Wearable NFC Device For Secure Data Interaction

A method and apparatus for near field communications. Exemplary embodiments can include a near field communication (NFC) device. The NFC device may have a wristband housing an NFC device, the wristband fitting around a wrist of a wearer, the NFC device having a secure state and an active state; and one or more sensors disposed in the wristband, the one or more sensors sensing a state of at least one of the wrist of the wearer and a hand of the wearer, wherein the state of the at least one of the wrist of the wearer and the hand of the wearer changes the state of the NFC device between a secure state and an active state.

BACKGROUND

Radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, including near field communication (NFC) enabled RFID devices, are utilized for a variety of purposes. Often such devices are formed as tags or labels and can be utilized to associate an object with an identification code or other data, such as website data. Such RFID devices may be passive and, upon receiving a signal, such as an excitation signal from an RFID or NFC-enabled reader, may be energized. The devices can then respond with a desired communication or provide information associated with a product, item or service associated with the RFID device.

Specifically, NFC is a data exchange protocol designed to allow devices, including suitably equipped mobile phones and wearable tokens, to interact with infrastructures, such as other mobile or personal computing devices, point of sale terminals, ticket gates on transportation systems, or RFID devices in the forms of “smart posters” or “touchpoints”, for example. In such situations, bringing an NFC enabled device into proximity of such infrastructure or RFID devices can cause the transmission of data to the NFC enabled device, resulting in, for example, the opening of a web page, the acceptance of a media stream via Bluetooth or any of a number of other functions.

There are, however, concerns and problems with the use of such NFC devices and, in particular, wearable NFC devices used for access control and payments. One known problem is unauthorized or undesired access of payment or identity information through the use of scanners located or carried proximately to an NFC device. Such unauthorized or undesired scans are performed by criminals, retailers, and other parties seeking to obtain information from a variety of sources. Such unauthorized or undesired scans are possible because of the near-constant “on” or open state of typical NFC devices. Having a user actively activate or deactivate an NFC device, however, is cumbersome, slow, and inefficient, as well as impractical for providing desired security.

SUMMARY

A method and apparatus for near field communications. Exemplary embodiments can include a near field communication (NFC) device. The NFC device may have a wristband housing an NFC device, the wristband fitting around a wrist of a wearer, the NFC device having a secure state and an active state; and one or more sensors disposed in the wristband, the one or more sensors sensing a state of at least one of the wrist of the wearer and a hand of the wearer, wherein the state of the at least one of the wrist of the wearer and the hand of the wearer changes the state of the NFC device between a secure state and an active state.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method of transitioning an NFC device between states may be described. The method of transitioning an NFC device between states may include disposing an NFC device on a wrist of a wearer; sensing a position of the wrist of the wearer and a hand of the wearer located next to the wrist of the wearer; providing the NFC device in a first state when the wrist of the wearer is in a relaxed position; and providing the NFC device in a second state when the hand of the wearer IS III an articulated position with respect to the wrist of the wearer.

In still another exemplary embodiment, a NFC device may be described. The NFC device may have a piece of jewelry housing an NFC device, the jewelry designed to be worn on at least one of a hand, wrist, and fingers of a wearer of the NFC device, the NFC device having a secure state and an active state; and one or more sensors disposed in the piece of jewelry, the one or more sensors sensing a state of at least one of the wrist, hand, and fingers of the wearer with respect to at least one of the wrist, hand, and fingers of the wearer, wherein the state of the at least one of the wrist, hand, and fingers of the wearer changes the state of the NFC device between a secure state and an active state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally referring toFIGS. 1a-3b, various NFC devices and exemplary modes of operation may be shown and described. The NFC devices may be worn on the arm, wrist, hand, or finger of a wearer. The NFC devices may generally be in a secure state during regular wearing or use. However, the NFC devices may be activated or put into an open state upon a certain predetermined movement or articulation by the wearer. Such NFC devices and their activation capabilities may provide for additional desired security of the NFC devices and may be utilized to prevent unauthorized or undesired access to the data housed or shared on the NFC devices.

