Communications device providing near field communication (nfc) secure element disabling features related methods

Abstract

A communications device may include a near field communication (NFC) device, at least one memory configured to store secure application data to be communicated via the NFC device and a secure element (SE) application programming interface (API) associated with the secure application data, and a processor coupled with the NFC device and the at least one memory. The processor may be configured to disable the SE API to prevent access to the secure application data based upon a security condition, and enable the SE API to allow access to the secure application data based upon a security restore event.

1 . A communications device comprising:
 a near field communication (NFC) device;   at least one memory configured to store secure application data to be communicated via said NFC device and a secure element (SE) application programming interface (API) associated with the secure application data; and   a processor coupled with said NFC device and with said at least one memory, the processor being configured to
 disable the SE API to prevent access to the secure application data based upon a security condition, and 
 enable the SE API to allow access to the secure application data based upon a security restore event. 
   
     
     
         2 . The communications device of  claim 1  further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled with said processor; and wherein the security condition comprises initiation of a wipe while said wireless transceiver is not in communication with a wireless communications network. 
     
     
         3 . The communications device of  claim 1  further comprising an input device coupled with said processor; and
 wherein the security condition comprises a threshold number of unsuccessful device authentication attempts via said input device. 
 
     
     
         4 . The communications device of  claim 1  further comprising an input device coupled to said processor; and wherein the security condition comprises a security command entered via said input device. 
     
     
         5 . The communications device of  claim 1  further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled with said processor; and wherein the security restore event comprises receiving a secure application data delete command via said wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         6 . The communications device of  claim 1  further comprising an input device coupled with said processor; and wherein the security restore event comprises receiving a security restore command via said input device. 
     
     
         7 . The communications device of  claim 1  wherein said NFC device has an NFC API associated therewith; and wherein said processor is further configured to enable said NFC API for NFC communication while the SE API is disabled. 
     
     
         8 . The communications device of  claim 1  wherein said processor is further configured to disable write access to said memory based upon the occurrence of the security condition. 
     
     
         9 . A communications system comprising:
 a near field communication (NFC) terminal; and   a communications device configured to communicate with said NFC terminal, the communications device comprising
 a NFC device, 
 at least one memory configured to store secure application data to be communicated via said NFC device to said NFC terminal and a secure element (SE) application programming interface (API) associated with the secure application data, and 
   a processor coupled with said NFC device and with said at least one memory, the processor being configured to
 disable the SE API to prevent access to the secure application data based upon a security condition, and 
 enable the SE API to allow access to the secure application data based upon a security restore event. 
   
     
     
         10 . The communications system of  claim 9  wherein said communications device further comprises a wireless transceiver coupled with said processor; and wherein the security condition comprises initiation of a wipe while said wireless transceiver is not in communication with a wireless communications network. 
     
     
         11 . The communications system of  claim 9  wherein said communications device further comprises an input device coupled with said processor; and wherein the security condition comprises a threshold number of unsuccessful device authentication attempts via said input device. 
     
     
         12 . The communications system of  claim 9  wherein said communications device further comprises an input device coupled to said processor; and wherein the security condition comprises a security command entered via said input device. 
     
     
         13 . The communications system of  claim 9  wherein said communications device further comprises a wireless transceiver coupled with said processor; and wherein the security restore event comprises receiving a secure application data delete command via said wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         14 . The communications system of  claim 9  wherein said communications device further comprises an input device coupled with said processor; and wherein the security restore event comprises receiving a security restore command via said input device. 
     
     
         15 . A method for operating a communications device comprising a near field communication (NFC) device and at least one memory configured to store secure application data to be communicated via the NFC device and a secure element (SE) application programming interface (API) associated with the secure application data, the method comprising:
 disabling the SE API to prevent access to the secure application data based upon a security condition; and   enabling the SE API to allow access to the secure application data based upon a security restore event.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the communications device further comprises a wireless transceiver coupled with the processor; and wherein the security condition comprises initiation of a wipe while the wireless transceiver is not in communication with a wireless communications network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the communications device further comprises an input device; and wherein the security condition comprises a threshold number of unsuccessful device authentication attempts via the input device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the communications device further comprises an input device; and wherein the security condition comprises a security command entered via the input device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the communications device further comprises a wireless transceiver coupled with the processor; and wherein the security restore event comprises receiving a secure application data delete command via the wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium for a communications device comprising a near field communication (NFC) device and at least one memory configured to store secure application data to be communicated via the NFC device and a secure element (SE) application programming interface (API) associated with the secure application data, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing the communications device to perform steps comprising:
 disabling the SE API to prevent access to the secure application data based upon a security condition; and   enabling the SE API to allow access to the secure application data based upon a security restore event.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 20  wherein the communications device further comprises a wireless transceiver; and wherein the security condition comprises initiation of a wipe while the wireless transceiver is not in communication with a wireless communications network. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 20  wherein the communications device further comprises an input device; and wherein the security condition comprises a threshold number of unsuccessful device authentication attempts via the input device. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 20  wherein the communications device further comprises an input device; and wherein the security condition comprises a security command entered via the input device. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 20  wherein the communications device further comprises a wireless transceiver; and wherein the security restore event comprises receiving a secure application data delete command via the wireless transceiver.