Detecting a communication tap via signal monitoring

• US 9,198,214 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2014
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Hertel, Philipp, Hertel, Alexander W., Walfish, Sheldon I.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIEH, PING Y
• Application Number:
  US14/324,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20140323051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/410, 455/411, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/67.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/45 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Using a Bluetooth communication channel for point of sale processing simulates a near field communication connection. A contactless device and the point of sale reader establish an unsecure communication channel. The user taps the contactless device with a point of sale terminal reader. The contactless device creates receive signal strength indicator (“RSSI”) value spikes. The terminal reader measures the RSSI values and transmits them to the contactless device, which determines if the RSSI value reaches or exceeds a threshold configured for the contactless device. If the threshold is reached, the terminal reader and the contactless device establish a secure communication connection. The devices communicate via the secure communication connection, and the connection is terminated when a request to terminate is received.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for detecting a tap of a mobile communication device with a point of sale system, comprising:

establishing a first communication channel by a point of sale (“

POS”

) device with a mobile communication device;

detecting, by the POS device, a receive signal strength indicator (“

RSSI”

) value based on the strength of a signal from the mobile communication device, as observed by the POS device when the mobile communication device is moved in proximity to the POS device;

transmitting, by the POS device, the detected RSSI value to the mobile communication device;

receiving, by the POS device, a request to establish a second communication channel with the mobile communication device in response to a determination that the RSSI value detected meets or exceeds a threshold value established for the mobile communication device;

communicating, by the POS device, an authorization to establish the second communication channel with the mobile communication device; and

communicating, by the POS device, information to and receiving, by the POS device, information from the mobile communication device via the second communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication channel is a Bluetooth communication channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication channel is an unsecure communication channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication channel is a radio frequency (RF) communication channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication channel is a secure communication channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the strength of the signal from the mobile communication device is detected by the POS device using periodic sampling.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the POS device comprises a POS reader.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the RSSI value transmitted to the mobile communication device is an average RSSI value.

9. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable program code embodied thereon for detecting a tap of a mobile communication device with a point of sale system, the computer-readable medium comprising;

computer-readable program code for establishing a first communication channel, by a point of sale (POS) device, with a mobile communication device;

computer-readable program code for detecting, by the POS device, a receive signal strength indicator (“

RSSI”

) value based on the strength of a signal from the mobile communication device, as observed by the POS device, when the mobile communication device is moved in proximity to the POS device;

computer-readable program code for transmitting, by the POS device, the detected RSSI value to the mobile communication device;

computer-readable program code for receiving, by the POS device, a request to establish a second communication channel with the mobile communication device in response to a determination that the RSSI value detected meets or exceeds a threshold value established for the mobile communication device;

computer-readable program code for communicating, by the POS device, an authorization to establish the second communication channel with the mobile communication device; and

computer-readable program code for communicating, by the POS device, information to and receiving, by the POS device, information from the mobile communication device via the second communication channel.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the request to establish a second communication channel comprises an average RSSI value, and wherein the authorization indicates a confirmation that the average RSSI value meets or exceeds a threshold value established for the mobile communication device.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the first communication channel is a Bluetooth communication channel.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the first communication channel is an unsecure communication channel.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the second communication channel is a secure communication channel.

14. A system for detecting a tap of a mobile communication device with a point of sale system, comprising:

a computer configured to;

establish a first communication channel with a mobile communication device;

detect a received signal strength indicator (“

RSSI”

) value based on the strength of a signal from the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is moved in proximity to a POS device; and

transmit the detected RSSI value to the mobile communication device;

receive a request to establish a second communication channel with the mobile communication device in response to a determination that the RSSI value transmitted meets or exceeds a threshold value established for the mobile communication device;

communicate an authorization to establish the second communication channel with the mobile communication device; and

communicate information to, and receive information from, the mobile communication device via the second communication channel; and

an application module configured to execute on a mobile communication device to transmit a request to establish a second communication channel.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer comprises point of sale system.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer comprises point of sale system reader.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the RSSI value comprises the average RSSI value, wherein the application module is further configured to verify that the average RSSI value meets or exceeds the threshold value established for the mobile communication device, and wherein the request comprises a confirmation that the average RSSI value meets or exceeds the threshold value established for the mobile communication device.