Techniques for authenticating devices in wireless power delivery environments

• US 10,181,760 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2016
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ossia, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ossia, Inc.
• Inventors: Zeine, Hatem, Renneberg, Benjamin Todd, El-Rukby, Fady
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US15/297,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20170110910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 308104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

Techniques are described for authenticating device in wireless power delivery environments. In some embodiments, a request for energy delivery is received from devices. The request may include an identifier, e.g., a client identification (ID). The charger may query a remotely located authentication platform via a network with the client ID. The authentication platform compares the client ID against devices that have been registered within the system. If the device is properly provisioned, the authentication platform may return an acceptance of authentication to the charger. In addition to device authentication, the current disclosure covers the ability to control the environment within a wireless network, and perform system diagnostics by monitoring the network environment.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating devices in a wireless power delivery environment, the method comprising:

receiving a request for wireless power initiated by a device in the wireless power delivery environment,

wherein the request includes a client identification (ID);

communicating a query including the client ID to a remote authentication platform for obtaining an authentication status of the device;

receiving the authentication status of the device,

wherein the authentication status includes an authentication period during which the device is authenticated; and

when the authentication status indicates that the device is authenticated, providing wireless power to the device during the authentication period in accordance with a power delivery schedule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication period comprises one or more of a start time and an end time or a start time and a duration.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the query including the client ID.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

provisioning the device on the authentication platform, wherein the provisioning includes registering the client ID.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a notification including an information allowance selection to the device;

collecting information contained in the information allowance selection; and

registering the collected information with the authentication platform.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the notification includes a webpage enabling the device to directly register with the authentication platform, and wherein the allowance section comprises privacy setting configurations.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the notification requires entry of an access code.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the access code comprises a code that is one or more of printed on a receipt, printed on a product, scan-able, or activated at a point-of-sale.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the wireless power includes transmitting energy as one or more of radio frequency (RF) signals, pressure waves, or photonic waves.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting usage patterns associated with the device; and

updating the power delivery schedule based on the usage patterns.

11. An apparatus comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, wherein the program instruction, when executed by a processing system, direct the processing system to;

process a request for wireless power initiated by a device in the wireless power delivery environment to identify a client identification (ID) corresponding to the device;

communicate a query including the client ID to a remote authentication platform for obtaining an authentication status of the device;

receive the authentication status of the device,

wherein the authentication status includes an authentication period during which the device is authenticated; and

when the authentication status indicates that the device is authenticated, modify a power delivery schedule to include the device during the authentication period.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the authentication period comprises one or more of a start time and an end time or a start time and a duration of the authentication period.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processing system, further direct the processing system to generate the query including the client ID.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processing system, further direct the processing system to:

provision the device on the authentication platform, wherein the provisioning includes registering the client ID.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processing system, further direct the processing system to:

provide a notification including an information allowance selection to the device;

collect information contained in the information allowance selection; and

register the collected information with the authentication platform.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the notification includes a webpage enabling the device to directly register with the authentication platform, and wherein the allowance section comprises privacy setting configurations.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the notification requires entry of an access code.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the access code comprises a code that is one or more of printed on a receipt, printed on a product, scan-able, or activated at a point-of-sale.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein providing the wireless power includes transmitting energy as one or more of radio frequency (RF) signals, pressure waves, or photonic waves.

20. A wireless power transmission system, comprising:

an adaptively-phased antenna array having multiple radio frequency (RF) transceivers;

control circuitry configured to;

process a request for wireless power initiated by a device in a wireless power delivery environment to identify a client identification (ID) corresponding to the device;

communicate a query including the client ID to a remote authentication platform for obtaining an authentication status of the device;

receive the authentication status of the device, wherein the authentication status includes an authentication period during which the device is authenticated; and

when the authentication status indicates that the device is authenticated, modify a power delivery schedule to include the device during the authentication period.