Secure wireless charging

• US 9,137,019 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Knubben, Wihelmus H. C., Brink, Klaas, Sedzin, Aliaksei Vladimirovich, van Lammeren, Johannes Petrus Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, VENKATANARAY
• Application Number:
  US13/735,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20140195803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

A wireless charging apparatus and method utilizing a secure element is disclosed. Illustratively, a receiver containing a secure element securely communicates with a charging pad also equipped with a secure element. The communication can be used to establish the identity of the receiver and facilitate billing for the wireless charging. The charging pad may further communicate in a secure manner with a server to authenticate the identity and other information about the receiver before providing wireless charging. Direct communication between the receiver and server is also contemplated.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method of charging a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

harvesting power from an NFC signal by a receiver having a GPS device;

utilizing the harvested power to power the receiver to perform an authentication procedure with a source of the NFC signal;

transmitting a secure communication and GPS location data to a server via a mobile network for authentication by the server of information included in the secure communication; and

in response to authentication of the information included in the secure communication, receiving charging from the source of the NFC signal.

2. The machine-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the secure communication is transmitted directly to a remote server that is distinct from the source of the NFC signal.

3. The machine-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the secure communication is transmitted directly to a charging pad.

4. The machine-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the information included in the secure communication comprises the identity of an owner of the receiver, characteristics of the receiver, and data related to payment.

5. The machine-implemented method of claim 4, wherein data related to payment comprises at least one of points, miles, and membership information.

6. The machine-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the authentication procedure comprises utilizing encrypted tokens to establish a secure communication channel between the receiver and the source of the NFC signal.

7. A machine-implemented method of charging a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a receiver having a GPS device using a charging pad;

performing an authentication procedure between the receiver and the charging pad using the charging pad;

transmitting a secure communication and GPS location data to a server for authentication by the server of information included in the secure communication;

upon authentication of the information, charging the receiver.

8. The machine-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the information is authenticated by:

transmitting the secure communication to a server for authentication; and

receiving the results of the authentication from the server.

9. The machine-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the information included in the secure communication comprises the identity of an owner of the receiver, characteristics of the receiver, and data related to payment.

10. The machine-implemented method of claim 9, wherein data related to payment comprises at least one of points, miles, and membership information.

11. A receiver adapted to receive wireless charging, the receiver comprising:

an NFC tag for harvesting power from an NFC signal;

a secure element for establishing a secure communication channel using the harvested power;

a transceiver for sending a secure communication to a server via a mobile network for authentication by the server;

a GPS device for providing location information that is included in the secure communication; and

a coil for receiving wireless charging energy in response to transmission of the secure communication.