PROTECTION OF A SECURITY ELEMENT COUPLED TO AN NFC CIRCUIT

• US 20120190332A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SAS (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SAS (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Charles, Alexandre
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3229 Use of the SIM of a M-device as secure element
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• 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

Abstract

A method and a device for protecting a security module connected to a near-field communication router in a telecommunication device, wherein a transmission between the router and the security module is only allowed in the presence of a radio frequency communication flow detected by the router.

Claims

1. A method for protecting a security module connected to a near-field communication router in a telecommunication device, wherein a transmission between the router and the security module is only allowed in the presence of a radio frequency communication flow detected by the router.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic flow originates from a magnetic field within the range of the router.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence of a radio frequency communication flow is detected by means of an antenna associated with a detection circuit different from the router.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence of a radio frequency communication flow is indirectly detected by the presence of a power supply voltage extracted by the router from this flow.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein messages transmitted by the router to the security module are detected and interpreted.

6. A telecommunication device equipped with a near-field communication router, comprising means capable of implementing the method of claim 1.

7. The device of claim 6, comprising a circuit of direct or indirect detection of the presence of a radio frequency communication flow within the range of said router.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said detection circuit interprets messages transmitted by the router to the security module.

9. The device of claim 6, further comprising a circuit for protecting a connection between said router and at least one security module.