Wireless communication

• US 10,432,261 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nordic Semiconductor ASA
• Original Assignee: Nordic Semiconductor ASA
• Inventors: Austad, Tore
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US15/577,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20180131408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411, 455 412
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• 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 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 Manipulation of direct-mode connections

Abstract

A method of transferring data between a first device and a second device comprises: bringing a first object into an activation zone of a near-field communication module so as thereby to establish a near-field communication link between the module and the first object. The near-field communication module sends a control signal to at least one of the first and second devices to begin a second communication session through a second, different channel between the first and second devices and the data is transferred between the first device and the second device in the second communication session. The second communication session is ended if the first object is removed from the activation zone.

Claims

1. A method of transferring data between a first device and a second device comprising:

bringing a first object into an activation zone of a near-field communication module so as thereby to establish a near-field communication link between said module and said first object;

said near-field communication module sending a control signal to at least one of said first and second device to change a second communication session through a second, different channel between said first and second devices from a first existing state to a second existing state;

transferring said data between said first device and said second device in said second communication session; and

changing said second communication session from the second existing state to the first existing state if said first object is removed from said activation zone.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising adjusting an output power associated with said second communication session according to a sensed proximity between said first object and said near-field communication module.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising adjusting a data transfer rate associated with said second communication session according to a sensed proximity between said first object and said near-field communication module.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising sending a status check signal on said near-field communication link to confirm that said first object is within the activation zone of said near-field communication module.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising sending an object identity check signal or a further object identity check signal on said near-field communication link to confirm the identity of said first object while the second communication channel is active.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising sending a near-field communication module identity check signal or a further near field communication module identity check signal on said near-field communication link to confirm the identity of said near field communication module while the second communication channel is active.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second communication session has a greater level of security than other communication links on said second channel.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second communication session comprises an encrypted connection between said first and second devices.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising sending one or more challenge-response parameters automatically over either of said first or second communication channels.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising utilising a near-field communication link to transfer a response to a challenge initiated on said second communication session.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising transferring further encryption keys over said encrypted connection.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, comprising transferring said further encryption keys upon request.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first device comprises said first object.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the near-field communication module comprises a standalone device that enables communications between the first and second devices.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second device comprises said near-field communication module.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising adjusting a data transfer rate associated with said second communication session according to a sensed proximity between said first object and said near-field communication module.

17. A system comprising a first device and a second device arranged to:

establish a near-field communication link between a near-field communication module and a first object when said first object is brought into an activation zone of said module;

send a control signal from said near-field communication module to at least one of said first and second device to begin a second communication session through a second, different channel between said first and second devices from a first existing state to a second existing state;

transfer data between said first device and said second device in said second communication session; and

change said second communication session from the second existing state to the first existing state if said first object is removed from said activation zone.

18. A near-field communication module arranged to:

establish a near-field communication link with a first object when said first object is brought into an activation zone of said module;

send a control signal to at least one of a first and second device to begin a second communication session through a second, different channel between said first and second devices from a first existing state to a second existing state; and

change said second communication session from the second existing state to the first existing state if said first object is removed from said activation zone.