Patent Application Titled “Secure Wireless Data Devices And Methods Of Use” Published Online (USPTO 20210392499): Patent Application

2021 DEC 30 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- According to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx journalists, a patent application by the inventors Kirkeby, Cynthia Fascenelli (Orange, CA, US); Ko, Anthony Suk (Yorba Linda, CA, US), filed on October 9, 2019, was made available online on December 16, 2021.

No assignee for this patent application has been made.

Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “The subject of this patent application relates generally to device security, and more particularly to secure wireless data devices and associated methods of use for selectively controlling activation, deactivation, data access, data transmission and read/write/rewrite functionality of RFID and NFC enabled devices.

“Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference any and all patents and published patent applications cited or referred to in this application.

“By way of background, as illustrated in FIG. 1, radio frequency identification (“RFID”) and near field communication (“NFC”) systems are short-range (or in some cases mid- to long-range) radio frequency and standards-based wireless connectivity technologies which enable communication between devices that are often (although not exclusively) held or positioned a relatively short distance apart from one another. At certain frequencies, these RFID and NFC systems can work over surprisingly long distances. Both of these technologies utilize inductive coupling 100, a process that transfers data and/or energy through a shared magnetic field 102 between two devices. The RFID and NFC enabled devices 104-hereinafter referred to generally as “wireless devices” for simplicity purposes-are identified as either passive, semi-passive, or active. Passive wireless devices require a scanner, reader or similar transceiver device 106-hereinafter referred to generally as a “reader” for simplicity purposes-to provide the necessary power to create the connection and power a data transfer. Semi-passive wireless devices use a battery to help provide power for their data functions and to boost their transmission range, while relying on the reader 106 to supply power for broadcasting. Active wireless devices are self-powered devices that do not require the power from a reader to complete their data functions. Standard RFID systems are normally capable of single direction data transfer 108, while NFC systems are typically capable of two-way data transfer 108.

“The range of a wireless device’s data transfer capability is dependent on a number of factors including the frequency of the system, type of antenna, characteristics and materials of the wireless device, the environment, form of attachment, and whether the wireless device is active or passive. Currently, the functional distances of such wireless devices range from essentially touching to two (2) kilometers or more. With advancing technologies, these data transfer ranges will undoubtedly increase. Passive wireless devices were previously limited to only 1.5 meters; however, the readable distance for current passive wireless devices has increased to approximately 16 meters. Active wireless devices, especially in the 433 MHz ultra high frequency (“UHF”) range, are capable of surprising long-distance data transmissions, currently reaching over two (2) kilometers.

“Despite the widespread use of RFID and NFC systems across virtually all industries, they have a serious vulnerability that stems from a core design characteristic of the RFID and NFC technologies-namely, the ability to activate and read these wireless devices using compatible radio frequency readers within range of said wireless devices. In many of these cases, RFID and NFC readers are controlled by individuals with malicious intentions. This vulnerability is especially problematic since these wireless devices, more and more frequently, contain personally identifiable or confidential information. As RFID and NFC based data storage and transmission has become a more popular method of making financial transactions, the danger of fraudulent transactions made with the help of malicious scanners is becoming increasingly serious. Although many RFID and NFC systems are not well-protected, some of these systems are now cryptographically protected. Such systems, however, can be cracked, or decoded, making the stored data vulnerable.

“These RFID and NFC wireless devices are now used in everything from payment and health insurance cards to product labels to industrial-level tags attached to critical machinery, and they carry information that may include anything from general product data, specialized industry data, or even sensitive individual financial and health information. Standard RFID and NFC enabled payment cards, along with other RFID and NFC enabled objects, can be scanned regardless of placement, orientation, or other physical constraints or parameters. Consumers with RFID and NFC enabled payment cards have resorted to using specialized wallets and other shielded products that attempt to block malicious scanners; but more proactive countermeasures are needed, both in the consumer goods arena as well as the industrial sector. As illustrated in FIG. 2, many types of consumer goods 110 are using wireless devices 104 for product inventory tracking and to fight counterfeiters. This leaves consumers rightfully concerned about the items they have purchased, which they may be wearing or have in their possession, that are capable of transmitting sensitive data to nefarious strangers using covert scanning devices 106 within scanning range. This is especially concerning when these tags contain, or are associated with, unique, personally identifying information-or in the case of the industrial or government sectors, highly sensitive operational or logistical data.

“Thus, again, there remains a need for a device capable of eliminating these vulnerabilities. Aspects of the present invention fulfill these needs and provide further related advantages as described in the following summary.

“It should be noted that the above background description includes information that may be useful in understanding aspects of the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.”

In addition to obtaining background information on this patent application, NewsRx editors also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “Aspects of the present invention teach certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the exemplary advantages described below.

“The present invention solves the problems described above by providing a secure wireless data device and associated methods of use for selectively controlling activation, deactivation, data access, data transmission and read/write/rewrite functionality of RFID and NFC enabled devices. In at least one embodiment, the data device is configured as at least one of a passive, semi-passive, or active RFID or NFC enabled device. In at least one embodiment, the data device provides a memory, an antenna and an at least one access sensor. The memory is configured for storing select wireless data therein. The antenna is in selective wireless communication with a compatible reader. The at least one access sensor is configured for automatically switching between an enabled state-wherein the wireless data is capable of being accessed by the reader-and a disabled state-wherein the wireless data is prevented from being accessed by the reader-based on an at least one measurable physical parameter that is detectable by the at least one access sensor.

