Protection of a security element coupled to an NFC circuit

• US 9,179,307 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SAS (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SAS (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Charles, Alexandre
• Primary Examiner(s): Sabouri, Mazda
• Application Number:
  US13/334,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20120190332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/552.1, 455/572
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 to protect a security module configured in a telecommunication device, comprising:

connecting the security module to a near-field communication (NFC) router in the telecommunication device;

detecting a presence of a radio frequency (RF) communication flow between the NFC router and a device separate from the telecommunication device; and

permitting a transmission between the NFC router and the security module only if the RF communication flow is detected, wherein the presence of the RF communication flow is detected using an antenna associated with a detection circuit different from an antenna associated with the NFC router.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication flow originates from an electromagnetic field within a range of the NFC router.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence of the RF communication flow is indirectly detected by the presence of a power supply voltage extracted by the NFC router from the RF communication flow.

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

5. A telecommunication device, comprising:

a near-field communication (NFC) router;

a security module connected to the NFC router;

a means to detect a presence of a radio frequency (RF) communication flow between the NFC router and a device separate from the telecommunication device; and

a means to prevent a transmission between the NFC router and the security module if the RF communication flow is not detected, wherein the presence of the RF communication flow is detected using an antenna associated with the means to detect the presences of the RF communication flow different from an antenna associated with the NFC router.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the means to detect the presence of the RF communication flow comprises:

a circuit of direct or indirect detection of the presence of the RF communication flow within a range of said NFC router.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said means to detect the presence of the RF communication flow is configured to interpret messages transmitted by the NFC router to the security module.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the means to prevent a transmission comprises:

a circuit to protect a connection between said NFC router and at least one security module.

9. A circuit configured to protect a security module connected to a wireless communication module, both the security module and the wireless communication module arranged in a same telecommunication device, wherein the circuit only permits a transmission between the wireless communication module and the security module after a wireless near field communication (NFC) event between the telecommunication device and a device separate from the telecommunication device is detected by the wireless communication module, wherein the presence of a wireless communication is detected by using a first antenna, different from a second antenna associated with the wireless communication module.

10. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication originates from an electromagnetic field within a range of the wireless communication module.

11. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the presence of a wireless communication is indirectly detected by the presence of a voltage extracted by the wireless communication module from the wireless communication.

12. The circuit of claim 9, further configured to detect and interpret messages transmitted by the wireless communication module to the security module.

13. A system comprising:

a security module formed in a mobile device;

a wireless communication module formed in the mobile device and connected to the security module; and

a circuit configured to enable transmission between the wireless communication module and the security module when the circuit detects a near field communication (NFC) event between the wireless communication module and a device external to the mobile device, wherein the circuit detects the NFC communication event using a first antenna, different from a second antenna associated with the wireless communication module.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the NFC communication event corresponds to an electromagnetic field within a range of the wireless communication module.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the circuit detects the NFC communication event by detecting a voltage extracted by the wireless communication module from the NFC communication event.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the circuit is further configured to detect and interpret messages transmitted by the wireless communication module to the security module.

17. A method to protect a security module connected to a wireless communication module, both modules in a telecommunication device, the method comprising:

detecting a wireless communication between the wireless communication module and a device external to the telecommunication device, the wireless communication representing a near field communication (NFC) event; and

enabling transmission between the wireless communication module and the security module only after the wireless communication is detected, wherein detecting the wireless communication comprises using a first antenna, different from a second antenna associated with the wireless communication module.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless communication corresponds to an electromagnetic field within a range of the wireless communication module.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein detecting the wireless communication comprises detecting a voltage extracted by the wireless communication module from the wireless communication.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising detecting and interpreting messages transmitted by the wireless communication module to the security module.