, such as a PIN or biometric data, or the mobile terminal (1) incorporates a sensor such as a light sensor, pressure sensor, heat sensor, skin resistant sensor or inertial sensor. The input device or sensor is used to confirm the identity of the user or to evaluate whether the user wishes to use the near field tag (41) to make a payment or obtain entry to a building (for example). Data from the sensor is passed to the SIM (15), which issues a command enabling the near field tag (41), via link (43). The near field tag (41) may then be read by a reader. The near field tag (41) may be automatically disabled after being read by the reader, after a predetermined time, or when the stimulus to the sensor is no longer present.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a near field communication device able to transmit over a near field; and

a smart card coupled with the near field communication device, the smart card being associable with a mobile telecommunications network and configured to authenticate with the network, wherein the transmission ability of the near field communication device is selectively enabled and disabled automatically by the smart card in dependence upon data received by the smart card directly from the mobile telecommunications network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smart card is operable to selectively enable the near field communication device by selectively enabling the near field communication device to be read by a reader.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for operatively coupling the smart card to the mobile telecommunications network, the data being received by the smart card directly from the mobile telecommunications network through the means for operatively coupling.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the means for operatively coupling comprises a mobile terminal for communicating wirelessly with the mobile telecommunications network.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the means for operatively coupling comprises a device for coupling the smart card to a data processing apparatus, which data processing apparatus is connectable to the mobile telecommunications network.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein predetermined authentication information respective to a user is stored on the smart card, the smart card being registered with the mobile telecommunications network, which includes means for authenticating.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for entering security data.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for entering security data comprises an alphanumeric data entry device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for entering security data comprises a keypad.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for entering security data comprises means for comparing an entered Personal Identification Number (PIN) with a PIN stored on the apparatus and the transmission ability of the near field communication device is selectively enabled by the smart card only when the respective PINS match.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for entering security data is operable to detect biometric data from a user.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a display configured to display security information.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pressure detector coupled to the smart card, the transmission ability of the near field communication device being selectively enabled by the smart card only when a pressure is detected on the pressure detector.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heat detector coupled to the smart card, the transmission ability of the near field communication device being selectively enabled by the smart card only when heat is detected on the heat detector.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a movement detector coupled to the smart card, the transmission ability of the near field communication device being selectively enabled by the smart card only when a change of movement is detected by the movement detector.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a near field radio jamming operable to selectively jam or disrupt communication to or from the near field communication device as well as communications of other near field communications devices within range of the jamming device.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a near field radio shield.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the near field radio shield allows the near field communication device to receive near field radio from only a predetermined direction.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smart card comprises a SIM.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data is for programming the smart card.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the data comprise over-the-air updating messages.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the data comprise SMS messages.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data received by the smart card from the mobile telecommunications network comprises location data and the near field communication device is enabled and disabled by the smart card in dependence upon the location data.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the near field communication device is enabled and disabled by the smart card in dependence upon authentication of the smart card with the mobile telecommunications network.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data received by the smart card from the mobile telecommunications network represent time values and the near field communication device is enabled and disabled by the smart card in dependence upon the time values.

26. A mobile telecommunications network comprising the apparatus of claim 1.

36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the near field communication device comprises an antenna, and the transmission ability of the near field communication device is selectively disabled by rendering the antenna inoperable such that when the transmission ability of the near field communication device is disabled by the smart card, the near field communication device is able to perform functions not requiring transmission through the antenna.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data received by the smart card comprises commands received from the mobile telecommunications network.

39. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data received by the smart card are contained within an over-the-air message received by the smart card from the mobile telecommunications network.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the over-the-air message is an over-the-air update message.

27. A method of controlling a transmission ability of a near field communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

associating a smart card with a mobile telecommunications network for authenticating the smart card with the mobile telecommunications network;

receiving data, by the smart card, directly from the mobile telecommunications network; and

automatically enabling, by the smart card, the transmission ability of the near field communication device in dependence upon the data received by the smart card.

41. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving further data, by the smart card, directly from the mobile telecommunications network; and

automatically disabling, by the smart card, the transmission ability of the near field communication device in dependence upon the further data received by the smart card.

42. The method of claim 27,

wherein the data received by the smart card comprise commands, and

wherein automatically enabling, by the smart card, the transmission ability of the near field communication device comprises executing, by the smart card, the received commands.

43. The method of claim 27, wherein the data received by the smart card are contained within an over-the-air message received by the smart card.

44. The method of claim 27, wherein automatically disabling the transmission ability of the near field communication device comprises rendering an antenna of the near field communication device inoperable such that the near field communication device is able to perform functions not requiring transmission through the antenna when the transmission ability of the near field communication device is disabled.

28. A communication apparatus comprising:

a near field communication device able to transmit over a near field;

a smart card;

means for enabling the smart card to receive data directly from a mobile telecommunications network to authenticate the communication apparatus; and

means for selectively enabling and disabling the transmission ability of the near field communication device in direct dependence upon the data received by the smart card directly from the mobile telecommunications network.

29. A mobile telecommunication device for use with a mobile telecommunications network, the mobile telecommunication device comprising:

a SIM; and

a near field communication device, the SIM being operable to selectively enable and disable a transmission ability of the near field communication device by executing commands received by the SIM over the mobile telecommunications network.

30. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 29 further comprising a pressure detector coupled to the SIM, the transmission ability of the near field communication device being selectively enabled by the SIM only when a pressure is detected on the pressure detector.

31. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 29, further comprising a heat detector coupled to the SIM, the transmission ability of the near field communication device being selectively enabled by the SIM only when heat is detected on the heat detector.

32. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 29, further comprising a movement detector coupled to the SIM, the transmission ability of the near field communication device being selectively enabled by the SIM only when a change in movement is detected by the movement detector.

34. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 29, further comprising a near field radio shield.

35. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 34, wherein the near field radio shield allows the near field communication device to receive near field radio from only a predetermined direction.

37. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the near field communication device comprises an antenna, and the transmission ability of the near field communication device is selectively disabled by rendering the antenna inoperable such that when the transmission ability of the near field communication device is disabled by the SIM, the near field communication device is able to perform functions not requiring transmission through the antenna.

45. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 29, wherein the SIM is operable to selectively enable and disable the transmission ability of the near field communication device automatically.

46. The mobile telecommunication device of claim 29, wherein the commands are received by the SIM within an over-the-air message.

33. A mobile telecommunication device comprising:

a mobile terminal configured to communicate over a mobile telecommunications network;

a near field communication device positioned within the mobile terminal; and

a near field radio jamming device operable to selectively jam or disrupt communication to or from the near field communication device as well as communications of other near field communications devices within range of the jamming device.