“Other features and advantages of aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of aspects of the invention.

“The above described drawing figures illustrate aspects of the invention in at least one of its exemplary embodiments, which are further defined in detail in the following description. Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects, in accordance with one or more embodiments.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A secure wireless data device configured as at least one of a passive, semi-passive, or active RFID or NFC enabled device, the data device comprising: a memory configured for storing select wireless data therein; an antenna in selective wireless communication with a compatible reader; and an at least one access sensor configured for automatically switching between an enabled state-wherein the wireless data is capable of being accessed by the reader-and a disabled state-wherein the wireless data is prevented from being accessed by the reader-based on an at least one measurable physical parameter that is detectable by the at least one access sensor.

“2. The data device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access sensor is in electrical communication with each of the memory and antenna, such that the at least one access sensor is capable of selectively disabling communication between the memory and the antenna when the at least one access sensor is in the disabled state.

“3. The data device of claim 2, wherein the at least one access sensor is configured as a physical switch, wherein electrical communication between the memory and the antenna is selectively connected and disconnected by the at least one access sensor when the at least one access sensor is in the enabled and disabled states, respectively.

“4. The data device of claim 1, further comprising an at least one power source.

“5. The data device of claim 3, wherein the at least access sensor is in electrical communication with each of the power source and memory, such that the at least one access sensor is capable of selectively disconnecting the memory from the power source when the at least one access sensor is in the disabled state.

“6. The data device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access sensor is a light sensor configured for detecting light in an environment in which the data device is positioned, such that the at least one measurable physical parameter is light.

“7. The data device of claim 5, wherein: the at least one access sensor is configured for automatically switching to the enabled state upon detecting the presence of light; and the at least one access sensor is configured for automatically switching to the disabled state upon detecting an absence of light.

“8. The data device of claim 5, wherein: the at least one access sensor is configured for automatically switching to the enabled state upon determining that a pre-defined minimum amount of light is present; and the at least one access sensor is configured for automatically switching to the disabled state upon determining that the pre-defined minimum amount of light is not present.

“9. The data device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access sensor is a temperature sensor configured for measuring a temperature of an environment in which the data device is positioned, such that the at least one measurable physical parameter is temperature.

“10. The data device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access sensor is a moisture sensor configured for detecting moisture in an environment in which the data device is positioned, such that the at least one measurable physical parameter is moisture.

“11. The data device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access sensor is a location sensor configured for measuring a current location of the data device relative to either an environment in which the data device is positioned or to another object, such that the at least one measurable physical parameter is location.

“12. The data device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access sensor is an orientation sensor configured for measuring a current orientation of the data device relative to either an environment in which the data device is positioned or to another object, such that the at least one measurable physical parameter is orientation.

“13. The data device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access sensor is an acoustic sensor configured for detecting vibration in an environment in which the data device is positioned, such that the at least one measurable physical parameter is vibration.

“14. The data device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access sensor is a gas sensor configured for detecting an at least one gas in an environment in which the data device is positioned, such that the at least one measurable physical parameter is the at least one gas.

“15. The data device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access sensor is a chemical sensor configured for detecting an at least one chemical in an environment in which the data device is positioned, such that the at least one measurable physical parameter is the at least one chemical.

“16. The data device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access sensor is a radiation sensor configured for detecting radiation in an environment in which the data device is positioned, such that the at least one measurable physical parameter is radiation.

“17. The data device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access sensor is a time sensor configured for measuring at least one of a current time or time interval, such that the at least one measurable physical parameter is time.

“18. The data device of claim 1, wherein the at least one access sensor is a pressure sensor configured for measuring an amount of pressure in the environment in which the data device is positioned, such that the at least one measurable physical parameter is pressure.

“19. A secure wireless data device configured as at least one of a passive, semi-passive, or active RFID or NFC enabled device, the data device comprising: a memory configured for storing select wireless data therein; an antenna in selective wireless communication with a compatible reader; and an at least one access sensor in electrical communication with each of the memory and antenna, the at least one access sensor configured for automatically switching between an enabled state-wherein communication between the memory and the antenna is enabled by the at least one access sensor, such that the wireless data is capable of being accessed by the reader-and a disabled state-wherein communication between the memory and the antenna is disabled by the at least one access sensor, such that the wireless data is prevented from being accessed by the reader-based on an at least one measurable physical parameter that is detectable by the at least one access sensor.

“20. A secure wireless data device configured as at least one of a passive, semi-passive, or active RFID or NFC enabled payment card, the data device comprising: a memory configured for storing select wireless data therein; an antenna in selective wireless communication with a compatible reader; an at least one access sensor configured for automatically switching between an enabled state-wherein the wireless data is capable of being accessed by the reader-and a disabled state-wherein the wireless data is prevented from being accessed by the reader-based on an at least one measurable physical parameter that is detectable by the at least one access sensor; and at least one of the at least one access sensor is a light sensor configured for detecting light in an environment in which the data device is positioned, such that at least one of the at least one measurable physical parameter is light.”

For more information, see this patent application: Kirkeby, Cynthia Fascenelli; Ko, Anthony Suk. Secure Wireless Data Devices And Methods Of Use. Filed October 9, 2019 and posted December 16, 2021. Patent URL: https://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220210392499%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20210392499&RS=DN/20210392499

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