Referring now to exemplaryFIGS. 1aand 1b, an NFC device102may be worn, mounted on, or coupled to a wrist104of a wearer. The NFC device102may be any type of NFC device, for example a wristband, watch, or any other type of NFC device. Further, NFC device102may be worn in any desired fashion and may be coupled to the arm, wrist, or hand of the wearer in any known manner, for example by a coupling, clasp, or any other desired fashion. The NFC device may function in a known fashion to provide near field communications. It may be appreciated, in other exemplary embodiments, that the NFC device102may be any type of communication device, for example a radio frequency identification device (RFID) and the like.

In exemplaryFIG. 1a, the wrist104and hand106of a user may be seen in a relaxed, or unarticulated position. In this position, the NFC device102may be in a first state, which is a secured or substantially secure state where only limited data is shared or the unit is disabled. For example, when the wearer of the NFC device102has their arm or wrist in this position, the NFC device102may not send or receive any data. In this state the NFC device102may be disconnected from its antenna or otherwise inhibited from operation; the NFC device102may be active, but may not provide any data pertaining to a transaction, for example only providing simply identity information; or the NFC device102may provide a random number with a limited so, so that a unique individual can be tracked for a period of time, such as a few hours or when otherwise logged into a system, without the identity of an individual being known. Such a position of the arm or wrist106of the user may allow for the free wearing of NFC device102without any threat of unauthorized or undesired by an outside scanner, whether the outside scanner is a retailer, a point of sale scanner, a criminal illicitly attempting to obtain data, or any other scanner, outside source, or outside party.

In exemplaryFIG. 1b, the NFC device102is again shown on wrist104of a wearer. However, in exemplaryFIG. 1b, hand106is angled or articulated in an upward position. The articulation of hand106may allow for NFC device102to be in a second state, which may be an open state, activated state, or otherwise a state where NFC device102is set to a transmission mode or mode that activates any desired features of the NFC device102. For example, in this mode, data may be transmitted from NFC device102, payments may be made using NFC device102, identification verification can be made through NFC device102, or any other features of NFC device102may be activated or enabled, or, in other words, NFC device102can have its full functionality. In some exemplary embodiments, when a wearer positions their hand106and wrist104in the position shown in exemplaryFIG. 1b, the wearer of NFC device102may make payments at a point of sale terminal or identify the wearer with appropriate information. Additionally, it should be understood that a wearer of NFC device102may transition the NFC device102between secure and active states at any desired time by performing the appropriate or desired movement of wrist104and/or hand106. Additionally, in still further exemplary embodiments, it can be appreciated that such movements may be utilized to enable or allow for any other desired feature of NFC device102. For example, a wearer of NFC device102may allow for the activation or deactivation of Bluetooth capabilities or Wi-Fi capabilities.

Still referring to exemplaryFIGS. 1aand 1b, NFC device102may be switched between a first state (secure) and a second state (active) through movement of the hand106, wrist104, and/or arm of a wearer. Various components may be utilized in NFC device102in order to allow it to switch states. In some exemplary embodiments, an optical sensor may be utilized on NFC device102. The optical sensor may be mounted on a top or front portion of NFC device102and may point towards the hand106of the wearer. Thus, inFIG. 1athe optical sensor of NFC device102may not detect the hand106, leaving NFC device102in a secure state. However, as shown in exemplaryFIG. 1b, the optical sensor of NFC device102may detect hand106as it would be positioned in the plane of detection of the optical sensor. In another exemplary embodiment, a capacitive sensor on NFC device102could detect a change in capacitance between the NFC device102on wrist104and hand106when a wearer of NFC device102bends their wrist104or exerts strain or muscle movement, or any other detectable physical parameter, at the location where NFC device102IS worn. In such exemplary embodiments, it is appreciated that different movements of wrist104and/or hand106, different muscle movements under NFC device102, or any other different physical exertion may be utilized as an event to switch NFC device102from a secure state to an active state. As discussed in more detail below, such detection possibilities may be predetermined and stored in NFC device102or may be set according to any desire of a user or wearer of NFC device102.

