Secure short-distance-based communication and validation system for zone-based validation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9633493-B2
Application number	US-201414468198-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2014
Priority date	Aug 25, 2014
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A secure short-distance-based communication and validation system validates users in a validation area. The system may include multiple zones in the validation area and beacons in each zone. A run-time mobile device identifier and keys that may be location-specific, device-specific and time-specific are generated and utilized for secure communication between mobile devices and a zone computer in a zone. The validation area may be in a vehicle, and validation may include deducting a fare.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A secure short-distance-based communication and validation system to validate users in a validation area, the system comprising:
a beacon disposed in each zone of a plurality of zones in a validation area; and
a plurality of computers, wherein each computer of the plurality of computers is associated with a different zone and each computer comprises:
a processor; and
a short-distance communication interface to communicate with a mobile device at a location within a zone of the associated computer,
wherein each computer is to
broadcast a beacon identifying signal via the beacon disposed within the associated zone, wherein the beacon identifying signal is different for each zone of the plurality of zones,
wherein to validate a user associated with the mobile device for a first zone of the plurality of zones, the computer associated with the first zone is to:
receive a first mobile device identifier transmitted from the mobile device via the short-distance communication interface, wherein the first mobile device identifier is based on the beacon identifying signal for the first zone;
determine, based on the broadcasted beacon identifying signal and the received first mobile device identifier, whether the mobile device is in the first zone;
determine, in response to determining the mobile device is in the first zone, whether the user associated with the mobile device is validated for the first zone, and
in response to determining the user is validated for the first zone, sending a signal to the mobile device indicating the user is validated for the first zone, and
wherein to validate the user for a second zone of the plurality of zones, the computer associated with the second zone is to:
receive a mobile signal from the mobile device, the mobile signal including a second mobile device identifier transmitted from the mobile device via the short-distance communication interface, wherein the second mobile device identifier is based on the beacon identifying signal for the second zone;
ignore the mobile signal in response to a determination that the user validation for the first zone is applicable to the second zone; and
validate the user for the second zone in response to a determination that the user validation for the first zone is not applicable to the second zone.

2. The secure short-distance-based communication and validation system of claim 1 , wherein to validate the user for the first zone and the second zone, the mobile device is determined to be in a settled state in the validation area, wherein the validation area is mobile, and wherein the mobile device is determined to be in the settled state in the validation area if the mobile device is determined to be stationary for a predetermined period of time while the validation area is moving.

3. The secure short-distance-based communication and validation system of claim 1 , wherein the validation area is a vehicle, and to validate the user, a fare for riding in the vehicle is deducted from an account of the user.

4. The secure short-distance-based communication and validation system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device identifier is unique to the mobile device and a current location of the mobile device when the mobile device transmits the mobile device identifier to the computer of the zone where the mobile device is located.

5. The secure short-distance-based communication and validation system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second computers use one or more encryption keys to securely transmit messages to the mobile device in response to determining the mobile device is in the zone of the associated computer.

6. The secure short-distance-based communication and validation system of claim 5 , wherein to securely transmit the messages to the mobile device, the computers encrypt the messages with the one or more encryption keys.

7. The secure short-distance-based communication and validation system of claim 1 , wherein each of the computers includes a network interface, and communicates with a backend server via the network interface to validate the user.

8. A mobile device comprising:
at least one short-distance communication interface to receive a beacon identifier (ID) from at least one beacon in a validation area;
a non-transitory data storage storing an operating system and machine readable instructions; and
a motion sensor measuring the motion of the mobile device;
a processor executing the operating system and the machine readable instructions, wherein the operating system determines whether the received beacon ID is a registered beacon ID, and in response to determining the beacon ID is a registered beacon ID, the processor
determines whether the mobile device is in a zone of a validation area, wherein the validation area includes a plurality of zones, and determines whether the mobile device is in a settled state based on measurements from the motion sensor;
in response to determining the mobile device is in the zone and the mobile device is in the settled state, the processor calculates a mobile device unique identifier for the mobile device based on the beacon ID, wherein the mobile device unique identifier is only valid for the mobile device and the zone where the mobile device is currently located;
the processor engages in secure communication with a zone computer for the zone using the mobile device unique identifier via the at least one short-distance communication interface to validate a user associated with the mobile device;

the processor receives an indication from the zone computer that the user is validated for the zone of the validation area;
the processor stores the indication of the validation of the user for the zone;
the processor receives a second signal from at least one of beacons in a second zone in the validation area;
the processor ignores the second signal based on the stored indication in response to a determination that the received indication of the validation of the user for the zone is applicable to the second zone; and
the processor validates the user for the second zone if the received indication of validation of the user for the zone is not applicable to the second zone.

9. The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein the validation area is mobile, and the mobile device is determined to be in the settled state in the validation area if the mobile device is determined to be stationary for a predetermined period of time while the validation area is moving.

10. The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein the validation area is a vehicle, and to validate the user, a fare for riding in the vehicle is deducted from an account of the user.

11. The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein the mobile device unique identifier is calculated based on at least one of a signal strength of a received signal from the at least one beacon, a major ID of the beacon ID, and a minor ID of the beacon ID.

12. The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein the mobile device includes an input/output (I/O) device, and the processor receives a message from the zone computer indicating whether the user is validated, and generates an indication of whether the user is validated through the I/O device.

13. The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein to determine whether the mobile device is at the zone, the processor is to tap-based detection by sending a near-field signal to the zone computer and determining whether a near-field response signal is received from the zone computer.

14. The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein to determine whether the mobile device is at the zone, the processor executes triangulation-based detection by receiving signals fr

Assignees

• Accenture Global Services Ltd

Inventors

• Raina Sunil
• Somani Avishek
• Cuddihey Alden
• Butler Scott Thomas
• Archibald Douglas Arthur Michael

Classifications

• G07C9/28

  the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence · CPC title

• G07B15/02 Primary

  taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems (G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24) · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• G07C2009/00793

  by Hertzian waves · CPC title

• G07C2009/00412

  the transmitted data signal being encrypted · CPC title