Power charger authorization for a user equipment via a cryptographic handshake

• US 10,318,722 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Goldberg, Itzhack, McGregor, Harry R., Mesika, Yossi, Moore, Christopher B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parsons, Theodore C
• Application Number:
  US15/338,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20180121684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/45 Structures or tools for the administration of authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/81 by operating on the power supply, e.g. enabling or disabling power-on, sleep or resume operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• 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: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3234 involving additional secure or trusted devices, e.g. TPM, smartcard, USB or software token network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using an additional device in a packet data network H04L63/0853

Abstract

Embodiments for using power charge management authorization for a user equipment (UE) by a processor. A power charging session is authorized by firmware of the UE for charging the UE using a cryptographic handshake between the UE and a power charging station.

Claims

1. A method for using power charge management authorization for a user equipment (UE) with secured power charging stations by a processor, comprising:

authorizing a power charging session by firmware of the UE for charging the UE using a cryptographic handshake between the UE and a power charging station, the power charging station comprising a power supply brick receiving power from an outlet;

wherein the cryptographic handshake uses a physical authentication token to authorize the power charging session, the physical authentication token comprising at least one of a Near Field Communication (NFC) sticker, a quick response (QR) code sticker, and a barcode sticker placed on or substantially near the power charging station; and

wherein the authorizing further includes validating that a current geographic location of the UE is within an authorized geographic location on an approved list of authorized power charging stations stored in a database associated with the UE; and

allowing an unauthorized charging session, prior to the authorizing, to charge the UE up to a pre-authorized charging limit comprising a predetermined percentage of charged capacity of the UE;

wherein the unauthorized charging session is allowed prior to the authorizing upon detecting, by the firmware of the UE, that an unauthorized power charging source has been connected to the UE.

2. The method of claim 1, further including querying, by the UE, the power charging station for a cryptographic identification token.

3. The method of claim 1, further including entering a unique password into an application of the UE for adding the power charging station to the approved list of authorized power charging stations.

4. The method of claim 3, further including synchronizing the database with the power charging station added to the approved list of authorized power charging stations, wherein the approved list of authorized power charging stations is encrypted.

5. The method of claim 1, further including requiring a re-authorization of a subsequent power charging session by firmware of the UE for charging the UE upon detecting a termination or disconnection of the power charging session.

6. A system for using power charge management authorization for a user equipment (UE) with secured power charging stations, comprising:

a hardware processor that;

authorizes a power charging session by firmware of the UE for charging the UE using a cryptographic handshake between the UE and a power charging station, the power charging station comprising a power supply brick receiving power from an outlet;

wherein the cryptographic handshake uses a physical authentication token to authorize the power charging session, the physical authentication token comprising at least one of a Near Field Communication (NFC) sticker, a quick response (QR) code sticker, and a barcode sticker placed on or substantially near the power charging station; and

wherein the authorizing further includes validating that a current geographic location of the UE is within an authorized geographic location on an approved list of authorized power charging stations stored in a database associated with the UE; and

allows an unauthorized charging session, prior to the authorizing, to charge the UE up to a pre-authorized charging limit comprising a predetermined percentage of charged capacity of the UE;

wherein the unauthorized charging session is allowed prior to the authorizing upon detecting, by the firmware of the UE, that an unauthorized power charging source has been connected to the UE.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor queries, by the UE, the power charging station for a cryptographic identification token.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor enters a unique password into an application of the UE for adding the power charging station to the approved list of authorized power charging stations.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor synchronizes the database with the power charging station added to the approved list of authorized power charging stations, wherein the approved list of authorized power charging stations is encrypted.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor requires a re-authorization of a subsequent power charging session by firmware of the UE for charging the UE upon detecting a termination or disconnection of the power charging session.

11. A computer program product for using power charge management authorization for a user equipment (UE) with secured power charging stations of a user by a processor, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion that authorizes a power charging session by firmware of the UE for charging the UE using a cryptographic handshake between the UE and a power charging station, the power charging station comprising a power supply brick receiving power from an outlet;

wherein the cryptographic handshake uses a physical authentication token to authorize the power charging session, the physical authentication token comprising at least one of a Near Field Communication (NFC) sticker, a quick response (QR) code sticker, and a barcode sticker placed on or substantially near the power charging station; and

wherein the authorizing further includes validating that a current geographic location of the UE is within an authorized geographic location on an approved list of authorized power charging stations stored in a database associated with the UE; and

an executable portion that allows an unauthorized charging session, prior to the authorizing, to charge the UE up to a pre-authorized charging limit comprising a predetermined percentage of charged capacity of the UE;

wherein the unauthorized charging session is allowed prior to the authorizing upon detecting, by the firmware of the UE, that an unauthorized power charging source has been connected to the UE.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further including an executable portion that queries, by the UE, the power charging station for a cryptographic identification token.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, further including an executable portion that

enters a unique password into an application of the UE for adding the power charging station to the approved list of authorized power charging stations.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, further including an executable portion that synchronizes the database with the power charging station added to the approved list of authorized power charging stations, wherein the approved list of authorized power charging stations is encrypted.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, further including an executable portion that requires a re-authorization of a subsequent power charging session by firmware of the UE for charging the UE upon detecting a termination or disconnection of the power charging session.