Information access control

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for information access control. Information read from a portable device is received. One portion of the information includes optical information read optically from the portable device and another portion of the information includes electromagnetic information read electromagnetically from the device. A cryptographic key is determined from the received information. The portable device is communicated with electromagnetically to retrieve an electromagnetic transmission packet that includes encrypted data. The retrieved encrypted data are decrypted using the determined cryptographic key.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 997,770, entitled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC INITIATION OF SECURE TRANSACTIONS,” filed Nov. 23, 2004 by Brian T. Kean (“the '770 application”). The '770 application is a nonprovisional of, and claims the benefit of the filing date of, U.S. Prov. Pat. Appl. No. 60 / 530,510, entitled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC INITIATION OF SECURE TRANSACTIONS,” filed Dec. 17, 2003 by Brian T. Kean, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This application relates generally to information security. More specifically, this application relates to methods and systems for electromagnetic initiation of secure transactions. [0003] In recent years, a number of proposals have been put forth to expand the flexibility with which consumers may provide access to accounts when engaging in fin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] In some instances, the electromagnetic transmission packet is received at a radio frequency. Further, in some embodiments, a barcode scan of a barcode may also be received, with a barcode value that corresponds to the barcode being transmitted with the decryption of the encrypted magnetic-stripe image. The validity of the barcode may also be verified, such as by calculating a check digit from characters comprised by the scanned barcode and comparing the calculated check digit with a comparison check digit comprised by the scanned barcode. In one embodiment, an antenna is activated to receive the electromagnetic transmission packet only after verifying the validity of the barcode, with the antenna being deactivated after receiving the electromagnetic transmission packet, thereby providing electrical savings and reducing signal-pollution radiation. In other embodiments, the alphanumerical identifier may be transmitted with the decryption of the encrypted magnetic-stripe image.

Problems solved by technology

These suggestions fail to account for additional security and authentication schemes that would add extra processing to the authorization system or add extra complexity to the chip, but which would be needed to ensure the security of the financial-account information.

Images