Wireless secure device

• US 20020080967A1
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Abdo, Samer, Bodenmann, Olivier, Ambuehl, Rolf
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0819 Key transport or distribution, i.e. key establishment techniques where one party creates or otherwise obtains a secret value, and securely transfers it to the other(s) network architectures or network communication protocols for key distribution in a packet data network H04L63/062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response

Abstract

A method and apparatus for securely connecting one or more wireless peripheral devices such as keyboards, mice, gamepads, remote controllers, joysticks and one or more host systems such as personal computers or workstations, the secure connection reducing the vulnerability of wireless communications between a wireless peripheral device and a host system to accidental or malicious interference or eavesdropping.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of securely connecting a wireless peripheral device to a host system comprising:

generating an encryption key and a transmission sequence, where the transmission sequence includes a first portion that represents the encryption key and a second portion that is a confirmation sequence;

receiving an input from the wireless peripheral device, wherein the input includes an encrypted input portion encrypted by the wireless peripheral device using an encryption key the wireless peripheral device generated from the first portion of the transmission sequence;

decrypting the encrypted input portion using the encryption key; and

determining if the decrypted input portion matches the second portion of the transmission sequence that is a confirmation sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the decrypted input portion matches the second portion of the transmission sequence, using the encryption key to decrypt a plurality of encrypted reports received from the wireless peripheral device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating an encryption key and a transmission sequence further comprises displaying the transmission sequence.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication between the wireless peripheral device and the host system is unidirectional.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless peripheral device is a wireless keyboard.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to generating an encryption key,

receiving a password required to begin the process of securely connecting the wireless peripheral device to the host system;

receiving the password prior to terminating an established connection; and

if the password is not received prior to the termination of a secure connection, notifying a user that the established secure connection has been terminated without authorization.

6. A computer implemented method of securely connecting a wireless peripheral device to a host system comprising:

receiving an input including a first input portion and a second input portion;

generating an encryption key from the first input portion;

encrypting the second input portion with the encryption key; and

transmitting the encrypted second input portion to the host system.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising prior to receiving the input, the host system generates and displays a transmission sequence.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the input received matches the transmission sequence generated and displayed by the host system.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmission sequence includes a first portion, which represents the encryption key, and a second portion that is a confirmation sequence.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein a user enters the input.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprises prior to receiving the input:

receiving a request to establish a secure connection; and

transmitting the request to the host system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the request comprises a user activating a connection mechanism located on the wireless peripheral device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless peripheral device further comprises a connection mechanism for initiating a secure connection process.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the host system further comprises a display unit for displaying the transmission sequence such that a user can view the transmission sequence and enter the matching input into the wireless peripheral device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein communication between the wireless peripheral device and the host system is unidirectional.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless peripheral device is a wireless keyboard.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a means for initiating a secure connection process.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising a means for displaying the transmission sequence.

13. A computer implemented system for securely connecting a wireless peripheral device to a host system comprising:

the wireless peripheral device including;

a signal generator for generating an input, wherein the input matches a transmission sequence, and the input includes a first input portion matching a first portion of the transmission sequence, and a second input portion matching a second portion of the transmission sequence;

an encryption module for generating an encryption key from the first input portion, and for encrypting the second input portion with the encryption key; and

a transmitter for transmitting the encrypted second input portion to the host system; and

the host system having;

a receiver for receiving data from the wireless peripheral device;

a signal generator for generating the encryption key and the transmission sequence, wherein the transmission sequence includes a first portion representing the encryption key and a second portion; and

a decryption module for decrypting the encrypted second sequence, and for determining if the decrypted second input portion matches the second portion of the transmission sequence.

19. A computer implemented system for securely connecting a wireless peripheral device to a host system comprising:

means for generating an encryption key and a transmission sequence, where the transmission sequence includes a first portion that represents an encryption key and a second portion;

means for transmitting an input, wherein the input includes an encrypted input portion encrypted by the wireless peripheral device using an encryption key the wireless peripheral device generated from the first portion of the transmission sequence;

means for decrypting the encrypted input portion using the encryption key; and

means for determining if the decrypted input portion matches the second portion of the transmission sequence.

22. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for a method of securely connecting a wireless peripheral device to a host system, the method comprising:

generating an encryption key and a transmission sequence, where the transmission sequence includes a first portion that represents an encryption key and a second portion;

receiving an input from the wireless peripheral device, wherein the input includes an encrypted input portion encrypted by the wireless peripheral device using an encryption key the wireless peripheral device generated from the first portion of the transmission sequence;

decrypting the encrypted input portion using the encryption key; and

determining if the decrypted input portion matches the second portion of the transmission sequence.

23. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions of the method of claim 22, wherein in response to the decrypted input portion matches the second portion of the transmission sequence, using the encryption key to decrypt a plurality of encrypted reports received from the wireless peripheral device.

24. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions of the method of claim 22, wherein generating an encryption key and a transmission sequence further comprises displaying the transmission sequence.