EHF secure communication device

• US 10,602,363 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2018
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Keyssa, Inc.
• Inventors: McCormak, Gary Davis, Kyles, Ian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rahim, Monjur
• Application Number:
  US15/862,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20180146379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 713168
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49171 Fan-out arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73265 Layer and wire connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/3128 the substrate having spherical bumps for external connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]

Abstract

A communication device employs a contactless secure communication interface to transmit and receive data with a computing device using close proximity extremely high frequency (EHF) communication. The communication device and the computing device periodically initiate a discovery operation mode, whereby the devices periodically transmit identifying information about the respective devices and listen for identifying information from the other device. Upon completion of the discovery mode operation, the devices enter a link-training operation mode and exchange capability information about the respective devices. During transport mode operation the communication device employs methods to manage access to data stored on the communication device by encrypting the data using one or a combination of training information or capability information as a basis for generating an encryption key.

Claims

1. A method comprising, by a first communication device:

exchanging first information via wireless communication with a second communication device;

calculating a round-trip propagation time of the first information traveling to and from the second communication device, wherein the calculated round-trip propagation time is an average of multiple calculations of round-trip propagation time of the first information traveling to and from the second communication device;

generating an encryption key based at least in part on the calculated round-trip propagation time; and

exchanging second information via wireless communication with the second communication device, the exchanging includes at least one of;

encrypting, using the encryption key, the second information sent to the second communication device, and

decrypting, using the encryption key, the second information received from the second communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information is unencrypted.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, by the first communication device, generating an indication of proximity of the second communication device based at least in part on the calculated round-trip propagation time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein exchanging the first information via wireless communication with the second communication device includes exchanging the first information via an extremely high frequency (EHF) signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the exchanging includes encrypting, using the encryption key, the second information sent to the second communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the exchanging includes decrypting, using the encryption key, the second information received from the second communication device.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a first device configured to;

exchange first information via wireless communication with a second device;

calculate a round-trip propagation time of the first information traveling to and from the second device, wherein the calculated round-trip propagation time is an average of multiple calculations of round-trip propagation time of the first information traveling to and from the second communication device;

generate an encryption key based at least in part on the calculated round-trip propagation time; and

exchange second information via wireless communication with the second device, the exchange including at least one of;

encrypting, using the encryption key, the second information sent to the second device, and

decrypting, using the encryption key, the second information received from the second device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first information is unencrypted.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first device is further configured to generate an indication of proximity of the second device relative to the first device based at least in part on the calculated round-trip propagation time.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first device configured to exchange the first information via wireless communication with the second device includes exchanging the first information via the wireless signals are an extremely high frequency (EHF) signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the exchange includes encrypting, using the encryption key, the second information sent to the second device.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the exchange includes decrypting, using the encryption key, the second information received from the second device.

13. A method comprising, by a first communication device:

exchanging first information with a second communication device;

calculating a round-trip propagation time of the first information traveling to and from the second communication device, wherein the calculated round-trip propagation time is an average of multiple calculations of round-trip propagation time of the first information traveling to and from the second communication device;

generating an encryption key based at least in part on the calculated round-trip propagation time; and

exchanging second information with the second communication device, the exchanging includes at least one of;

encrypting, using the encryption key, the second information sent to the second communication device, and

decrypting, using the encryption key, the second information received from the second communication device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first information is unencrypted.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising, by the first communication device, generating an indication of proximity of the second communication device based at least in part on the calculated round-trip propagation time.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first information is exchanged using an extremely high frequency (EHF) signal.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the exchanging includes encrypting, using the encryption key, the second information sent to the second communication device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the exchanging includes decrypting, using the encryption key, the second information received from the second communication device.