BACKGROUND
[0001] Near Field Communications (NFC) include several standards by which two devices in close proximity to one another may exchange information wirelessly. These standards, which include ISO/IEC 18092, specify several aspects of establishing a connection between the devices and how data are to be exchanged. NFC has historically relied on proximity as a security feature, but as malicious parties and eavesdroppers gain greater sophistication in their receiving hardware and in disguising devices to implement man-in-the-middle attacks at the point of data exchange, additional security features are needed to maintain confidence in the privacy of NFC transactions. One such security feature is to encrypt the signals passed between the devices via secret keys; however, encryption adds processing overhead (slowing communications) and is vulnerable to the secret keys being exposed.
US 2007/0116292 A1 (Kurita et al.) discloses an authentication system between a controller and several NFC devices and addresses the problem of missing compatibility of systems communication initiated from a contactless IC chip to another contactless IC chip included in a mobile terminal. In an example, a method of mutual authentication between a controller associated with a first NFC communication device and a second NFC communication device in an external device. The mutual authentication process adopts a cryptographic process using same synthetic keys generated by both the controller and the second NFC device to perform the mutually authentication. The NFC communications employs a modulation technique on a carrier wave, e.g. an Amplitude Shift Keying modulation technique. In a mutual authentication request command, the controller encrypts a random number using a first synthetic key to form an encrypted random number and the first NFC communication device wirelessly transmits, after modulating the data, a mutual authentication request command and the encrypted random number to the second NFC communication device via an antenna.
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Information technology - Telecommunications and information exchange between systems - NFC Security - Part 2: NFC-SEC cryptography standard using ECDH and AES", (International Standard ISO/IEC 13157-2, Second edition 2016-04-01, IEC, Switzerland, 29 March 2016, pages 1-17) specifies cryptographic mechanisms that use the Elliptic Curves Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) protocol for key agreement and the AES algorithm for data encryption and integrity. This International Standard addresses secure communication of two NFC devices that do not share any common secret data ("keys") before they start communicating which each other. The disclosed mechanisms use standard NFC communications.
US 2016/0330182 A1 (Jeon et al.) discloses a system for sharing cryptographic keys between devices, amongst others IoT devices, while preventing malicious usages of such IoT devices in an IoT network system. A method comprises performing a first secure pairing between a hub and a first controller, receiving first information related to the IoT device from the first controller paired with the hub, authenticating the first controller using the first information, and performing secure pairing with the IoT device using a second communication. The first secure pairing operation involves standard NFC communications.
SUMMARY
[0002] According to aspects of the present invention there is provided a method, media and device as defined in the accompanying claims. This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description section. This summary is not intended to identify all key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0003] Systems, methods, and computer readable storage devices including instructions for providing secure Near Field Communications (NFC) are discussed herein. One of the benefits of NFC is that its handshake process between two communicating devices is fast, so that two devices may exchange data quickly. Unfortunately, part of that speed is realized by foregoing an authentication (e.g., a username/password pair) of the communicating devices and instead relying on the short range of the communications to exclude malicious parties or eavesdroppers.
[0004] To provide greater security, while retaining the speed benefits inherent to NFC, the present disclosure provides for the actively communicating device in a pair of communicating devices to randomly modulate the magnetic carrier by which the devices communicate. The passively communicating device encodes its data onto the carrier oblivious to the modulation, and the actively communicating device maintains a cache of the modulations so that their effect on the communications from the passively communicating device can be removed by the actively communicating device. The actively communicating device receives data from the passively communicating device that is interpretable by the actively communicating device, but eavesdropping devices receive a signal that is scrambled and uninterpretable. The actively communicating device privately maintains the hidden key used to modulate the carrier, and may discard the key as the signal is interpreted to forgo the possibility that an eavesdropped may recover the hidden key and thereby interpret intercepted messages.
[0005] Examples are implemented as a computer process, a computing system, or as an article of manufacture such as a device, computer program product, or computer readable medium. According to an aspect, the computer program product is a computer storage medium readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program comprising instructions for executing a computer process.
[0006] The details of one or more aspects are set forth in the accompanying drawings and description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that the following detailed description is explanatory only and is not restrictive of the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various aspects. In the drawings:
FIGURE 1 illustrates two devices communicating via Near Field Communications;
FIGURES 2A-2G are examples of spectrograms interpreting a Near Field Communication signal;
FIGURE 3 is a flow chart showing general stages involved in an example method for securing Near Field Communications;
FIGURE 4 is a block diagram illustrating example physical components of a computing device; and
FIGURES 5A and 5B are block diagrams of a mobile computing device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description refers to the same or similar elements. While examples may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not limiting, but instead, the proper scope is defined by the appended claims. Examples may take the form of a hardware implementation, or an entirely software implementation, or an implementation combining software and hardware aspects. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0009] FIGURE 1 illustrates an actively communicating device
100a (i.e., an initiator) in communication with a passively communicating device
lOOp (i.e., a target) via a magnetic carrier
110 according to an NFC standard, such as, for example, ISO/IEC 18092. In various aspects, the passively communicating device
lOOp may be a passive device (with no power source of its own) or an active device communicating as a passive device and therefore may include any of the components illustrated for the actively communicating device
100a. For example, the passively communicating device
lOOp may be a credit card and the actively communicating device
100a a credit card reader, or the passively communicating device
lOOp may be a first mobile telephone and the actively communicating device
100a a second mobile telephone.
