Integrated Circuit Device That Includes A Secure Element And A Wireless Component For Transmitting Protected Data Over A Local Point-To-Point Wireless Communication Connection

Abstract

An integrated circuit device that includes a wireless component and a secure element is herein disclosed and enabled. The integrated circuit device includes a protected memory area for storing protected data that is implemented to be not accessible by a user, but is accessible by a memory controller included in the integrated circuit device. The memory controller accesses the protected data with a combination of security operations that may include authentication, cryptography, decryption, and encryption. The integrated circuit device further includes a wireless interface for establishing a local point-to-point radio connection with wireless computing devices or readers for transmitting the protected data that is encrypted. The integrated circuit device functions as a security key by requiring the presence of the integrated circuit device when using the protected data. The wireless integrated circuit device can be included in, or embodied, as any wireless communication device, such as a smart card.

1 . An integrated circuit memory device that is a wireless communication device for transmitting protected data stored in the integrated circuit memory device, the integrated circuit memory device comprising:
 a wireless interface that includes a radio component for establishing a local point-to-point wireless communication connection with a wireless computing device, the local point-to-point wireless communication connection being a radio communication connection;   a memory controller;   a memory component;   a protected memory area in the memory component storing protected data that is implemented to be not accessible by a user of the integrated circuit memory device, but is implemented to be accessible by the memory controller, the protected data includes data or software, individually or in any combination;   an internal memory area in the memory component storing program that is implemented to be not accessible by the user, but is implemented to be accessible and executable by the memory controller to support at least part of the functionalities of the memory controller; wherein the integrated circuit memory device is configured for:
 establishing, by the integrated circuit memory device, a local point-to-point wireless communication connection between the integrated circuit memory device and the wireless computing device, the local point-to-point wireless communication connection being a radio communication connection; 
 activating, by the integrated circuit memory device, at least part of operations of the integrated circuit memory device subsequent to establishing the local point-to-point wireless communication connection that is a radio communication connection; 
 managing, by the memory controller, at least part of the interaction between the integrated circuit memory device and the wireless computing device; 
 providing, by the integrated circuit memory device to the wireless computing device, identification associated with a device interface description; 
 accessing, by the memory controller, the protected data stored in the protected memory area; 
 operating, by the memory controller, at least part of an authentication algorithm that includes cryptography techniques for accessing the protected data stored in the protected memory area; 
 operating, by the memory controller, at least part of a decryption operation on the accessed protected data; 
 operating, by the memory controller, at least part of an encryption operation on the decrypted protected data for wireless transmission; and 
 wireless transmitting the encrypted protected data from the integrated circuit memory device over the local point-to-point wireless communication connection to the wireless computing device, 
 wherein the integrated circuit memory device function as a security key with the presence of the integrated circuit memory device for wireless transmitting the encrypted protected data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit memory device includes security for preventing cloning or piracy of the protected data for distribution and use, the security of the protected data is safeguarded, at least partly, by the combination of storing the protected data in the protected memory area of the integrated circuit memory device, the cryptography techniques, the decryption operation, the encryption operation, and the wireless transmission over the local point-to-point wireless communication connection. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit memory device is included in, or embodied as, a smart card, a dongle, a USB memory device, or a wireless communication device, individually or in any combination. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit memory device is further configured for discovering the wireless computing device for establishing a local point-to-point wireless communication connection. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  in which the wireless computing device is at least a reader. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a structural interface for connecting the integrated circuit memory device to a reader, a docket, a socket, or a port of a computing device, and the integrated circuit memory device is further configured for transmitting the protected data from the integrated circuit memory device over the structural interface and via a structural connection to the computing device. 
     
