# US 2021/0243598 A1 · System and techniques for secret key transfer in benefit denial system

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- Number: US 2021/0243598 A1
- Document ID: US20210243598A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/880,692
- Filed: 2020-05-21
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-31
- Assignees: Lowe's Companies, Inc.
- Applicants: Lowe's Companies, Inc.
- Inventors: Mason E. Sheffield; Jonothon Frederick Douglas; Paul Michael Sisneros
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243598A1

## CPC

- H04W 12/06: Authentication
- H04W 12/71: Hardware identity
- G06Q 20/20: Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
- G06Q 20/204: {comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit}
- G06Q 20/209: {Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output}
- G06Q 20/322: {Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]}
- G06Q 20/3829: {involving key management}
- G06Q 30/06: Buying, selling or leasing transactions
- G07F 7/02: by keys or other credit registering devices
- G07F 7/10: together with a coded signal {, e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data}
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04W 12/043: using a trusted network node as an anchor
- H04W 12/08: Access security
- H04W 12/50: Secure pairing of devices
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

Techniques described herein are directed to a system and methods for issuing commands to an electronic device as well as techniques for transferring a device key to a user device associated with a user who has gained authorization to issue commands to the electronic device. In some embodiments, a device key may be conveyed directly from an access device to a user device. In some embodiments, the device key may be conveyed to a user device by a mobile application server which is in communication with the user device upon receiving an indication that an operator of the user device is authorized to issue commands to the electronic device.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-20. (canceled)

### Claim 21

An electronic device comprising:
a functional component for performing at least one function of the electronic device;
a first power source adapted to be coupled to the functional component to power the at least one function of the electronic device; and
a benefit denial element comprising:
a memory adapted to store a first device key;
a communication element for communicating with a second electronic device to receive a command and information indicative of whether the second electronic device has access to a second device key; and
an interruption element coupled functionally between the first power source and the functional component, the interruption element configured to selectively disable or enable the at least one function of the electronic device in accordance with a received command upon determining that the second electronic device has access to the second device key and that the second device key matches the first device key.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the communication element is configured to use a short-range communication channel for communicating with the second electronic device.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the short-range communication channel comprises one of BLUETOOTH™ or radio-frequency identification (RFID).

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The electronic device of claim 21, further comprising a second power source wherein the second power source is configured to power the benefit denial element even if the first power source is not coupled to the functional component or is otherwise prevented from powering the functional component.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The electronic device of claim 24, wherein the second power source is adapted to draw power from the first power source.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the second electronic device is at least one of a point-of-sale (POS) system or a mobile device.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the interruption element comprises a thermal shutdown circuit of the electronic device.

### Claim 28

A method for providing selective benefit denial in an electronic device equipped with at least one functional component for performing one or more functions of the electronic device, comprising:
storing, in a secure memory of the electronic device, a first device key specific to the electronic device;
receiving, via a communication element of the electronic device from a second electronic device, a command and information indicative of whether the second electronic device has access to a second device key;
determining, by a benefit denial element of the electronic device coupled to the communication element, whether the second electronic device has access to the second device key and whether the second device key matches the first device key if the second electronic device is determined to have access to the second device key; and
disabling or enabling the one or more functions of the electronic device based on the command if the second device key matches the first device key, and not complying with the command if the second device key does not match the first device key.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the benefit denial element is contained within a housing of the electronic device.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the command comprises at least a command to lock the electronic device or a command to unlock the electronic device.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, wherein the benefit denial element disables power to the at least one functional component by changing a state which is read by an interruption element if: (i) the command is a command to disable the at least one functional component and (ii) the second device key matches the first device key.

### Claim 32 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the second device key is provided to the electronic device within an encrypted data packet, and wherein the method further comprises decrypting the encrypted data packet using a private cryptographic key associated with the electronic device.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, wherein the encrypted data packet further comprises identification information, and wherein the command is caused to be executed by the benefit denial element only if the identification information matches an identifier for the second electronic device.

### Claim 34 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein receiving the command and information indicative of whether the second electronic device has access to a second device key comprises receiving the command accompanied by the second device key.

### Claim 35

A benefit denial system comprising:
an electronic device including a functional component for performing a function of the electronic device;
a first power source adapted to be coupled to the electronic device to power the function of the electronic device; and
a denial element coupled functionally between the functional component of the electronic device and the first power source when the first power source is coupled to the electronic device, the denial element comprising:
a communications element for receiving at least one command and authorization information from a second electronic device; and
an interruption element coupled functionally between the functional component and the first power source, the interruption element configured to selectively disable or enable the function of the electronic device based at least in part on the authorization information and the at least one command;
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to at least:
receive the at least one command from the second electronic device;
receive information indicative of whether the second electronic device has access to a device key associated with the authorization information from the second electronic device;
determine a validity of the device key by comparing the received device key with a stored device key; and
upon determining the device key is valid, execute the at least one command to cause the interruption element to disable or enable the function of the electronic device based on the command.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The benefit denial system of claim 35, wherein the denial element includes a dedicated power supply unit adapted to supply power to the denial element when the first power source is not coupled to the electronic device.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The benefit denial system of claim 36, wherein the command to lock the electronic device causes the denial element to prevent power from flowing from the first power source to the functional component.

### Claim 38 (depends on 35)

The benefit denial system of claim 35, wherein the second electronic device is at least one of a mobile device or a point of sale system.

### Claim 39 (depends on 35)

The benefit denial system of claim 35, wherein the communication element communicates using a short-range wireless communication system.

### Claim 40 (depends on 35)

The benefit denial system of claim 35, wherein the benefit denial system is contained within a housing of the electronic device.

### Claim 41 (depends on 21)

The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the device key is derived by applying a hash function to an identifier for the electronic device.

### Claim 42 (depends on 21)

The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the interruption element is configured to:
upon determining the second device key received from the second electronic device matches the first device key stored in the memory and the command includes instructions to disable, selectively disable-the function of the electronic device; and
upon determining the second device key received from the second electronic device matches the first device key stored in the memory and the command includes instructions to enable, selectively enable the function of the electronic device.