Method and device for controlling the execution of at least one function in a short range wireless communication module of a mobile phone

• US 9,338,151 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEMIA France (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oberthur Technologies SA
• Inventors: Bertin, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Zhiyu
• Application Number:
  US12/526,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20100105322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,056 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• 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: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A method and device for controlling the execution of at least one function in a short-range wireless communication module of a mobile apparatus adapted for receiving at least one identification card. After transmitting an information request to the identification card, to obtain at least one piece of information characteristic of the identification card, an answer including at least one piece of information characteristic of the identification card is received therefrom. When the answer is identified and in response to the at least one piece of information, the at least one function is executed. An authentication request is received by the short-range wireless communication module. If the answer is authenticated, the short-range wireless communication module sends an authorization to the authentication request in response to the at least one piece of information characteristic of the identification card before the execution of the at least one function.

Claims

1. A method of controlling execution of at least one function in a mobile apparatus adapted to receive identification means, the method comprising:

transmitting within the mobile apparatus, an information request from a wireless near field communication module separate from the identification means within the mobile apparatus to a processor of said identification means within the mobile apparatus, said information request aiming to obtain at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means;

receiving by the wireless near field communication module within the mobile apparatus, a response to said information request from said identification means, said response containing at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means;

authenticating, within the mobile apparatus, said response by said wireless near field communication module; and

if said response is authenticated, executing said at least one function in said wireless near field communication module in response to said at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means, said at least one function comprising initiating a communication with a wireless near field communication device external to the mobile apparatus.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following steps:

receiving an authentication request by said wireless near field communication module; and

if said response is authenticated, before execution of said at least one function, said wireless near field communication module transmitting an authorization to said authentication request in response to said at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmission of information between said identification means and said wireless near field communication module is at least partially effected through a microprocessor of said mobile apparatus, the method further comprising the following steps:

transmitting said information request to said microprocessor, said microprocessor being adapted to transmit said information request to said identification means; and

/or

receiving said response from said microprocessor, said microprocessor having received said response from said identification means.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said response and/or said authorization is coded or secured so that it can be authenticated.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said coding or securing of said response and/or said authorization is based on authentication information stored locally in said identification means or in said wireless near field communication module, coding or securing said response and/or said authorization.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein authentication information is a private cryptographic key.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said coding or securing of said response and/or said authorization is effected locally in said identification means or in said wireless near field communication module, coding or securing said response and/or said authorization on the basis of authentication information stored locally in said identification means or in said wireless near field communication module coding or securing said response and/or said authorization.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object of said at least one function is to update data stored in said wireless near field communication module, to authorized wireless communication to or from an external device by said wireless near field communication module, or to access at least one service offered by an external device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least some communication between said identification means and said wireless near field communication module is secure.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said information request includes an indication relating to said at least one function.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which is stored computer-executable code of a computer program that comprises instructions that, when executed by a mobile apparatus having a wireless near field communication module and identification means with a separate processor, causes the mobile apparatus to execute the steps of:

transmitting within the mobile apparatus, an information request by said wireless near field communication module separate from the identification means in the mobile apparatus to the processor of said identification means in the mobile apparatus, said information request aiming to obtain at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means;

receiving, by the wireless near field communication module within the mobile apparatus, a response to said information request from said identification means, said response containing at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means;

authenticating, within the mobile apparatus, said response by said wireless near field communication module; and

if said response is authenticated, executing said at least one function in the wireless near field communication module in response to said at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means, said at least one function comprising initiating a communication with a wireless near field communication device external to the mobile apparatus.

12. A control device for executing at least one function in wireless near field communication means of a mobile apparatus adapted to receive identification means, the control device comprising in the mobile apparatus:

means for transmitting within the mobile apparatus at least one information request from the wireless near field communication means separate from the identification means in the mobile apparatus to a processor of said identification means in the mobile apparatus, said information request aiming to obtain at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means;

means for receiving, by said wireless near field communication means within the mobile apparatus a response to said information request from said identification means, said response including at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means;

means for authenticating, within the mobile apparatus, said response by said wireless near field communication means; and

means for executing said at least one function in the wireless near field communication means in response to said at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means, said at least one function comprising initiating a communication with a wireless near field communication device external to the mobile apparatus.

13. The control device according to claim 12, wherein said mobile apparatus comprises a microprocessor separate from said authentication means and said execution means.

14. The control device according to claim 12, further comprising the following means:

means for receiving at least one authentication request; and

means for transmitting an authorization to said authentication request in response to said at least one item of information characteristic of said identification means before the execution of said at least one function.

15. The control device according to claim 14, further comprising coding or securing means adapted to code or secure said authorization so that said authorization can be authenticated.

16. The control device according to claim 15, further comprising storage means for storing authentication information used by said coding or securing means to code or secure said authorization.

17. The control device according to claim 16, wherein said storage means are nonvolatile.

18. The control device according to claim 16, wherein said storage means are adapted also to store data for authenticating said response.

19. The control device according to claim 12, wherein the identification means are an identification card of a mobile telephone network subscriber.

20. The control device according to claim 12 wherein said wireless near field communication means conform to the ISO 14443 standard.

21. The control device according to claim 12, wherein said wireless near field communication means are integrated into said mobile apparatus non-removably.