     
         7 . A security method for transmitting protected data stored in an integrated circuit memory device, the integrated circuit memory device having:
 a wireless interface that includes a radio component for establishing a local point-to-point wireless communication connection with a wireless computing device, the local point-to-point wireless communication connection being a radio communication connection,   a memory controller,   a memory component,   a protected memory area in the memory component storing protected data that is implemented to be not accessible by a user of the integrated circuit memory device, but is implemented to be accessible by the memory controller, the protected data includes data or software executable, individually or in any combination, and   an internal memory area in the memory component storing program that is implemented to be not accessible by the user, but is implemented to be accessible and executable by the memory controller to support at least part of the functionalities of the memory controller; the method comprising:
 establishing, by the integrated circuit memory device, a local point-to-point wireless communication connection between the integrated circuit memory device and the wireless computing device, the local point-to-point wireless communication connection being a radio communication connection; 
 activating, by the integrated circuit memory device, at least part of operations of the integrated circuit memory device subsequent to establishing the local point-to-point wireless communication connection that is a radio communication connection; 
 providing, by the integrated circuit memory device to the wireless computing device, identification associated with a device interface description; 
 accessing, by the memory controller, the protected data stored in the protected memory area; 
 operating, by the memory controller, at least part of a decryption operation on the accessed protected data; 
 operating, by the memory controller, at least part of an encryption operation on the decrypted protected data for wireless transmission; and 
 wireless transmitting the encrypted protected data from the integrated circuit memory device over the local point-to-point wireless communication connection to the wireless computing device, 
 wherein the integrated circuit memory device functions as a security key by requiring the presence of the integrated circuit memory device for wireless transmitting the encrypted protected data, and the security of the protected data is safeguarded at least by the storing of the protected data in the protected memory area of the integrated circuit memory device, by the encryption operation, and by the wireless transmission over the local point-to-point wireless communication connection. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising operating, by the memory controller, at least part of an authentication algorithm that includes cryptography techniques for accessing the protected data stored in the protected memory area. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the security of the protected data includes preventing cloning or piracy of the protected data, and the security is safeguarded at least by the storing of the protected data in the protected memory area of the integrated circuit memory device, by the cryptography techniques, by the decryption operation, by the encryption operation, and by the wireless transmission over the local point-to-point wireless communication connection. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the integrated circuit memory device is included in, or embodied as, a smart card, a dongle, a USB memory device, or a wireless communication device, individually or in any combination. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  in which the integrated circuit memory device is embodied as a smart card, and the wireless computing device is at least a reader. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  in which the integrated circuit memory device functions as a security key by storing a program in the internal memory that is implemented to be not accessible by the user, but is implemented to be accessible and executable by the memory controller, the program providing at least part of the operations of the memory controller that includes accessing the protected data stored in the protected memory area of the integrated circuit memory device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  in which the integrated circuit memory device further includes a structural interface for connecting the integrated circuit memory device to a reader, docket, socket, or port of a computing device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising transmitting the protected data, from the integrated circuit memory device over the structural interface and via a structural connection, to the wireless computing device. 
     
     
         15 . A wireless communication device that includes an integrated circuit memory device for storing protected data and a wireless component for transmitting the protected data, the wireless communication device comprising:
 a wireless interface that includes a radio component for establishing a local point-to-point wireless communication connection with a wireless computing device, the local point-to-point wireless communication connection being a radio communication connection;   a memory controller;   a memory component;   a protected memory area in the memory component storing protected data that is implemented to be not accessible by a user of the portable wireless communication, but is implemented to be accessible by the memory controller, the protected data includes data or software executable, individually or in any combination; and   an internal memory area in the memory component storing program that is not implemented to be accessible by the user but is implemented to be accessible and executable by the memory controller to support at least part of the functionalities of the memory controller;   wherein operations of the wireless communication device includes:
 means for establishing, by the wireless communication device, a local point-to-point wireless communication connection between the wireless communication and the wireless computing device, the local point-to-point wireless communication connection being a radio communication connection; 
 means for activating, by the wireless communication device, at least part of the operations of the wireless communication device subsequent to establishing the local point-to-point wireless communication connection that is a radio communication connection; 
 means for executing, by the memory controller, the program store in the internal memory, and the execution of the program by the memory controller manages:
 to access the protected data stored in the protected memory area, the accessing of the protected data stored in the protected memory area includes an authentication algorithm that includes cryptographic techniques, and 
 to encrypt at least part of the accessed protected data for wireless transmission; and 
 
 means for wireless transmitting the encrypted protected data from the wireless communication device over the local point-to-point wireless communication connection to the wireless computing device; and 
 means for the wireless communication device to function as a security key by requiring the presence of the wireless communication device for wireless transmission of the encrypted protected data. 
   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising providing, by the wireless communication device to the wireless computing device, identification associated a device interface description. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the security of the protected data includes preventing cloning or piracy of the protected data, and wherein security of the protected data is safeguarded, at least partly, by the storing of the protected data in the protected memory area of the integrated circuit memory device, by the cryptography techniques, by the encryption operation, and by the wireless transmission over the local point-to-point wireless communication connection. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the integrated circuit memory device is included in, or embodied as, a smart card, a dongle, a USB memory device, or a wireless communication device, individually or in any combination. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a structural interface for connecting the integrated circuit memory device to a reader, docket, socket, or port of a computing device. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein operations of the wireless communication device further comprises means for transmitting the protected data, from the integrated circuit memory device over the structural interface and via a structural connection, to the computing device.