Method, portable data carrier, and system for releasing a transaction using an acceleration sensor to sense mechanical oscillations

• US 8,981,900 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2010
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Giesecke + Devrient Mobile Security GmBH (Giesecke & Devrient GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
• Inventors: Finkenzeller, Klaus, Rankl, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US13/380,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20120161923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 726/22, 340/5.1, 340/5.4, 340/5.51, 340/5.8, 340/5.81, 340/5.82
• US Class Current: 340/5.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches

Abstract

A method, a portable data storage medium, an approval apparatus and a system for approving a transaction using acceleration sensors integrated in a portable data storage medium.

Claims

1. A method for releasing a transaction between a portable data carrier and an end device, the method comprising the steps:

a) bringing the portable data carrier into an electromagnetic field generated by the end device and drawing power by the data carrier from the electromagnetic field for the power supply of the data carrier,

b) exciting the portable data carrier by mechanical oscillation generated by the end device, wherein the end device generates linear, circular, or a combination of linear and circular mechanical oscillations and mechanically excites the portable data carrier by the linear, circular, or the combination of linear and circular mechanical oscillations,

c) capturing the mechanical oscillation in the portable data carrier by means of an acceleration sensor,

d) evaluating an output signal of the acceleration sensor with regard to characteristic properties of the mechanical oscillation, and

e) releasing the transaction by the portable data carrier as soon as a characteristic property of the oscillation has been recognized through the evaluation of the output signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the portable data carrier is set into self-oscillation by the mechanical excitation, and this self-oscillation is captured and evaluated.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein as the characteristic property the time duration, the frequency or the amplitude of the mechanical oscillation is evaluated.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the end device excites the portable data carrier via an oscillatable partial surface of the end device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the linear or circular mechanical oscillations of the end device fluctuate in frequency, and the frequency fluctuation is evaluated as the characteristic property in the portable data carrier.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein several linear or circular mechanical oscillations of the end device are superimposed, and this oscillation superimposition is evaluated as the characteristic property in the portable data carrier.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein further linear or circular oscillations are emitted during the transaction.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein an antenna of the end device emits the electromagnetic field and the electromagnetic signal is incorporated in or under the oscillatable partial surface of the end device.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the end device vibrates.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the portable data carrier is excited mechanically by placing the portable data carrier abruptly on the end device, and the abrupt placement is evaluated as the characteristic property of the mechanical oscillations.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

the self-acceleration and/or high acceleration values before the abrupt placement and/or an angle acquisition after the abrupt placement are evaluated as the characteristic property of the mechanical oscillations.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the portable data carrier is excited mechanically by rubbing the portable data carrier on an outer surface of the end device.

13. A portable data carrier for transferring data with an end device, wherein the data carrier includes a release apparatus, said release apparatus comprising:

an acceleration sensor configured to ascertain mechanical oscillations generated by the end device and to generate acceleration sensor output signals, wherein the end device generates linear, circular, or a combination of linear and circular mechanical oscillations and mechanically excites the portable data carrier by the linear, circular, or the combination of linear and circular mechanical oscillations, and

an evaluation unit that evaluates the acceleration sensor output signals and ascertains the mechanical oscillations,

a data transfer between portable data carrier and end device being releasable upon the evaluation unit generating a release signal by reason of a mechanical-oscillation characteristic required for the release.

14. A module for releasing a transaction with an end device, comprising:

an acceleration sensor for capturing a mechanical oscillation generated by the end device, wherein the end device generates linear, circular, or a combination of linear and circular mechanical oscillations and mechanically excites the portable data carrier by the linear, circular, or the combination of linear and circular mechanical oscillations,

an evaluation unit for evaluating the captured mechanical oscillation, wherein the mechanical oscillation is evaluated with regard to characteristic properties,

a comparing unit for comparing the characteristic properties of the mechanical oscillation of the evaluation unit with a target value of the characteristic properties,

wherein the comparing unit releases the transaction when the target value of the characteristic property is exceeded, and

the comparing unit does not release the transaction when the target value of the characteristic property is undershot.

15. A system for releasing a transaction comprising:

a portable data carrier, including the module recited in claim 14, and

an end device,

wherein the portable data carrier is excitable with the mechanical oscillation generated by the end device, and

the comparing unit of the module for releasing releases the transaction upon exceeding of a target value of a characteristic property of the mechanical oscillation.