Physical device bonding

• US 20050044372A1
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Aull, Randall E., Thompson, Bernard J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,822,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1441 Countermeasures against malicious traffic countermeasures against attacks on cryptographic mechanisms H04L9/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

A system and/or method that facilitates the installation and/or authentication of a device by invoking installation protocols and/or authentication protocols for a non-physical connection. A physical interface component provides a physical connection between at least one wireless device and at least one network entity in which the installation protocols and/or authentication protocols can be exchanged. The physical interface component can utilize a token key to establish multiple non-physical connections with multiple wireless devices. Additionally, the physical interface component can utilize a daisy chain scheme to install and/or authenticate a wireless device.

Claims

1. A physical device bonding system that facilitates device installation and/or authentication comprising:

a physical interface component that physically couples at least two devices; and

an invocation component that invokes an installation protocol and/or an authentication protocol for a non-physical connection upon the at least two devices physically coupling.

2. The system of claim 1, the at least two devices further comprising at least one wireless device and at least one network entity.

3. The system of claim 1, the installation protocol and/or the authentication protocol invokes the installation and/or authentication during a physical connection.

4. The system of claim 1, the installation protocol and/or the authentication protocol is utilized to invoke installation and/or authentication after a physical connection is disengaged.

5. The system of claim 1, the system infers installation protocols and/or authentication protocols to establish the non-physical connection between a wireless device and a network entity.

6. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising:

the invocation component utilizes a daisy chain scheme to invoke the installation protocol and/or authentication protocol for the non-physical connection.

7. The system of claim 1, the physical interface component further comprising:

a token key that stores the installation and/or authentication protocols of at least one wireless device during the physical connection between the wireless device and the physical interface component, the token key facilitates invocation of the installation protocol and/or authentication protocol for the at least one wireless device during the physical connection between the physical interface component and a network entity, such that a non-physical connection is established between the at least one wireless device and the network entity.

8. The system of claim 1, the physical interface is at least one of or a combination of the following:

a human;

a cradle;

a dock;

a cord;

a wand;

a wire; and

a touch pad.

9. The system of claim 8, the touch-pad comprising a conductive material.

10. The system of claim 1, the physical interface is a universal serial bus (USB) cable.

11. The system of claim 7, the non-physical connection is at least one of:

a wireless connection;

an optical connection; and

an infrared connection.

31. A computer readable medium that has stored thereon the computer executable components of claim 1.

12. A physical device bonding system, comprising:

a physical interface component that provides a physical connection between a device and a network entity; and

an invocation component that invokes device installation and/or authentication to a non-physical connection via at least one of an installation protocol(s) and authentication protocol(s).

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising an artificial intelligence component that utilizes a user profile to infer installation protocols and/or authentication protocols.

14. The system of claim 12, the physical interface component provides a plurality of physical connections between multiple devices and at least one network entity.

15. The system of claim 14, the physical interface component comprises a plurality of device installation and/or authentication protocol(s) that provides the installation and/or authentication of a plurality of non-physical connections.

16. The system of claim 15, the non-physical connections between the plurality of devices and the at least one network entity are independent and separate.

17. The system of claim 12, the device is at least one of a wireless adapter;

a wireless speaker;

a wireless headset;

a wireless keyboard;

a wireless mouse;

a wireless monitor;

a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA);

a wireless access point; and

a wireless MP3 player.

18. The system of claim 12, the network entity is at least one of a personal computer;

a laptop computer;

a music source;

a router; and

a host to a wireless device.

19. The system of claim 12, the network entity is a host to a wireless device.

20. A physical device bonding system that facilitates device installation and/or authentication comprising:

a USB cable to invoke an installation protocol and/or an authentication protocol for a wireless connection between an at least one wireless device and an at least one network entity.

21. The system of claim 20, the USB cable utilizes a daisy chain scheme to physically connect to the at least one wireless device to establish the wireless connection.

22. The system of claim 20, the USB cable utilizes a token key to install and/or authenticate a plurality of wireless devices.

23. A physical device bonding system, comprising:

a physical interface component that provides a physical connection between a device and a network entity,

an invocation component that exchanges at least one installation protocol and/or at least one authentication protocol to invoke device installation and/or authentication to a non-physical connection, the invocation component utilizes a daisy chain scheme to exchange the installation protocols and/or authentication protocols; and

a security component that transmits authentication information without user interaction.

24. A physical device bonding system, comprising:

a physical interface component provides a physical connection between a device and a network entity;

the physical interface component contains at least one installation protocol and/or at least one authentication protocol that invokes device installation and/or authentication to a non-physical connection;

a token key to install and/or authenticate a plurality of wireless devices by invoking the installation and/or authentication protocols after the physical connection between the wireless device and the physical interface component.

25. A physical device bonding method that facilitates device installation and/or authentication comprising:

physically connecting at least one wireless device and at least one network entity; and

exchanging an installation protocol and/or an authentication protocol to establish a non-physical connection between the at least one wireless device and at least one network entity.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising establishing the non-physical connection during a physical connection.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising establishing the non-physical connection after a physical connection.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising utilizing an artificial intelligence technique to facilitate installation and/or authentication of a device.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising employing a token key to provide installation and/or authentication of multiple devices to at least one network entity.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising utilizing a daisy chain scheme to provide the installation protocols and/or authentication protocols to establish the non-physical connection.

32. A computer readable medium that has stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 25.

33. A data packet that passes between at least two computer processes, comprising:

a first field that stores at least one installation protocol, the installation protocol invoking the installation of a non-physical connection between at least one wireless device and at least one network entity; and

a second field that stores at least one authentication protocol, the authentication protocol invoking the authentication of a non-physical connection between at least one wireless device and at least one network entity.

34. The data packet in claim 33, further comprising:

the authentication protocol being an integral part of the installation protocol.

35. A physical device bonding system that facilitates device installation and/or authentication comprising:

means for establishing a physical connection between at least two devices; and

means for invoking an installation and/or authentication protocol for a non-physical connection upon at least two devices being physically coupled.