[0010] In various examples, the actively communicating device
100a and the passively communicating device
lOOp are illustrative of a multitude of computing systems including, without limitation, desktop computer systems, wired and wireless computing systems, mobile computing systems (e.g., mobile telephones, netbooks, tablet or slate type computers, notebook computers, and laptop computers), hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, printers, gaming devices, key fobs and cards, and mainframe computers. The hardware of these computing systems is discussed in greater detail in regard to
FIGURES 4, 5A, and
5B.
[0011] The actively communicating device
100a includes a power source
120a, a key buffer
130a, a modulator
140a, an antenna
150a, and a demodulator
160a. The power source
120a in various aspects may be a battery or an electrical connection to an external power source, such as, for example, a wall socket or another device (e.g., when the actively communicating device
100a is an attachment or dongle for a computer to enable that computer to communicate via NFC). The power source
120a provides power to the other components of the actively communicating device
100a to generate, modulate, and interpret NFC signals, and in some aspects provides power, carried by the magnetic carrier
110, to the passively communicating device
lOOp to induce it to generate and modulate NFC signals.
[0012] The modulator
140a is configured to generate the magnetic carrier
110 via the antenna
150a and encode data onto it. In various aspects, the data encoded into the magnetic carrier
110 include signals used for initiating communications with other communicating devices
100 as well as the hidden key. For example, a handshake signal or response request signal may be encoded onto the magnetic carrier
110 by the modulator
140a to induce the passively communicating device
lOOp to provide the information it stores to the actively communicating device
100a. In another example, while the passively communicating device
lOOp encodes its information onto the magnetic carrier
110, the actively communicating device
100a will encode the hidden key onto the magnetic carrier
110 to secure the information from eavesdroppers. In some aspects, the modulator
140a begins encoding the hidden key onto the magnetic carrier
110 in response to a timed delay from the end of a handshake procedure or a start-of-signal message from the passively communicating device
100p. Similarly, in different aspects, the modulator
140a ceases encoding the hidden key onto the magnetic carrier
110 in response to reaching a message length previously encoded onto the magnetic carrier
110, reaching an end of the hidden key, or receiving an end-of-signal message from the passively communicating device
100p.
[0013] In some aspects, the hidden key is modulated onto the magnetic carrier for the duration that the passively communicating device
lOOp encodes information onto the magnetic carrier
110. In other aspects, the modulator
140a encodes the hidden key onto the magnetic carrier
110 for a longer period of time than the passively communicating device
lOOp transmits its information (e.g., starting in anticipation of message encoding, continuing after message encoding) to further disguise the message encoded by the passively communicating device
100p. In yet other aspects, the modulator
140a encodes the hidden key onto the magnetic carrier
110 for a shorter period of time (e.g., starting after a first bit is received, ending after a payload is completely received but not an end-of-signal-message).
[0014] The demodulator
160a is configured to observe the magnetic carrier
110 as received by the antenna
150a to interpret information encoded onto the magnetic carrier
110. In various aspects, the demodulator
160a is communicated to the modulator
140a to alert the modulator
140a of received messages (e.g., start-of-signal, end-of-signal, etc.). In other aspects, the demodulator
160a is communicated to a memory storage device and a processor so that information received from the passively communicating device
lOOp may be acted upon by the actively communicating device
100a. For example, the demodulator
160a may pass a credit card number received from a passively communicating device 100
p of a smart card to a memory storage device and processor for use to determine whether to authorized a transaction using that smart card.
[0015] The demodulator
160a is configured to unscramble the information received from the passively communicating device
lOOp from the effects of the hidden key also modulated onto the magnetic carrier
110. In various aspects, the demodulator
160a uses the hidden key to produce a version of the magnetic carrier
110 without the effects of the hidden key, which is compared against a static threshold to determine a binary value encoded by the passively communicating device
lOOp in a given time frame on the magnetic carrier
110. In other aspects, the demodulator
160a determines a binary value encoded by the passively communicating device
lOOp onto the magnetic carrier
110 in light of the hidden key by modulating a threshold according to the hidden key to provide a threshold that changes to match the effects of the hidden key during a given time frame of transmission.
