Methods and systems for authenticating a headset for a transportation vehicle

• US 10,445,492 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2019
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Watson, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Do, Khang
• Application Number:
  US16/374,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20190236264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 195 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3242 involving keyed hash functions, e.g. message authentication codes [MACs], CBC-MAC or HMAC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response

Abstract

Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. For example, one method includes storing a key on a device of a transportation vehicle and a headset; generating a challenge by the device using the key when the headset is connected to the device; presenting the challenge to the headset by the device; creating a response to the challenge by the headset; presenting the response to the device; validating the response by the device; and enabling a data line for the headset by the device when the response is valid.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a headset on an aircraft, the method comprising:

providing a response by the headset to a challenge received from a seat device of an entertainment system of the aircraft for authenticating the headset after the headset is connected to the seat device, the challenge and the response based on a shared key used by the seat device and the headset;

enabling further communication from the headset to the seat device, and the seat device to the headset, upon determining that the response is valid;

disabling further communication from the headset to the seat device upon determining that the response is invalid, while the headset continues to receive audio from the seat device to operate as a passive audio listening device; and

disabling by the seat device, a data line for the headset for receiving communication from the headset, after the headset is disconnected from the seat device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the challenge is generated by a management server of the aircraft using the shared key, the management server communicating with the seat device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the challenge is generated by a personal electronic device using the shared key, the personal electronic device paired to the seat device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an error message is generated by the seat device when the response is invalid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared key is stored at the seat device and the headset.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a power line to power the headset is enabled before the headset is authenticated by the seat device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the headset is connected to a universal serial bus (USB) port having the data line that is disabled by default, prior to authentication of the headset.

8. A non-transitory, machine readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions for performing a method for authenticating a headset on an aircraft, comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one machine, causes the machine to:

provide a response by the headset to a challenge received from a seat device of an entertainment system of the aircraft for authenticating the headset after the headset is connected to the seat device, the challenge and the response based on a shared key used by both the seat device and the headset;

enable further communication from the headset to the seat device, and the seat device to the headset, upon determining that the response is valid;

disable further communication from the headset to the seat device upon determining that the response is invalid, while the headset continues to receive audio from the seat device to operate as a passive audio listening device; and

disable by the seat device, a data line for the headset for receiving communication from the headset, after the headset is disconnected from the seat device.

9. The storage medium of claim 8, wherein the challenge is generated by a management server of the aircraft using the shared key, the management server communicating with the seat device.

10. The storage medium of claim 8, wherein the challenge is generated by a personal electronic device using the shared key, the personal electronic device paired to the seat device.

11. The storage medium of claim 8, wherein an error message is generated by the seat device when the response is invalid.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the shared key is stored at the seat device and the headset.

13. The storage medium of claim 8, wherein a power line to power the headset is enabled before the headset is authenticated by the seat device.

14. The storage medium of claim 8, wherein the headset is connected to a universal serial bus (USB) port having the data line that is disabled by default, prior to authentication of the headset.

15. A system comprising:

a seat device of an entertainment system of an aircraft including a memory containing machine readable medium comprising machine executable code; and

a processor module coupled to the memory, the processor module configured to execute the machine executable code; and

a headset including processing logic and a memory comprising machine executable code executed by the processing logic to provide a response to a challenge received from the seat device for authenticating the headset after the headset is connected to the seat device, the challenge and the response based on a shared key used by the seat device and the headset;

wherein the seat device;

enables further communication from the headset to the seat device, and the seat device to the headset, upon determining that the response is valid;

disables further communication from the headset to the seat device upon determining that the response is invalid, while the headset continues to receive audio from the seat device to operate as a passive audio listening device; and

disables a data line for the headset for receiving communication from the headset, after the headset is disconnected from the seat device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the seat device maintains a power line in an enabled state to power the headset, prior to authentication of the headset.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the challenge is generated by a management server using the shared key, the management server interfacing with the seat device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the challenge is generated by a personal electronic device using the shared key, the personal electronic device paired with the seat device.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the headset is connected to a universal serial bus (USB) port having the data line that is disabled by default, prior to authentication of the headset.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the shared key is stored by the seat device and the headset.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein an error message is generated by the seat device when the response is invalid.