Wireless communication system with NFC-controlled access and related methods

• US 8,989,767 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Walker, David Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIEH, PING Y
• Application Number:
  US13/036,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20120220224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• 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: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A wireless communication system may include a wireless access point including a first wireless transceiver and a controller associated therewith and providing wireless communications within a defined space having an entrance, and mobile wireless communications devices, each including a first near field communications (NFC) device and a second wireless transceiver communicating with the first wireless transceiver. The wireless communication system may also include a second NFC device adjacent the entrance of the defined space, and a third NFC device within the defined space. The controller may permit wireless communications of a given mobile wireless communications device with the wireless access point based upon communication of the corresponding first NFC device with the second and third NFC devices.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless access point comprising a first wireless transceiver and a controller associated therewith and configured to provide wireless communications within a defined space having an entrance;

a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices, each comprising a first near field communications (NFC) device and a second wireless transceiver capable of communicating with said first wireless transceiver;

a second NFC device adjacent the entrance of the defined space; and

a third NFC device within the defined space;

said controller configured to

permit wireless communications of a given mobile wireless communications device from among said plurality of mobile wireless communications devices with said wireless access point based upon sequential communication of the corresponding first NFC device with said second NFC device, indicating that said given mobile wireless communications device has entered the defined space, followed by said third NFC device, and

disable wireless communications of said given mobile wireless communications device with said wireless access point based upon a subsequent communication of the corresponding first NFC device with the second NFC device indicating that said given mobile wireless communications device has left the defined space.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein each mobile wireless communications device has a unique identification associated therewith;

and wherein said second and third NFC devices are configured to receive a respective unique identification from an adjacent mobile wireless communications device.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 2 wherein said controller is configured to permit wireless communications when a same respective unique identification is sequentially received at said second and third NFC devices.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 1 further comprising at least one other wireless communications device within the defined space;

and wherein said controller is configured to permit wireless communication between the given mobile wireless communications device and the at least one other wireless communications device based upon the communication of the corresponding first NFC device with said second and third NFC devices.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 4 wherein said at least one other wireless communications device comprises at least one of a printer device, a projector device, a photocopying device, a scanner device, a fax machine, a display device, or an external speaker device.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein said first and second wireless transceivers each comprises a respective wireless local area network transceiver.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to permit wireless communications further based upon receipt of an electronic payment.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of mobile wireless communications devices comprises at least one of a cellular wireless communications device, a laptop personal computer device, or a tablet computing device.

9. A wireless access point for a wireless communication system comprising a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices, each comprising a first near field communications (NFC) device and a second wireless transceiver, the wireless communications system further including a second NFC device adjacent the entrance of a defined space and a third NFC device within the defined space, the wireless access point comprising:

a first wireless transceiver and a controller associated therewith and configured to provide wireless communications within the defined space;

said controller configured to

permit wireless communications of a corresponding second wireless transceiver of a given mobile wireless communications device from among said plurality of mobile wireless communications devices with said first wireless transceiver based upon sequential communication of the corresponding first NFC device with the second NFC device, indicating that the given mobile wireless communications device has entered the defined space, followed by said third NFC device, and

disable wireless communications of the given mobile wireless communications device with the wireless access point based upon a subsequent communication of the corresponding first NFC device with the second NFC device indicating that the given mobile wireless communications device has left the defined space.

10. The wireless access point of claim 9 wherein said controller is configured to permit wireless communication between the respective second wireless transceiver of the given mobile wireless communications device and at least one other wireless communications device also based upon the communication of the corresponding first NFC device with the second and third NFC devices.

11. The wireless access point of claim 10 wherein the at least one other wireless communications device comprises at least one of a printer device, a projector device, a photocopying device, a scanner device, a fax machine, a display device, or an external speaker device.

12. The wireless access point of claim 9 wherein said first wireless transceiver comprises a wireless local area network transceiver.

13. The wireless access point of claim 9 wherein said controller is configured to permit wireless communications further based receipt of an electronic payment.

14. A method of operating a wireless access point in a wireless communication system for providing wireless communications within a defined space having an entrance, the wireless communication system including a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices each comprising a first near field communications (NFC) device, a second NFC device adjacent the entrance of the defined space, and a third NFC device within the defined space, the method comprising:

permitting wireless communications of a given mobile wireless communications device with the wireless access point based upon sequential communication of a corresponding first NFC device with the second NFC device, indicating that the given mobile wireless communications device has entered the defined space, followed by the third NFC device, and

disabling wireless communications of the given mobile wireless communications device with the wireless access point based upon a subsequent communication of the corresponding first NFC device with the second NFC device indicating that the given mobile wireless communications device has left the defined space.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein permitting wireless communications further comprises permitting wireless communications of the given wireless communications device when a same respective unique identification associated therewith is sequentially received at the second and third NFC devices.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising permitting wireless communications between the given mobile wireless communications device with at least one other wireless communications device in the defined space also based upon the communication of the corresponding first NFC device with the second and third NFC devices.