[0016] In some aspects, the demodulator
160a may also perform error correction on the received information (e.g., using a check sum or error correction code) and frame synchronization procedures on the magnetic carrier
110 (adjusting when the modulator
140a sends a next bit or a phase of the magnetic carrier
110), or may signal the modulator
140a that an error has occurred in the reception of information from the passively communicating device 100
p. For example, when random errors (e.g., bit flips) are intentionally introduced to further obfuscate the message, the demodulator
160a may apply a Reed Solomon code to correct these intentional errors.
[0017] In various aspects, the modulator
140a and the demodulator
160a are part of a single device or may be two separate devices. Similarly, in various aspects, the modulator
140a and the demodulator
160a may be configured for various modulation schemes, including Amplitude Modulation (AM), Frequency Modulation (FM), and Phase Modulation (PM), which encode and decode data onto and from a carrier by changing an amplitude of the carrier, a frequency of a carrier, and a phase of a carrier respectively according to the information to transmit. One of ordinary skill in the art will be familiar with various modulation schemes and the interpretation thereof.
[0018] The key buffer
130a is in communication with the modulator
140a and the demodulator
160a, and is configured to store a hidden key for protecting the information exchanged from the passively communicating device
lOOp to the actively communicating device
100a from eavesdroppers and other malicious parties. In various aspects, the key buffer
130a includes a random number generator that is used to produce a series of bits with random binary values to comprise the hidden key. In some aspects, the hidden key is produced on demand - where a bit is produced to encode the magnetic carrier
110 for a given time frame, to interpret the magnetic carrier
110 at the given time frame, and then discarded once the given time frame has been interpreted. A given bit may be discarded by overwriting it with a next bit in the hidden key, shifting a register to queue the next bit in the series comprising the hidden key for use by the actively communicating device
100a, or by erasing it from the key buffer
130a. In other aspects, the key buffer
130a is provided a hidden key for repeated use, which may be hardcoded to the actively communicating device
100a or provided for a given communications session. The hidden key is kept privately by the actively communicating device
100a and is not shared to the passively communicating device
100p, which may encode its information to the magnetic carrier
110 oblivious to the modulation effects imparted by the actively communicating device
100a according to the hidden key.
[0019] The passively communicating device
100p includes a data store
170p, a modulator
140a, and an antenna
150p. The modulator
140p and antenna
150p of the passively communicating device
100p operate similarly to the modulator
140a and antenna
150a of the actively communicating device
100a, except that they do no generate the magnetic carrier
110, but piggyback the passively communicating device's information onto the magnetic carrier
110 generated by the actively communicating device
100a; modulating it to carry the information for reception by the actively communicating device
100a. The antennas of the devices
100 effectively form a transformer when the devices
100 are in proximity and magnetically coupled to one another. In various aspects, the data store
170p of the passively communicating device
lOOp is a passive data store (e.g., an identifier number on a key fob, and account number of a credit card) hard coded onto a chip, or an active data store (e.g., a register in computer memory that is provided for communication between the devices. The passively communicating device
lOOp receives the magnetic carrier
110 generated by the actively communicating device
100a and modulates that magnetic carrier
110 via the modulator
140p according to the information stored in the data store
170p to affect the magnetic carrier
110.
[0020] Each communicating device
100 alternates when it encodes information for interpretation by the other communicating device
100. In various aspects, a guard time between encoded signals ensures that the communicating devices
100 do not "talk over" one another, which may be signaled by an end of frame signal and/or a message length indicator encoded onto the magnetic carrier
110 when a given communicating device
100 encodes information for the other communicating device
100. The hidden key, however, is not meant for interpretation by the passively communicating device
lOOp or any other device - it is private to the actively communicating device
100a - and is encoded onto the magnetic carrier
110 by the actively communicating device
100a during the time period that the passively communicating device
100p encodes its information onto the magnetic carrier
110; safeguarding that information from eavesdroppers.
[0021] In various aspects, the magnetic carrier
110 transfers power from the actively communicating device
100a to the passively communicating device
100p to induce the modulator
150p to encode the information in the data store
170p onto the magnetic carrier
110.
[0022] FIGURES 2A-2G are example spectrograms
200 interpreting an NFC signal. Although examples are given herein primarily in terms of Amplitude Modulation (AM), the present disclosure is not limited to application in AM devices. The present disclosure is envisioned as being equally applicable to other modulation schemes, including, but not limited to: Frequency Modulation (FM) and Phase Modulation (PM).
