Patent ID: 7770787

Claim:
A credential communication device adapted to transmit and receive data, including: a. means to process said data in order to effect mutual credential verification and mutual recognition between the device and a second credential communication device, without reference to a third party, b. at least one proximity conductor adapted to be controlled to transmit and receive at least some data, c. means to effect variation in the power output of the proximity conductor in relation to the data to be transmitted, wherein in use: (1) selected data, which is data whose unauthorized reception is acceptable, is transmitted by the proximity conductor at such power as to be received by the second credential communication device before the credential exchange device establishes a physical proximity to the second credential communication device that effectively excludes the possibility of third party involvement in the transmission and reception of data, and (2) other selected data, which is data whose unauthorized reception is not acceptable, is transmitted by the proximity conductor at such a power as to be received by the second credential communication device only when the credential exchange device is in such physical proximity to the second credential exchange device that the possibility of third party involvement in the transmission and reception of data is effectively excluded.