As shown in exemplaryFIG. 1b, hand106is shown in an upward position. It may be appreciated that this position of hand106with respect to wrist104may be a position that is not a customary position for hand106and wrist104of a wearer of NFC device102. For example, it would be unusual for a wearer of NFC device102to have his or her hand106and wrist104in the position shown inFIG. 1bwhen at rest. This may be desirable as it can allow the wearer of NFC device102to only activate NFC device102at desired times without the risk, or with only a limited risk of undesired or unnecessary activation. It may be appreciated, however, that NFC device102may be such that it can be activated based on any set or predetermined movement of wrist104and hand106, or any combination of movements. Such movements for the activation of NFC device102may be preset or predetermined in NFC device102or may be set according to the preferences of the user or wearer and stored with NFC device102.

ExemplaryFIGS. 2aand 2bprovide another exemplary embodiment of an NFC device202. In this example, NFC device202may be another type of worn article, such as a ring or any other finger-worn structure or piece of jewelry. NFC device202may be worn on any finger or fingers204of hand206. As in previous exemplary embodiments, NFC device202may have two states, a secure state and an active state, substantially similar to those described above with respect to exemplaryFIGS. 1aand 1b. However, in this exemplary embodiment, NFC device202may change states based on movements of a finger or fingers204on hand206.

In exemplaryFIG. 2a, the fingers204of hand206are in a relaxed and relatively close position. In this position, NFC device202may be in a secure state. In exemplaryFIG. 2b, fingers204are in a deliberately spread apart position, which can allow for the transitioning of NFC device202from the secure state inFIG. 2ato an active state inFIG. 2b. As in the other previously-described exemplary embodiments, it may be appreciated that the changing of states of NFC device202may be accomplished through the spreading or closing of fingers204, or may be accomplished through any other predetermined or user-determined movement of a finger or fingers204, as desired.

Referring now to exemplaryFIGS. 3aand 3b, another embodiment may have a wearable device302with an optical symbology304displayed on device302. Device302may be any type of device, for example a wristband-type NFC device, similar to those described in above exemplary embodiments. Additionally, device302may have component303that is disposed over a wrist308of a wearer. Component303may be a label or sensor, as desired. Additionally, in some exemplary embodiments component303may be a sensor, in other exemplary embodiments, component303may include a display or may otherwise display any information described herein. Optical symbology304may be displayed in any fashion, for example for example on an active or static display, or any other known method on device302. Optical symbology may be any type of symbology, for example a1D or2D code. Additionally, optical symbology304may convey any desired information, such as identity information.

In exemplaryFIG. 3a, optical symbology302may have an array of information306that is concealed. Information306may be any type of information, as discussed above. When the wrist308and hand310of wearer of device302are in a relaxed position, stress on device302may be such that the information306is concealed, hidden, distorted, illegible, or otherwise indecipherable. This may be effectively similar to the secure states and positions described with respect to previous exemplary embodiments.

Referring now to exemplaryFIG. 3b, information306may now be readable after the wrist308and hand310of the wearer of device302are moved so that hand310is in an upward position and flexing or displacing component303, similar to the active state described with respect to some exemplary embodiments previously. Stress may be exerted on device302or component303through the movement of wrist308, hand310, a joint there between, or muscle position or activation below device302. The optical symbology304information306may become readable or legible as a result of a variety of factors or conditions. For example, one method of making information306readable could include stretching a plastic film over optical symbology304and altering its effect on the polarization of light. This can change the shape of a lenticular- or prism-based optical covering. Thus, when the wrist308and/or hand310move, information306may go from concealed inFIG. 3ato legible inFIG. 3b. In still another exemplary embodiment, a piezoelectric film may be disposed over device302, for example over optical symbology304. The piezoelectric film may generate a charge that changes the state of a liquid crystal shutter on device302, which could then render information306as legible or readable. Similar to previous exemplary embodiments, any desired movements or positions could be utilized to enact the concealing or revealing of information306.