Protection of near-field communication exchanges
AssigneeCubic Corporation
InventorThomas Busch-Sorensen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for protecting communication of an NFC-enabled device by generating one or more blocking signals during an NFC data exchange. The blocking signal(s) can include a similar carrier frequency, modulation type, and/or modulation rate an NFC signal, thereby effectively masking the NFC signal. Furthermore, the blocking signal(s) can have a varying amplitude and/or length, which can further mask when an NFC signal is transmitted.
Claims20
A transmitter for protecting a first near-field communication (NFC) signal transmitted by a mobile device, the transmitter comprising:
- a first transmit circuit configured to generate the first NFC signal;
- a second transmit circuit configured to:
- generate a first blocking signal having a carrier frequency of the first NFC signal;
- and
- modulate the first blocking signal with a type of amplitude modulation of the first NFC signal;
- and
- an NFC antenna:
- communicatively coupled with the first transmit circuit so as to transmit the first NFC signal, and
- configured to be coupled with the mobile device;
- and
- a second antenna:
- communicatively coupled to the second transmit circuit so as to transmit the first blocking signal while the first NFC signal is transmitted, and
- configured to be coupled with the mobile device.
A method of protecting near-field communication (NFC) signals, the method comprising:
- generating a first NFC signal;
- generating a first blocking signal at a carrier frequency of the first NFC signal generated by a mobile device such that the first blocking signal has a varying amplitude;
- modulating the first blocking signal with a certain modulation having the same amplitude modulation type and modulation rate of the first NFC signal;
- driving an NFC antenna coupled to the mobile device to transmit the first NFC signal;
- and
- driving a second antenna coupled to the mobile device to transmit the modulated first blocking signal while the mobile device transmits the first NFC signal.
A mobile device comprising:
- an NFC antenna;
- a signal-blocking antenna;
- and
- a processing unit coupled to the NFC antenna and the signal-blocking antenna, the processing unit configured to perform functions including:
- causing the NFC antenna to transmit an NFC signal having a carrier frequency, a modulation rate, and a modulation type;
- generating a blocking signal at the carrier frequency of the NFC signal;
- modulating the blocking signal with a certain modulation having the same carrier frequency, modulation rate, and modulation type as the NFC signal;
- and
- causing the signal-blocking antenna to transmit the modulated blocking signal while the NFC antenna is transmitting the NFC signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.