Abstract: A mixed-mode signal detection apparatus suitable for ISO/IEC 14443 Type A and Type B RFID proximity card applications. The apparatus combines switched capacitor sampling and digital post processing to recover information from Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) modulated signals. A phase detector triggers a pulse generator, which is used to signal sample and hold units that store the peak value of each carrier signal cycle. The samples are used to form a discrete version of the modulation signal and are post-processed digitally to recover encoded signal information.

Abstract: A method of authenticating to a computer server involves a first authentication client transmitting an authentication token to the computer server via a first communications channel, and a second authentication client receiving a payload from the computer server via a second communications channel distinct from the first communications channel in accordance with an outcome of a determination of authenticity of the authentication token by the computer server.

Abstract: A method of effecting secure communication over a network begins by interfacing a hardware token with a computer host. The hardware token includes security software and communication software stored thereon. The security software is stored in a memory of the hardware token. The computer host has a memory distinct from the hardware token memory. The authenticity of the security software is determined on the hardware token. Upon successful validation of the authenticity of the security software on the hardware token, the authenticity of the communication software is determined by loading the security software from the hardware token memory into the computer host memory and executing the loaded security software from the computer host memory. After successful validation of the authenticity of the communication software, the computer host facilitates communication between the hardware token and a remote computer by executing the communication software from the computer host memory.