[0023] As will also be appreciated, although the example spectrograms
200 are shown as idealized sine and square waves for purposes of illustration, several wave types that are non-idealized are possible and envisioned for use with the present disclosure including, but not limited to: sine, saw-tooth (forward or reverse biased), square, and triangular. Additionally, although interpretation of the signals is shown via on-off keying, other interpretation schemes (e.g., differential encoding) are also envisioned for use with the present disclosure. Further, it will be appreciated that the constant amplitudes shown are idealized, and a dip in amplitude is expected when communicating devices
100 come into proximity to one another due to the increased load on the actively communicating device
100a to induce passive mode communications from the passively communicating device
100p, especially when the passively communicating device
100p moves relative to the actively communicating device
100a.
[0024] FIGURE 2A illustrates an example carrier wave
210 as a sine wave. In the ISO/IEC 18092 standard for NFC, the carrier wave
210 will have a frequency of 13.56 MHz and an operating volume (i.e., signal amplitudes) for its field strength between 1.5 and 7.5 A/m in un-modulated conditions, although other communication standards that employ the present disclosure may use different frequencies and operating volumes for the carrier wave
210. The actively communicating device
100a generates the carrier wave
210 for use as the magnetic carrier
110, which is induced on the passively communicating device
100p to encode data onto, which is then read by the actively communicating device
100a.
[0025] FIGURE 2B illustrates an example data signal
220 from a passively communicating device
100p. The data signal
220 encodes information stored in the data store
170p as a time series comprising several time frames in which individual bits are encoded. Each of the spectrograms
200 in
FIGURES 2A-G are shown over a time period from an initial time (t
0) to a final time (t
8) to illustrate examples via the transmissions and interpretations of an eight-bit byte. During each time frame (e.g., between t
0 and t
1, t
1 and t
2, t
2 and t
3, etc.), the passively communicating device
100p may encode a bit onto the carrier wave
210. Depending on the bit-rate set for transmission, the actual duration of a time frame may vary in different aspects.
[0026] Eight time frames are illustrated in the spectrograms
200 to illustrate the encoding and transmission of a byte. In the present disclosure, to differentiate decimal and binary representations of numbers, binary numbers are presented in eight-bit bytes with a space between each group of four bits and a subscript two following the second group (e.g., 0000 0000
2 is the binary representation of zero for purposes of the present disclosure). The values of individual bits are discussed as being ONE/TRUE, ZERO/FALSE, or UNKNOWN. As illustrated in
FIGURE 2B, the data signal
220 represents 1100 1100
2 (decimal 204), where the bits for the first, second, fifth, and sixth time frames are ONE/TRUE and the bits for the third, fourth, seventh, and eighth time frames are ZERO/FALSE.
[0027] FIGURE 2C illustrates the carrier wave
210 of
FIGURE 2A as modulated by the example data signal
220 of
FIGURE 2B. In the current example, the amplitude of the carrier wave
210 has been modulated to encode 1100 1100
2 from the data signal
220 of
FIGURE 2B. The actively communicating device
100a constructs an observed message
230 from the modulated carrier wave
210 according to one or more sampling methods and encoding methods. As illustrated, the observed message
230 reconstructs the data signal
220 of
FIGURE 2B, which is interpreted against a decoding threshold
240 to extract the data encoded onto the carrier wave
210. As will be understood in an AM implementation, values above the decoding threshold
240 are interpreted to be ONE/TRUE and values below the decoding threshold
240 are interpreted to be ZERO/FALSE. Similar thresholds for frequency or phase changes are set for interpreting signals sent via FM and PM schemes.
[0028] In various aspects, the decoding threshold
240 may include an uncertainty range, such that any value within the uncertainty range from the decoding threshold
240, despite falling on one side or the other of the decoding threshold, is determined to be UNKNOWN as its position relative to the decoding threshold
240 is too close to accurately determine the true value of a corresponding bit.
[0029] The decoding threshold
240 is set, as illustrated in
FIGURE 2C, based on the modulated operating volume to determine whether the observed message
230 in a given time frame represents a ONE/TRUE or a ZERO/FALSE. Unfortunately, any device within range to receive the modulated carrier wave
210 of
FIGURE 2C may reconstruct the data encoded by the passively communicating device
100p onto the carrier wave
210; not just the actively communicating device
100a.
[0030] FIGURE 2D illustrates an example hidden key signal
250. Although shown with a similar amplitude to the data signal
220 of
FIGURE 2B and with similar amplitudes internally between each time frame, the strength of the hidden key signal
250 may vary from the strength of the data signal
220 and the amplitude of each time frame may also vary. For example, although only two amplitudes are illustrated in
FIGURE 2D, multiple different amplitudes that affect the carrier wave
210 to different extents when encoded thereon may be applied. Additionally, the maximum amplitude of the hidden key signal
250 is set such that the modulated signal will conform to the upper and lower power bands of the applicable standard of communication, and in some aspects is set as close as possible to the modulation depth (differentiating bits of different values in an AM scheme) to provide greater confusion between message values intercepted by an eavesdropper.
