Indirect device communication

• US 10,200,257 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Niemi, Sami
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sherif, Fatuma G
• Application Number:
  US13/808,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20130143498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,779 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/28 Restricting access to network management systems or functions, e.g. using authorisation function to access network configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

There is disclosed means for in a communications device enabling an indirect communications channel between the communications device and at least one further communications device. A data service selected from a set of data services is associated with an identity code. The identity code identifies the communications device. Data related to the identity code is transmitted to a server. The data is preferably transmitted through a radio-frequency based communications interface. The identity code is broadcasting during a predetermined period of time and intended to be received by the at least one further communications device. The broadcast is preferably transmitted through a short-range non-radio frequency based communications interface.

Claims

1. A method for establishing an indirect communication channel between a first communications device and at least one further communications device, comprising:

associating, in a processing unit of the first communications device, a data service selected from a set of data services with an identity code, the identity code identifying the first communications device and the identity code being temporarily unique during a predetermined period of time;

transmitting, by the first communications device through a first communications interface thereof, data related to the identity code to a server; and

broadcasting, by the first communications device through a second communications interface thereof, which is a different communications interface than the first communications interface, said identity code, the broadcast being intended to be received by multiple further communications devices to enable at least one further communications device to access a data service made available by the first communications device;

wherein the period of time for the temporary identity code is linked with the broadcasting of the first communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the at least one further communications device, data and thereto coupled authentication information;

evaluating, in the processing unit and based on the authentication information, whether or not the at least one further communications device shall access said data service; and

in response to a positive evaluation thereof, processing the received data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data service relates to a data service made available by the first communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the server and through the first communications interface, a request pertaining to whether or not the at least one further communications device shall be granted access to said data service;

evaluating, in the processing unit, whether or not the at least one further communications device shall be granted access to said data service; and

in response to a positive evaluation thereof, transmitting, through the first communications interface, a message to said server allowing the at least one further communications device to access said data service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the server and through the first communications interface, an acknowledgement confirming that the at least one further communications device has allowed the communications device to access said data service; and

accessing said data service by transmitting, through the first communications interface, a data service request message relating to said data service to the server.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the server and through the first communications interface, parameters relating to the identity code; and

generating, in the processing unit, the identity code based on said received parameters.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting code parameters based on at least one from a group of user input, time, position, and picture data; and

generating the identity code based on said code parameters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identity code itself identifies the data service associated therewith.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communications interface is a non-radio frequency transmitter interface.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communications interface is a user interface of the first communications device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user interface is arranged to display visual data and wherein the visual data defines the identity code.

12. A method for establishing an indirect communication channel between a first communications device and at least one further communications device, comprising:

receiving, by a first communications device from a second communications device through a second communications interface a broadcast comprising an identity code during a predetermined period of time, the identity code identifying the second communications device and the identity code being temporarily unique during a predetermined period of time, the broadcast being made available to multiple communication devices to enable at least one of the multiple communications devices to access a data service made available by the second communications device, wherein the period of time for the temporary identity code is linked with the broadcasting of the second communications device;

associating, in a processing unit of the first communications device, a data service selected from a set of data services with the identity code; and

transmitting, by the first communications device, through a first communications interface thereof, which is a different communications interface than the second communications interface, data related to the identity code to a server.

13. A communications device configured to establish an indirect communication channel between the communications device and at least one further communications device, comprising:

a processing unit of the communications device configured to associate a data service selected from a set of data services with an identity code, the identity code identifying the communications device and the identity code being temporarily unique during a predetermined period of time;

a transmitter configured to transmit, by the communications device through a first communications interface thereof, data related to the identity code to a server; and

a broadcasting unit configured to broadcast, by the communications device through a second communications interface thereof, which is a different communications interface than the first communications interface, said identity code, the broadcast intended to be received by multiple further communications devices to enable at least one further communications device to access a data service made available by the communications device;

wherein the period of time for the temporary identity code is linked with the broadcasting of the communications device.

14. The communications device of claim 13, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from the at least one further communications device, data and thereto coupled authentication information, wherein the processing unit is further configured to evaluate, based on the authentication information, whether or not the at least one further communications device shall access said data service, and in response to a positive evaluation thereof, processing the received data.

15. The communications device of claim 13, wherein the data service relates to a data service made available by the first communications device.

16. The communications device of claim 13, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from the server and through the first communications interface, a request pertaining to whether or not the at least one further communications device shall be granted access to said data service;

an evaluation unit configured to evaluate, whether or not the at least one further communications device shall be granted access to said data service, wherein, in response to a positive evaluation thereof, the transmitter is configured to transmit, through the first communications interface, a message to said server allowing the at least one further communications device to access said data service.

17. The communications device of claim 13, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from the server and through the first communications interface, an acknowledgement confirming that the at least one further communications device has allowed the communications device to access said data service;

wherein, the transmitter is further configured to access said data service by transmitting, through the first communications interface, a data service request message relating to said data service to the server.

18. The communications device of claim 13, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from the server and through the first communications interface, parameters relating to the identity code, wherein the processing unit is further configured to generate an identity code based on said received parameters.

19. The communications device of claim 13, further comprising:

an extraction unit configured to extract code parameters based on at least one from a group of user input, time, position, and picture data; and

a generation unit configured to generate the identity code based on said code parameters.

20. The communications device of claim 13, wherein the identity code itself identifies the data service associated therewith.