Processing module operating methods, processing modules, and communications systems

• US 8,831,220 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Original Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Inventors: McCown, Steven Harvey, Derr, Kurt W., Moore, Troy
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelagay, Shewaye
• Application Number:
  US11/948,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20090141896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,475 Days
• US Class Current: 380/255
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3823 combining multiple encryption tools for a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic

Abstract

A processing module operating method includes using a processing module physically connected to a wireless communications device, requesting that the wireless communications device retrieve encrypted code from a web site and receiving the encrypted code from the wireless communications device. The wireless communications device is unable to decrypt the encrypted code. The method further includes using the processing module, decrypting the encrypted code, executing the decrypted code, and preventing the wireless communications device from accessing the decrypted code. Another processing module operating method includes using a processing module physically connected to a host device, executing an application within the processing module, allowing the application to exchange user interaction data communicated using a user interface of the host device with the host device, and allowing the application to use the host device as a communications device for exchanging information with a remote device distinct from the host device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

requesting, by a processor resident in a processing module communicatively coupled to a wireless communications device via a communication interface resident in the processing module, retrieval of encrypted code from a source of encrypted code communicatively coupled to the wireless communications device, the source being external to a memory of the wireless communications device, wherein the wireless communications device is unable to decrypt the encrypted code and the processor rejects messages from the wireless communications device other than messages containing user interaction data or the encrypted code;

receiving, by the processing module via the communication interface, the encrypted code from the wireless communications device responsively to the request;

decrypting, by the processor, the encrypted code, wherein the wireless communications device is unable to access decrypted code; and

executing, by the processor resident in the processing module, the decrypted code.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing module operates using power supplied by the wireless communications device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing module is unable to communicate with the web site without the wireless communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing module includes a memory, the method further comprising:

generating, by the processor resident in the processing module, data by executing the decrypted code ;

and

storing, by the processor resident in the processing module, generated data in the memory such that the wireless communications device is unable to access the data stored in memory.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications device is at least one of a mobile wireless communications device, a mobile wireless telecommunications device, and a cellular wireless communications device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein execution of the code includes establishing, by wireless communication circuitry resident in the processing module, communication with a second processing module resident in a second wireless communications device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device retrieves the encrypted code via a wireless communication with the source.

8. A processing module comprising:

memory configured to store a set of instructions executable by processing circuitry;

a communication interface configured to be communicatively coupled to a wireless communications device; and

the processing circuitry configured to retrieve and execute the set of instructions to request that the wireless communication device retrieve encrypted code from a source of encrypted code communicatively coupled to the wireless communications device, the source being external to a memory of the wireless communications device, receive the encrypted code from the wireless communications device via the communication interface responsively to the request, use the decryption program stored in the memory to decrypt encrypted code received from the wireless communication device, execute the decrypted code, and reject messages from the wireless communications device other than messages containing user interaction data or the encrypted code, wherein the wireless communications device is unable to decrypt the encrypted code or access the decrypted code.

9. The processing module of claim 8 wherein the processing module further comprises a housing, the housing being different than a housing of the wireless communications device and wherein the communication interface is configured to be removably connected to the wireless communications device.

10. The processing module of claim 8 wherein the processing module operates using power supplied by the wireless communications device.

11. The processing module of claim 8 wherein the decryption program is unknown to the wireless communications device.

12. The processing module of claim 8, wherein the wireless communications is at least one of a mobile wireless communications device, a mobile wireless telecommunications device, and a cellular wireless communications device.

13. The processing module of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to generate data by executing the decrypted code and the memory is further configured to store generated data in the memory such that the wireless communications device is unable to access the data stored in the memory.

14. The processing module of claim 8, wherein the processing module is physically and electrically coupled to the wireless communications device.

15. The processing module of claim 8, further comprising:

wireless communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with a second processing module resident in a second wireless communications device.

16. The processing module of claim 15, wherein execution of the decrypted code includes using the wireless communication circuitry to establish communication with the second processing module via the wireless communication circuitry.