Near field communications system having enhanced security
AssigneeFreelinc Technologies Inc.
InventorsDouglas Howard Dobyns, Howard Bernard Dobyns, Jed Erich Woodard, Anthony Joseph Sutera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A near field communication system can include a near field generator configured to generate a near field detectable information signal. The near field generator and supporting circuitry also produces incidental electromagnetic radiation. A masking signal transmitter is used with the near field generator and radiates a masking electromagnetic signal. The masking electromagnetic signal may substantially mask the incidental electromagnetic radiation.
Claims55
A near field communication system having enhanced security, the system comprising:
- a near field generator configured to generate a near field magnetic signal having information encoded therein, wherein the near field magnetic signal is communicated using near field magnetic induction to provide a fall off of approximately 60 decibels (dB) per decade of distance, and wherein incidental electromagnetic radiation correlated to the information is produced, with a fall off of approximately 20 dB per decade of distance, when the near field magnetic signal is generated;
- and
- a masking signal transmitter configured to radiate a masking electromagnetic signal, with a fall off of approximately 20 dB per decade of distance, to mask the incidental electromagnetic radiation, wherein a signal strength of the masking electromagnetic signal is selected to provide a link distance for the near field generator, wherein an increase in the signal strength of the masking electromagnetic signal reduces the link distance for the near field generator by interfering with the near field magnetic signal.
A near field communication system having enhanced security, the system comprising:
- means for generating a near field magnetic signal having information encoded therein, wherein the near field magnetic signal is communicated using near field magnetic induction to provide a fall off of approximately 60 decibels (dB) per decade of distance, and wherein incidental electromagnetic radiation correlated to the information is produced, with a fall off of approximately 20 dB per decade of distance, when the near field magnetic signal is generated;
- and
- means for radiating a masking electromagnetic signal, with a fall off of approximately 20 dB per decade of distance, for masking the incidental electromagnetic radiation, wherein a signal strength of the masking electromagnetic signal is selected to provide a link distance for the near field communication system, wherein an increase in the signal strength of the masking electromagnetic signal reduces the link distance for the near field communication system by interfering with the near field magnetic signal.
A method for enhancing security of a near field communications system, the method comprising:
- forming an energy field for wireless communication of information within an achievable link distance via near field communications techniques;
- radiating incidental electromagnetic radiation with a fall off of approximately 20 dB per decade of distance, wherein the incidental electromagnetic radiation is correlated to the information;
- generating a masking electromagnetic signal, with a fall off of approximately 20 dB per decade of distance, for masking the incidental electromagnetic radiation, wherein a signal strength of the masking electromagnetic signal is selected to provide the achievable link distance for the near field communications system, wherein an increase in the signal strength of the masking electromagnetic signal reduces the achievable link distance for the near field communications system by interfering with a near field magnetic signal from the near field communications system;
- and
- radiating the masking electromagnetic signal with the selected signal strength for masking the incidental electromagnetic radiation.
A near field communication system having enhanced security for a near field generator, the system comprising:
- a masking signal transmitter configured to radiate a masking electromagnetic signal with a fall off of approximately 20 dB per decade of distance, wherein the masking electromagnetic signal is radiated to mask incidental electromagnetic radiation with a fall off of approximately 20 dB per decade of distance, the incidental electromagnetic radiation being produced when a near field detectable signal is generated by the near field generator for wireless communication of information encoded therein, wherein a signal strength of the masking electromagnetic signal is selected to provide a link distance for the near field generator, wherein an increase in the signal strength of the masking signal transmitter reduces the link distance for the near field generator by interfering with the near field detectable signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.