Wireless phone RF presentation instrument with sensor control
A mobile communications device is described which includes an input sensor, a memory unit, processing unit, and an antenna configured to wirelessly transmit and receive financial account data for a transaction. The antenna is configured to receive a request for data stored on the memory unit, and may also be configured to induce a voltage from a magnetic field to power certain components of the device. The input sensor may control whether the components can be so powered from the magnetic field. Alternatively, input from the input sensor may otherwise control the functionality of the device. By way of example, data representative of an input received by the input sensor may be transmitted in addition to the requested data.
1. A mobile communications device comprising:
a memory unit configured to store financial account information for use in a transaction;
an input sensor configured to receive an input;
an antenna configured to:
draw power from an external source to induce a voltage for the mobile communications device;
wirelessly receive a first set of electromagnetic waves comprising a signal including a request for the financial account information to be applied to a transaction; and
transmit a wireless signal responsive to the request comprising a second set of electromagnetic waves including the financial account information; and
a processing unit coupled with the memory unit, the input sensor, and the antenna, wherein the processing unit is prevented from being powered from the external source without an input received at the input sensor, and wherein the processing unit is configured to:
access the memory unit to retrieve the requested data; and
add an additional set of data to the financial account information for transmission via the wireless signal, the additional set of data representative of the received input from the input sensor.
2. The mobile communications device of claim 1 , wherein,
the memory unit further comprises a secure storage region; and
the processing unit is configured to control access to the secure storage region based on an input received at the input sensor.
3. The mobile communications device of claim 2 , wherein,
the processing unit is configured to prevent access to the secure storage region unless a substantially concurrent input is received at the input sensor.
4. The mobile communications device of claim 1 , wherein the input sensor is limited to a first state and a second state.
5. The mobile communications device of claim 4 , wherein
the received input from the input sensor comprises no input; and
the received input causes the input sensor to be in the first state.
6. The mobile communications device of claim 1 , wherein,
the input sensor comprises a plurality of input sensors; and
different combinations of input among the plurality of sensors result in different resulting states for the input sensor.
7. The mobile communications device of claim 6 , wherein the input sensor receives:
a biometric reading; and
a password input.
8. The mobile communications device of claim 7 , wherein the password input comprises an input received at a subset of the plurality of input sensors.
9. The mobile communications device of claim 1 , wherein the input sensor includes one or more input sensors comprising a selection from the group consisting of a dual contact point switch, a capacitance switch, a light sensor, a multi-position slide switch, and any combination thereof.
10. The mobile communications device of claim 1 , wherein the financial account information comprises a credit card account number, a debit card account number, an ATM card account number, a stored value account number, or a bank account number.
11. The mobile communications device of claim 1 , wherein the input sensor is distinct from a keypad of the mobile communications device.
12. The mobile communications device of claim 1 , wherein the memory unit, the input sensor, the antenna, and the processing unit are independent from mobile communication components of the mobile communications device.
13. The mobile communications device of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to encapsulate the additional set of data and the financial account information together in a single data packet for transmission via the wireless signal.
14. A mobile communications device comprising:
means for wirelessly receiving a first set of electromagnetic waves comprising a signal including a request for financial account information to be applied to a transaction;
means for receiving an input;
means for storing data;
means for wirelessly transmitting a second set of electromagnetic waves comprising a signal including:
the requested financial account information from the storing means; and
data representative of the received input; and
means for wirelessly drawing power from an external source to induce a voltage for the mobile communications device,
wherein the means for wirelessly transmitting is prevented from being powered from the external source without a substantially concurrent input received at the means for receiving the input.
15. The mobile communications device of claim 14 , further comprising:
a processing means configured to control access to a secure storage region based on an input received at the input means, wherein,
the means for storing data further comprises the secure storage region.
16. A mobile communications device comprising:
a memory unit configured to store financial account information for use in a transaction;
an antenna coupled with the memory unit, and configured to:
draw power from an external source to induce a voltage for the mobile communications device;
wirelessly receive a first set of electromagnetic waves comprising a signal including a request for the financial account information to be applied to a transaction; and
transmit a wireless signal responsive to the request comprising a second set of electromagnetic waves including the financial account information;
the input sensor coupled with the memory unit and configured to receive an input, wherein the requested information is prevented from being transmitted unless a first input is substantially concurrent with the receipt of the request; and
a processing unit coupled with the memory unit, the antenna, and the input sensor, wherein the processing unit is prevented from being powered from the external source without an input received at the input sensor.
17. The mobile communications device of claim 16 , further comprising:
a processing unit coupled with the memory unit, and configured to allow access to an unsecured storage region regardless of the received first input,
wherein the memory unit further comprises the unsecured storage region.
18. The mobile communications device of claim 16 , further comprising:
a processing unit coupled with the input sensor, and configured to:
receive the first input from the input sensor; and
control, based at least in part on the received first input, whether the requested data stored on the memory unit is transmitted.
19. The mobile communications device of claim 18 , wherein,
the antenna comprises an inductively coupled transponder configured to induce a voltage from a magnetic field to power the presentation instrument; and
the received first input determines whether the processing unit may be powered from the magnetic field.
20. The mobile communications device of claim 16 , wherein,
the memory unit further comprises an additional secure storage region; and
the processing unit is configured to control access to the additional secure storage region based on an second input received at the input sensor.
21. The mobile communications device of claim 16 , wherein the input sensor is limited to a first state and a second state.
22. The mobile communications device of claim 21 , wherein
the received input from the input sensor comprises no input; and
the received input causes the input sensor to be in the first state.
23. The mobile communications device of claim 16 , wherein,
the input sensor comprises a plurality of input sensors; and
different combinations of input among the plurality of sensors result in different resulting states for the input sensor.
24. The mobile communications device of claim 16 , wherein the input sensor includes one or more input sensors comprising a selection from the group consisting of a dual contact point switch, a capacitance switch, a light sensor, a multi-position slide switch, and any combination thereof.
25. The mobile communications device of claim 16 , wherein the financial account information comprises a credit card account number, a debit card account number, an ATM card account number, a stored value account number, or a bank account number.
26. The mobile communications device of claim 16 , wherein the input sensor is distinct from a keypad of the mobile communications device.
27. A mobile communications device comprising:
means for wirelessly drawing power from a source external to the mobile communications device to produce a voltage for the mobile communications device;
means for wirelessly receiving a first set of electromagnetic waves comprising a signal including a request for the financial account information to be applied to a transaction;
means for processing the received set of data;
means for wirelessly transmitting a second set of electromagnetic waves comprising a responsive signal; and
means for receiving an input, wherein the input controls whether the drawing means is able to wirelessly draw power from the external source to produce a voltage for the processing means,
wherein the means for wireless transmitting is prevented from being powered from the source without a substantially concurrent input received at the means for receiving the input.