Pre-authenticated identification token
An identification token such as a proximity payment device may be integrated with a wristwatch. For security purposes, the identification token may be disabled when removed from the user's wrist. The identification token may be re-enabled by interaction with a docking station or personal computer at the user's residence.
1. An identification token, comprising:
a housing;
a band for securing the housing to a user's wrist; and
a processor for executing computer program instructions stored on a computer readable medium to perform the following steps:
sensing attachment of the identification token to a user's wrist;
sensing removal of the identification token from the user's wrist;
detecting the removal of the identification token from the user's wrist;
switching the identification token from an enabled state to a disabled state in response to detecting the removal of the identification token;
receiving a signal from a re-enabling device, with the identification in proximity to the re-enabling device, the identification token in its disabled state when the identification token receives said signal, said signal received at a time when the identification token is not on the user's wrist;
sensing re-attachment of the identification token to the user's wrist within a predetermined time after receiving said signal; and
switching the identification token switching back to the enabled state in response to the identification token being re-attached to the user's wrist within said predetermined time after receiving the signal.
2. The identification token of claim 1 , wherein said signal is not an interrogation signal.
3. The identification token of claim 1 , further comprising:
a battery in said housing; and
means for receiving a power signal from a electronic device and using said power signal to charge said battery.
4. The identification token of claim 1 , wherein the identification token is a wristwatch.
5. The identification token of claim 1 , wherein the identification token further comprises:
the band further comprising two straps that are attached to opposite sides of the housing and are adapted to be selectively coupled to each other; and
means for detecting that the two straps are not coupled to each other.
6. The identification token of claim 1 , wherein the identification token is a proximity payment device.
7. The identification token of claim 1 , further comprising:
an antenna coupled to a transmitting device and to a state-switching device.
8. The identification token of claim 1 , further comprising:
a USB port on said housing.
9. The identification token of claim 1 , further comprising:
an indicator on said housing, said indicator for indicating to the user whether or not the identification token is in said first state.
10. The identification token of claim 9 , wherein said indicator is a light-emitting diode.
11. A method of operating a physical identification token, the method comprising:
sensing, by a sensing device, attachment of the identification token to a user's wrist;
sensing, by the sensing device, removal of the identification token from the user's wrist;
detecting, by the identification token, the removal of the identification token from the user's wrist;
switching, by a switching device, the identification token from an enabled state to a disabled state in response to detecting the removal of the identification token;
receiving, in the identification token, a signal from a re-enabling device, with the identification in proximity to the re-enabling device, the identification token in its disabled state when the identification token receives said signal, said signal received at a time when the identification token is not on the user's wrist;
sensing, by the sensing device, re-attachment of the identification token to the user's wrist within a predetermined time after receiving said signal switching, by the switching device, the identification token back to the enabled state in response to the identification token being re-attached to the user's wrist within said predetermined time after receiving the signal.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
the identification token receiving a power signal from the re-enabling device; and
the identification token using the power signal to charge a battery included in the identification token.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the identification token is a wristwatch.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the identification token is a proximity payment device.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensing removal of the identification token from the user's wrist includes sensing that one portion of a wristband has been uncoupled from another portion of the wristband.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the re-enabling device is in data communication with a personal computer located in the user's residence.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
the user operating the personal computer to perform an authentication procedure to cause the personal computer to send an authentication signal to the re-enabling device.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the authentication procedure includes the personal computer exchanging data communication with a server computer that is remotely located from the personal computer.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the authentication procedure includes the personal computer transmitting, to the server computer, information input into the personal computer by the user.