Protection of personal data contained on an RFID-enabled device

• US 10,073,995 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2017
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Carey
• Original Assignee: James Carey
• Inventors: Carey, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Gudorf, Laura
• Application Number:
  US15/445,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20170255798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07309 Means for preventing undesired reading or writing from or onto record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07318 by hindering electromagnetic reading or writing jamming of communication, counter-measures H04K3/00; secret communication H04K1/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10257 arrangements for protecting the interrogation against piracy attacks computer security in general G06F21/00; jamming of communication, countermeasures H04K3/00; secret communication H04K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10267 the arrangement comprising a circuit inside of the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/20 for contactless carriers, e.g. RFID carriers record carriers with integrated circuit chips including means for preventing undesired reading or writing from or to record carriers by hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07318; arrangements for sensing record carriers including arrangements for protecting the interrogation against piracy attacks G06K7/10257
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/86 related to preventing deceptive jamming or unauthorized interrogation or access, e.g. WLAN access or RFID reading record carriers with integrated circuit chips including means for preventing undesired reading or writing from or to record carriers by hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07318; arrangements for sensing record carriers including arrangements for protecting the interrogation against piracy attacks G06K7/10257

Abstract

A system for protecting personal data contained on an RFID-enabled device, suitable for use with an RFID system including an RFID reader configured to extract information from an RFID chip associated with the RFID-enabled device, includes a personal data protection system including a personal data protection device configured to prevent reading of the RFID chip associated with an RFID-enabled personal item.

Claims

1. A system for protecting personal data contained on a radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled device, the system for use with an RFID system including an RFID reader configured to extract information from an RFID chip associated with the RFID-enabled device, the system comprising:

an electronic tagging system including a camera; and

a personal data protection device configured to communicate with the electronic tagging system and be selectively switchable between a first mode of operation, in which the personal data protection device is configured to detect an emission of a carrier signal by the RFID reader, and a second mode of operation, in which the personal data protection device is configured to prevent reading of the RFID chip associated with an RFID-enabled personal item, through actuation of a user-actuatable switch,

wherein, upon detection of the emission of a carrier signal by the RFID reader, the electronic tagging system electronically tags one or more potential sources of the carrier signal via the camera.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the personal data protection device further includes a power source.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the personal data protection device is further configured to activate an indicatory device when the power source is low.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the indicatory device is a light emitting diode (LED) or an audible alarm.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the personal data protection device is configured to automatically switch from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation.

6. A method of protecting personal data, the method comprising:

providing a personal data protection device configured to be selectively switchable between a first mode of operation, in which the personal data protection device is configured to detect the emission of a carrier signal by a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, and a second mode of operation, in which the personal data protection device is configured to prevent reading of an RFID chip associated with an RFID-enabled personal item, through actuation of a user-actuatable switch;

detecting a carrier signal of the RFID reader;

activating the second mode of the personal data protection device in response to detection of the carrier signal of the RFID reader;

upon activation of the second mode of the personal data protection device, emitting one or more signals configured to prevent reading of the RFID chip associated with the RFID-enabled personal item; and

upon detection of the emission of a carrier signal by the RFID reader, tagging one or more potential sources of the carrier signal via a camera.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the personal data protection device further includes a power source.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the personal data protection device is further configured to activate an indicatory device when the power source is low.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the indicatory device is a light emitting diode (LED) or an audible alarm.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the personal data protection device is configured to automatically switch from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation.

11. A method of protecting personal data, the method comprising:

providing a holder having a pocket configured to receive a radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled personal item therein and configured to transmit an alert signal when the RFID-enabled personal item is removed from the pocket, the holder including a sensor and a resilient biasing member configured to bias the RFID-enabled personal item against the sensor such that removal of the RFID-enabled personal item from the pocket causes the sensor to transmit the alert signal;

automatically activating a personal data protection device configured to prevent reading of an RFID chip associated with the RFID-enabled personal item within a predetermined range of the personal data protection device in response to the transmission of the alert signal; and

upon activation of the personal data protection device, electronically tagging one or more potential sources of the carrier signal via a camera.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the personal data protection device further includes a power source.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the personal data protection device is further configured to activate an indicatory device when the power source is low.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the indicatory device is a light emitting diode (LED) or an audible alarm.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the personal data protection device is configured to automatically switch from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation.