Wireless Phone RF Sensor Control for Secure Contactless Transactions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of contactless smart card functionality into mobile communications devices increases the risk of theft and abuse due to wireless transmission of financial account information, as existing security measures can be evaded by sophisticated technologies.
Innovation Solution
A mobile communications device with an input sensor, memory unit, and antenna that wirelessly transmits and receives financial account data, where the input sensor controls access to the secure storage region and powers the device, preventing unauthorized data transmission by requiring concurrent input for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If contactless smart card functionality is integrated into mobile communications devices for wireless transmission of financial account information, then convenience and speed of transactions are improved, but security risk increases due to potential theft and abuse by sophisticated snooping technologies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by requiring user input through the sensor before the device can be activated by the magnetic field. This pre-authorization step ensures that even if a scanner activates the device, the financial account information will not be transmitted without the user's prior consent, thus addressing the security risk while maintaining the wireless convenience
2Ease of operation
If wireless transmission of financial account information is enabled for contactless transactions, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of secure data protection deteriorates due to evadable encryption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary control mechanism - the sensor that detects user input - between the magnetic field activation and the data transmission process. This intermediary ensures that even with sophisticated snooping technologies present, the system maintains reliability by requiring physical user authorization before any financial information can be transmitted wirelessly
3Ease of operation
If magnetic field activation is used to power and activate the presentation instrument, then ease of operation is improved, but security control is worsened due to unauthorized activation potential
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by checking for sensor input before allowing magnetic field activation to result in data transmission. The magnetic field can still activate the device for power, but the critical function of transmitting financial information remains blocked until the user provides input through the sensor, thus preventing unauthorized access while maintaining wireless convenience
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances security by ensuring that financial account information can only be transmitted with authorized input, thereby reducing the risk of theft and abuse, even in the presence of advanced snooping technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The antenna is configured to receive a request for data stored on the memory unit, and may also be configured to induce a voltage from a magnetic field to power certain components of the device
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile communications device is described which includes an input sensor, a memory unit, processing unit, and an antenna configured to wirelessly transmit and receive financial account data for a transaction. The antenna is configured to receive a request for data stored on the memory unit, and may also be configured to induce a voltage from a magnetic field to power certain components of the device. The input sensor may control whether the components can be so powered from the magnetic field. Alternatively, input from the input sensor may otherwise control the functionality of the device. By way of example, data representative of an input received by the input sensor may be transmitted in addition to the requested data.