[0031] The hidden key signal
250, as illustrated, represents 1010 1010
2 (decimal 170). The values of at least a portion of the bits of the hidden key signal
250 are stored in the key buffer
140a of the actively communicating device
100a for use in modulating the carrier wave
210 to secretly secure the transmission of data from the passively communicating device
100p and to demodulate the observed message
230 when it has been secretly secured.
FIGURE 2E illustrates the carrier wave
210 as modulated by the hidden key signal
250, which if interpreted by another device would produce an observed message matching the hidden key signal
250, which if interpreted against the appropriate decoding threshold
240 would yield the hidden key value of 1010 1010
2. Because the carrier wave
210 as modulated by the hidden key signal
250 should not be transmitted without the passively communicating device
100p also modulating the carrier wave
210 according to the data signal
220, the observed signal
230 should not match the hidden signal
250; the spectrogram
200 of
FIGURE 2E is provided as an illustrative example to discuss the internal operation of the actively communicating device
100a.
[0032] FIGURES 2F and
2G illustrate the carrier wave
210 of
FIGURE 2A as modulated by the example data signal
220 of
FIGURE 2B and the hidden key signal
250 of
FIGURE 2D. As will be apparent, the observed message
230 in
FIGURES 2F and
2G shows more than two amplitude levels to which the carrier wave
210 has been modulated. In the illustrated examples, when the corresponding bits from data signal
220 and the hidden key signal
250 are both ONE/TRUE or ZERO/FALSE, the resulting amplitude in the observed message
230 may be resolved to properly to return the corresponding bit from the data signal
220. When the corresponding bits from data signal
220 and the hidden key signal
250 have different values, however, the resulting amplitude in the observed message
230 cannot be reliably resolved to the value of the data signal
220 without knowledge of the values of the hidden key signal
250. An eavesdropper who observes the carrier wave
210 and attempts to interpret the observed message
230 to extract the transmitted data therefore would misinterpret the transmitted data or determine the value of such bits to be UNKNOWN. For example, if the eavesdropper used the prior decoding threshold
240, as is shown in
FIGURE 2F, the observed message
230 would be incorrectly interpreted to be 1110 1110
2 (decimal 238). In another example, if the eavesdropper were to set the decoding threshold
240 evenly between the high value and the low value of the observed message
230, half of the bits would be interpreted as UNKNOWN (i.e., bits two, three, six, and seven in the illustrated example), leaving the transmitted value ambiguous to the eavesdropper.
[0033] In various aspects, to interpret the observed message
230 in light of the hidden key, the actively communicating device
100a may either modulate the decoding threshold
240 by the hidden key signal
250 to produce the modulated threshold
260 shown in
FIGURE 2G or demodulate the observed message
230 by the hidden key signal
250 to revert the observed message of
FIGURES 2F and
2G to that shown in
FIGURE 2C (and then use the static decoding threshold
240 to interpret the carrier wave
210 and produce the data signal
230). As illustrated in
FIGURE 2G, the modulated threshold
260 changes as the carrier wave
210 was changed by its modulation by the hidden key signal
250, thus allowing the threshold by which the observed message
230 is decoded to shift, privately, on the actively communicating device
100a to correctly interpret the data signal
220 as 1100 1100
2 in
FIGURE 2G as opposed to 1110 1110
2 in
FIGURE 2F without having to expose or leave the hidden key open to exposure to any potential eavesdroppers.
[0034] FIGURE 3 is a flow chart showing general stages involved in an example method
300 for securing NFC signals from eavesdroppers. Method
300 begins at OPERATION
310, where two devices come within proximity for NFC signals to be exchanged. In various aspects, the actively communicating device
100a generates an NFC signal in response to a user initiating NFC communications, or may periodically or constantly generate an initiate command signal to detect passively communicating devices
100p that enter within communication proximity to the actively communicating device
100a. In various aspects, proximity may be set as a distance between devices (e.g., 5 cm), a minimum signal strength of the carrier wave
210 from the initiating device (e.g., at least 0.175 A/m) that can induce the target device to respond.
[0035] Once two devices are within communicative proximity, the actively communicating device
100a will initiate a handshake procedure with the passively communicating device
100p at OPERATION
320. During a handshake procedure for passive mode communications between devices, the initiating device (the actively communicating device
100a) may use a known series of data (e.g., a series of
n bits encoding a known sequence via differential encoding) to set timing parameters on the target device (the passively communicating device
100p) and/or to provide initial power to the target device if it lacks an internal power source.
[0036] Once the handshake procedure is complete, method
300 proceeds to DECISION
330 to determine whether a response is received from the passively communicating device
100p. When it is determined that no response has been received within a response window, method
300 may conclude or return to OPERATION
320 to attempt the handshake procedure again to initiate communications with the passively communicating device
100p. When it is determined that a response has been received, method
300 continues to OPERATION
340.
