Hybrid device having a personal digital key and receiver-decoder circuit and methods of use

• US 9,049,188 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2014
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proxense, LLC
• Original Assignee: Proxense, LLC
• Inventors: Brown, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JASON T
• Application Number:
  US14/171,705
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3, 726/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2145 Inheriting rights or properties, e.g., propagation of permissions or restrictions within a hierarchy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• 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 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 hybrid device includes a personal digital key (PDK) and a receiver-decoder circuit (RDC). The PDK and RDC of the hybrid device are coupled for communication with each other. In one embodiment, the hybrid device also provides a physical interconnect for connecting to other devices to send and receive control signals and data, and receive power. The hybrid device operates in one of several modes including, PDK only, RDC only, or PDK and RDC. This allows a variety of system configurations for mixed operation including: PDK/RDC, RDC/RDC or PDK/PDK. The present invention also includes a number of system configurations for use of the hybrid device including: use of the hybrid device in a cell phone; simultaneous use of the PDK and the RDC functionality of hybrid device; use of multiple links of hybrid device to generate an authorization signal, use of multiple PDK links to the hybrid device to generate an authorization signal; and use of the hybrid device for authorization inheritance.

Claims

1. A hybrid device comprising:

an integrated personal digital key (PDK) for storing local, secured biometric information for authenticating a user and capable of communicating wirelessly with an external receiver-decoder circuit (RDC); and

an integrated RDC for communicating wirelessly with at least one external PDK within a proximity zone, the integrated RDC coupled to the integrated PDK by a first signal line for communication, the integrated RDC coupled to at least one other component of the hybrid device by a second signal line, one or more of the integrated RDC and integrated PDK enabling one or more of an application, a function, and a service.

2. The hybrid device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more of the application, the function, and the service are enabled at least in part on the hybrid device.

3. The hybrid device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more of the application, the function, and the service are enabled at least in part on a device external to the hybrid device and communicatively coupled to the external RDC.

4. The hybrid device of claim 1, wherein the local, secured biometric information for authenticating a user is based on one or more of a fingerprint, palm print, a retinal scan, an iris scan, a photograph, a signature, a voice sample, DNA and RNA.

5. The hybrid device of claim 1, wherein the integrated PDK stores local, secured financial information.

6. The hybrid device of claim 1, wherein the integrated PDK stores local, secured financial information and at least one of the one or more of the application, the function, and the service enabled completes a financial transaction based on the financial information.

7. The hybrid device of claim 1, wherein the hybrid device is a cell phone.

8. The hybrid device of claim 1, wherein the external PDK is included in jewelry.

9. The hybrid device of claim 1, comprising a storage for inheritance information.

20. The hybrid device of claim 1, wherein the external PDK is included in a watch.

10. A method comprising:

creating a first wireless link between an integrated receiver-decoder circuit (RDC) of a hybrid device and an external personal digital key (PDK), the hybrid device including an integrated PDK and the integrated RDC, wherein the integrated PDK stores local, secured biometric information for authenticating a user;

receiving a first signal at the integrated RDC via the first wireless link from the external PDK;

generating an enablement signal enabling one or more of an application, a function and a service.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

sending the enablement signal to the hybrid device, wherein at least one of the one or more of the application, the function, and the service are enabled at least in part on the hybrid device.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

sending the enablement signal to the hybrid device, wherein at least one of the one or more of the application, the function, and the service are enabled at least in part on a device external to the hybrid device and communicatively coupled to the external RDC.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the local, secured biometric information for authenticating a user is based on one or more of a fingerprint, palm print, a retinal scan, an iris scan, a photograph, a signature, a voice sample, DNA and RNA.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the integrated PDK stores local, secured financial information.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the hybrid device is a cell phone.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the external PDK is included in jewelry.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the integrated PDK is electrically coupled to the integrated RDC, and the method further comprises:

creating a second wireless link between the integrated PDK and an external RDC; and

sending the enablement signal from the integrated PDK to the external RDC using the second wireless link, the enablement signal based on financial information stored locally and securely on the integrated PDK and used to complete a financial transaction.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the first signal includes inheritance information.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the external PDK is included in a watch.