Protection of personal data contained on an RFID-enabled device

• US 10,783,335 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2019
• Issued: 09/22/2020
• 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 A
• Application Number:
  US16/460,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20190325175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 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) device, the system comprising:

a data protection device configured to detect an emission of a carrier signal by an RFID reader communicating with an RFID device; and

an electronic tagging system including a camera, the electronic tagging system in communication with the data protection device and configured to electronically tag a potential source of the carrier signal via the camera upon detection of the emission of the carrier signal by the RFID reader.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data protection device is selectively switchable between a first mode, in which the data protection device is configured to detect the emission of the carrier signal, and a second mode, in which the data protection device is configured to prevent reading of the RFID device.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the data protection device is configured to switch between the first mode and the second mode in response to detection of the emission of the carrier signal.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the data protection device includes a user-actuatable switch configured to switch between the first mode and the second mode.

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

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the data protection device is further configured to activate an indicatory device when the power source is low.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the indicatory device is a light emitting diode (LED) or an audible alarm.

8. A method of protecting data, the method comprising:

detecting, at a data protection device, emission of a carrier signal by an RFID reader communicating with an RFID device;

emitting a signal at the data protection device to prevent reading of the RFID device; and

signaling a camera by the data protection device to tag one or more potential sources of the carrier signal upon detection of the emission of the carrier signal by the RFID reader.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the data protection device is selectively switchable between a first mode, in which the data protection device is configured to detect the emission of the carrier signal, and a second mode, in which the data protection device is configured to prevent reading of the RFID device.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising switching between the first mode and the second mode in response to detection of the emission of the carrier signal.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the data protection device includes a user-actuatable switch configured to switch between the first mode and the second mode.