Using Harvested Power for NFC Transactions

• US 20140180851A1
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blaze Mobile, Inc. (iWin, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Blaze Mobile, Inc. (iWin, Inc.)
• Inventors: FISHER, Michelle
• Granted Patent: US 9,626,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• 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

In some embodiments, a system includes a mobile communication device and a secure element physically coupled to the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device includes a first wireless transceiver, first processor, and first memory. The secure element includes a second wireless transceiver, second processor, and second memory. The mobile communication device is configured to transmit data via the first wireless transceiver to the secure element in packets, using a packet protocol. The secure element is configured to transmit data via the second wireless transceiver to the mobile communication device in messages, using a messaging protocol distinct from the packet protocol.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a near field communication transaction between a mobile communications device and a point-of-sale terminal, the method comprising:

maintaining a payment application and payment credentials in a memory of a secure element, the secure element physically coupled to the mobile communication device but electrically decoupled from electrical interior components of the mobile communications device and harvests power from ambient RF signals, wherein execution of the payment application operates above the physical communication layer and facilitates the transfer of payment credentials with a point-of-sale terminal;

initiating in response to near field communication trigger between the secure element and the point of sale terminal, executing-a payment application stored in memory of the secure element by using a processor in the secure element, wherein the mobile communications device supports a first communication channel;

transmitting in response to near field communication trigger between the secure element and the point of sale terminal without authentication, transaction data by using the payment application and a wireless transceiver capable of near field communications in the secure element, wherein transaction data is sent through a second communication channel to the point-of-sale terminal, wherein the second communication channel is different from the first communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further wherein the secure element receives transaction data from the point-of-sale terminal during the NFC interaction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication channel implements a Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication protocol and the second communication channel implements a Near Field Communications (NFC) communication protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication channel implements a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication protocol and the second communication channel implements a Near Field Communications (NFC) communication protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication channel implements a Bluetooth communication protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication channel implements a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) communication protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction data includes an identifier that uniquely identifies a user of the mobile communications device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the execution of the payment application is related to ticketing, content, purchase of a service, or management of payment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a payment protocol allows for the processing of a ticket transaction and the transaction data comprises a ticket corresponding to the ticket transaction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a payment protocol allows for the processing of a transaction involving a coupon and the transaction data comprises a coupon corresponding to the transaction involving the coupon.

11. A communications device for conducting a near field communication transaction with a point-of-sale terminal, the mobile communications device comprising:

a mobile communications device transceiver supporting a first communication channel;

a mobile communications device memory configured to maintain a payment application and payment credentials; and

a mobile communications device processor coupled to the mobile communications device transceiver and the mobile communications device memory;

wherein a secure element is physically coupled to the mobile communications device but electrically decoupled from the electrical interior components of the mobile communications device and harvests power from ambient RF signals, a payment application that operates above the physical communication layer and stored in memory of the secure element is executed in response to an initial detection of a near field communication trigger by the point-of-sale terminal and a wireless transceiver in the secure element that is capable of near field communication is used to send transaction data using the payment application in response to near field communication trigger between the secure element and the point of sale terminal through a second communication channel to the point-of-sale terminal without authentication, wherein the second communication channel is different from the first communication channel.

12. The mobile communications device of claim 11, further wherein the secure element receives transaction data from the point-of-sale terminal during the NFC interaction.

13. The mobile communications device of claim 11, wherein the first communication channel implements a Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication protocol and the second communication channel implements a Near Field Communications (NFC) communication protocol.

14. The mobile communications device of claim 11, wherein the first communication channel implements a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication protocol and the second communication channel implements a Near Field Communications (NFC) communication protocol.

15. The mobile communications device of claim 11, wherein the second communication channel implements a Bluetooth communication protocol.

16. The mobile communications device of claim 11, wherein the second communication channel implements a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) communication protocol.

17. The mobile communications device of claim 11, wherein the transaction data includes an identifier that uniquely identifies a user of the mobile communications device.

18. The mobile communications device of claim 11, wherein the execution of the payment application is related to ticketing, content, purchase of a service, or management of payment.

19. The mobile communications device of claim 11, wherein a payment protocol allows for processing of a ticket transaction and the transaction data comprises a ticket corresponding to the ticket transaction.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising:

computer code for maintaining a payment application and payment credentials in a memory of a secure element, the secure element physically coupled to the mobile communication device but electrically decoupled from electrical interior components of the mobile communications device and harvests power from ambient RF signals, wherein initiation, in response to near field communication trigger between the secure element and the point of sale terminal execution of the payment application facilitates the transfer of payment credentials with a point-of-sale terminal without authentication;

computer code for executing a payment application stored in memory of the secure element by using a processor in the secure element, wherein the payment application operates above the physical communication layer and is executed in response to detection of a near field communication-trigger by a point-of-sale terminal, wherein the mobile communications device supports a first communication channel;

computer code for transmitting transaction data in response to near field communication trigger between the secure element and the point of sale terminal by using the payment application and a wireless transceiver capable of near field communications in the secure element without authentication, wherein transaction data is sent through a second communication channel to the point-of-sale terminal, wherein the second communication channel is different from the first communication channel.