[0037] At OPERATION
340 the hidden key is obtained. In various aspects, the hidden key is generated on demand bit-by-bit, where a bit with a random binary value is generated and provided to secure - and then interpret - a time frame of the data signal
220 before being discarded. In other aspects, the hidden key is generated as a series of randomly valued bits in response to a length of a message from the target device encoded in the data signal
220. In yet other aspects, a hidden key is obtained by requesting it from a memory storage device, on which the hidden key is hardcoded or produced by an external process to secure NFC signals for a given communications session.
[0038] Proceeding to OPERATION
350, the initiator device modulates the magnetic carrier
110 according to the hidden key to secure the transmission of information from the target device. In various aspects, the magnetic carrier
110 is modulated according to the hidden key in anticipation of the target device transmitting information and/or is modulated after the target device has ceased transmitting information to ensure that all of the transmission from the target device is secured by the hidden key. In other aspects, the magnetic carrier
110 is modulated according to the hidden key only for a portion of the information from the target device, such as, for example, to secure the transmission of a payload portion of a transmission frame, but not header/footer information of the transmission frame. The initiator device, in various aspects, starts encoding the hidden key onto the carrier wave
210 in response to a timed delay (such as from the end of a handshake signal), reception of a message start from the target device, or n time frames from the start of a message from the target device. In aspects using differential encoding, such as Manchester encoding, the hidden key is encoded onto the carrier wave
210 several times per each bit in the message (e.g., twice per bit) and synchronized with bit transmission to hide changes in value.
[0039] At OPERATION
360 the response from the target device is interpreted to retrieve the data signal
220 from the carrier wave
210. Depending on the modulation scheme, the initiator device may compare changes in the carrier wave's amplitude, frequency, or phase against a corresponding decoding threshold
240 that may be static or dynamic in light of the hidden key. When using a static threshold, the initiator device demodulates the carrier wave
210 to remove the effect of the hidden key, which only it knows, to properly interpret the data signal
220 encoded onto the carrier wave
210 by the target device. When using a dynamic threshold, the threshold is modulated according to the hidden key to account for its effect on the modulated carrier wave
210.
[0040] It is determined at DECISION
370 whether the response from the passively communicating device
lOOp has ended. In various aspects, an end-of-signal message, a span of length n time frames where the carrier wave
210 encodes only the hidden key, known message frame lengths of a given communication standard, or a message length encoded earlier onto the carrier wave
210 by the target device are used to determine when the response has ended (or to predict when it will end). When it is determined that the response has ended, method
300 proceeds to OPERATION
380. When it is determined that the response has not ended (i.e., is still ongoing), method
300 returns to OPERATION
350 for the initiator device to continue protecting the information encoded onto the carrier wave
210 by the hidden key.
[0041] At OPERATION
380 the initiator device ceases modulating the carrier wave
210. The initiator device may, in some aspects, transmit or initiate a new handshake or other request for additional information from the target device or a different target device, or method
300 may conclude.
[0042] While implementations have been described in the general context of program modules that execute in conjunction with an application program that runs on an operating system on a computer, those skilled in the art will recognize that aspects may also be implemented in combination with other program modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.
[0043] The aspects and functionalities described herein may operate via a multitude of computing systems including, without limitation, desktop computer systems, wired and wireless computing systems, mobile computing systems (e.g., mobile telephones, netbooks, tablet or slate type computers, notebook computers, and laptop computers), hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, and mainframe computers.
[0044] In addition, according to an aspect, the aspects and functionalities described herein operate over distributed systems (e.g., cloud-based computing systems), where application functionality, memory, data storage and retrieval and various processing functions are operated remotely from each other over a distributed computing network, such as the Internet or an intranet. According to an aspect, user interfaces and information of various types are displayed via on-board computing device displays or via remote display units associated with one or more computing devices. For example, user interfaces and information of various types are displayed and interacted with on a wall surface onto which user interfaces and information of various types are projected. Interaction with the multitude of computing systems with which implementations are practiced include, keystroke entry, touch screen entry, voice or other audio entry, gesture entry where an associated computing device is equipped with detection (e.g., camera) functionality for capturing and interpreting user gestures for controlling the functionality of the computing device, and the like.
[0045] FIGURES 4, 5A, and
5B and the associated descriptions provide a discussion of a variety of operating environments in which examples are practiced. However, the devices and systems illustrated and discussed with respect to
FIGURES 4, 5A, and
5B are for purposes of example and illustration and are not limiting of a vast number of computing device configurations that are utilized for practicing aspects, described herein.
[0046] FIGURE 4 is a block diagram illustrating physical components (i.e., hardware) of a computing device
400 with which examples of the present disclosure may be practiced. In a basic configuration, the computing device
400 includes at least one processing unit
402 and a system memory
404. According to an aspect, depending on the configuration and type of computing device, the system memory
404 comprises, but is not limited to, volatile storage (e.g., random access memory), non-volatile storage (e.g., read-only memory), flash memory, or any combination of such memories. According to an aspect, the system memory
404 includes an operating system
405 and one or more program modules
406 suitable for running software applications
450. According to an aspect, the system memory
404 includes an initiator controller
490 application - configured to enable the computing device
400 to act as the actively communicating device
100a. The operating system
405, for example, is suitable for controlling the operation of the computing device
400. Furthermore, aspects are practiced in conjunction with a graphics library, other operating systems, or any other application program, and are not limited to any particular application or system. This basic configuration is illustrated in
FIGURE 4 by those components within a dashed line
408. According to an aspect, the computing device
400 has additional features or functionality. For example, according to an aspect, the computing device
400 includes additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in
FIGURE 4 by a removable storage device
409 and a non-removable storage device
410.
[0047] As stated above, according to an aspect, a number of program modules and data files are stored in the system memory
404. While executing on the processing unit
402, the program modules
406 (e.g., initiator controller
490) perform processes including, but not limited to, one or more of the stages of the method
300 illustrated in
FIGURE 3. According to an aspect, other program modules are used in accordance with examples and include applications such as electronic mail and contacts applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, slide presentation applications, drawing or computer-aided application programs, etc.
[0048] According to an aspect, aspects are practiced in an electrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip containing electronic elements or microprocessors. For example, aspects are practiced via a system-on-a-chip (SOC) where each or many of the components illustrated in
FIGURE 4 are integrated onto a single integrated circuit. According to an aspect, such an SOC device includes one or more processing units, graphics units, communications units, system virtualization units and various application functionality all of which are integrated (or "burned") onto the chip substrate as a single integrated circuit. When operating via an SOC, the functionality, described herein, is operated via application-specific logic integrated with other components of the computing device
400 on the single integrated circuit (chip). According to an aspect, aspects of the present disclosure are practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition, aspects are practiced within a general purpose computer or in any other circuits or systems.
[0049] According to an aspect, the computing device
400 has one or more input device(s)
412 such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, a sound input device, a touch input device, etc. The output device(s)
414 such as a display, speakers, a printer, etc. are also included according to an aspect. The aforementioned devices are examples and others may be used. According to an aspect, the computing device
400 includes one or more communication connections
416 allowing communications with other computing devices
418. Examples of suitable communication connections
416 include, but are not limited to, radio frequency (RF) transmitter, receiver, and/or transceiver circuitry; universal serial bus (USB), parallel, and/or serial ports.
[0050] The term computer readable media, as used herein, includes computer storage media. Computer storage media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, or program modules. The system memory
404, the removable storage device
409, and the non-removable storage device
410 are all computer storage media examples (i.e., memory storage.) According to an aspect, computer storage media include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other article of manufacture which can be used to store information and which can be accessed by the computing device
400. According to an aspect, any such computer storage media is part of the computing device
400. Computer storage media do not include a carrier wave or other propagated data signal.
[0051] According to an aspect, communication media are embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and include any information delivery media. According to an aspect, the term "modulated data signal" describes a signal that has one or more characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, and other wireless media.
[0052] FIGURES 5A and
5B illustrate a mobile computing device
500, for example, a mobile telephone, a smart phone, a tablet personal computer, a laptop computer, and the like, with which aspects may be practiced. With reference to
FIGURE 5A, an example of a mobile computing device
500 for implementing the aspects is illustrated. In a basic configuration, the mobile computing device
500 is a handheld computer having both input elements and output elements. The mobile computing device
500 typically includes a display
505 and one or more input buttons
510 that allow the user to enter information into the mobile computing device
500. According to an aspect, the display
505 of the mobile computing device
500 functions as an input device (e.g., a touch screen display). If included, an optional side input element
515 allows further user input. According to an aspect, the side input element
515 is a rotary switch, a button, or any other type of manual input element. In alternative examples, mobile computing device
500 incorporates more or fewer input elements. For example, the display
505 may not be a touch screen in some examples. In alternative examples, the mobile computing device
500 is a portable phone system, such as a cellular phone. According to an aspect, the mobile computing device
500 includes an optional keypad
535. According to an aspect, the optional keypad
535 is a physical keypad. According to another aspect, the optional keypad
535 is a "soft" keypad generated on the touch screen display. In various aspects, the output elements include the display
505 for showing a graphical user interface (GUI), a visual indicator
520 (e.g., a light emitting diode), and/or an audio transducer
525 (e.g., a speaker). In some examples, the mobile computing device
500 incorporates a vibration transducer for providing the user with tactile feedback. In yet another example, the mobile computing device
500 incorporates input and/or output ports, such as an audio input (e.g., a microphone jack), an audio output (e.g., a headphone jack), and a video output (e.g., a HDMI port) for sending signals to or receiving signals from an external device. In yet another example, the mobile computing device
500 incorporates peripheral device port
540, such as an audio input (e.g., a microphone jack), an audio output (e.g., a headphone jack), and a video output (e.g., a HDMI port) for sending signals to or receiving signals from an external device.
[0053] FIGURE 5B is a block diagram illustrating the architecture of one example of a mobile computing device. That is, the mobile computing device
500 incorporates a system (i.e., an architecture)
502 to implement some examples. In one example, the system
502 is implemented as a "smart phone" capable of running one or more applications (e.g., browser, e-mail, calendaring, contact managers, messaging clients, games, and media clients/players). In some examples, the system
502 is integrated as a computing device, such as an integrated personal digital assistant (PDA) and wireless phone.
[0054] According to an aspect, one or more application programs
550 are loaded into the memory
562 and run on or in association with the operating system
564. Examples of the application programs include phone dialer programs, e-mail programs, personal information management (PIM) programs, word processing programs, spreadsheet programs, Internet browser programs, messaging programs, and so forth. According to an aspect, initiator controller
490 application is loaded into memory
562. The system
502 also includes a non-volatile storage area
568 within the memory
562. The non-volatile storage area
568 is used to store persistent information that should not be lost if the system
502 is powered down. The application programs
550 may use and store information in the non-volatile storage area
568, such as e-mail or other messages used by an e-mail application, and the like. A synchronization application (not shown) also resides on the system
502 and is programmed to interact with a corresponding synchronization application resident on a host computer to keep the information stored in the non-volatile storage area
568 synchronized with corresponding information stored at the host computer. As should be appreciated, other applications may be loaded into the memory
562 and run on the mobile computing device
500.
[0055] According to an aspect, the system
502 has a power supply
570, which is implemented as one or more batteries. According to an aspect, the power supply
570 further includes an external power source, such as an AC adapter or a powered docking cradle that supplements or recharges the batteries.
[0056] According to an aspect, the system
502 includes a radio
572 that performs the function of transmitting and receiving radio frequency communications. The radio
572 facilitates wireless connectivity between the system
502 and the "outside world," via a communications carrier or service provider. Transmissions to and from the radio
572 are conducted under control of the operating system
564. In other words, communications received by the radio
572 may be disseminated to the application programs
550 via the operating system
564, and vice versa.
[0057] According to an aspect, the visual indicator
520 is used to provide visual notifications and/or an audio interface
574 is used for producing audible notifications via the audio transducer
525. In the illustrated example, the visual indicator
520 is a light emitting diode (LED) and the audio transducer
525 is a speaker. These devices may be directly coupled to the power supply
570 so that when activated, they remain on for a duration dictated by the notification mechanism even though the processor
560 and other components might shut down for conserving battery power. The LED may be programmed to remain on indefinitely until the user takes action to indicate the powered-on status of the device. The audio interface
574 is used to provide audible signals to and receive audible signals from the user. For example, in addition to being coupled to the audio transducer
525, the audio interface
574 may also be coupled to a microphone to receive audible input, such as to facilitate a telephone conversation. According to an aspect, the system
502 further includes a video interface
576 that enables an operation of an on-board camera
530 to record still images, video stream, and the like.
[0058] According to an aspect, a mobile computing device
500 implementing the system
502 has additional features or functionality. For example, the mobile computing device
500 includes additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in
FIGURE 5B by the non-volatile storage area
568.
[0059] According to an aspect, data/information generated or captured by the mobile computing device
500 and stored via the system
502 are stored locally on the mobile computing device
500, as described above. According to another aspect, the data are stored on any number of storage media that are accessible by the device via the radio
572 or via a wired connection between the mobile computing device
500 and a separate computing device associated with the mobile computing device
500, for example, a server computer in a distributed computing network, such as the Internet. As should be appreciated such data/information are accessible via the mobile computing device
500 via the radio
572 or via a distributed computing network. Similarly, according to an aspect, such data/information are readily transferred between computing devices for storage and use according to well-known data/information transfer and storage means, including electronic mail and collaborative data/information sharing systems.
[0060] Implementations, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to aspects. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0061] The description and illustration of one or more examples provided in this application are not intended to limit or restrict the scope as claimed in any way. The aspects, examples, and details provided in this application are considered sufficient to convey possession and enable others to make and use the best mode. Implementations should not be construed as being limited to any aspect, example, or detail provided in this application. Regardless of whether shown and described in combination or separately, the various features (both structural and methodological) are intended to be selectively included or omitted to produce an example with a particular set of features.