Method and system for wireless digital communication

• US 20050135611A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hardacker, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/036,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135611A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• 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 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic

Abstract

Data such as high definition (HD) video may be sent from a transmitter such as a laptop computer to a receiver such as a video projector using a 60 GHz (and, hence, inherently directional, short range, and thus secure) forward channel wireless link. Encryption information such as encryption keys are also exchanged over the forward channel link. The encryption information is used to encrypt control signals that can be exchanged over a reverse channel link that may operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a transmitter of multimedia data; and

a receiver of multimedia data, the transmitter wirelessly transmitting the multimedia data on a forward channel link in the sixty GigaHertz (60 GHz) band, the transmitter and receiver exchanging encryption information on the forward channel link, the encryption information being used to protect data transmitted between the transmitter and receiver on a reverse channel link.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the reverse channel link is at approximately 2.4 GHz.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the encryption information is at least one encryption key and at least the transmitter or receiver uses the key to encrypt control information prior to sending the control information over the reverse channel link.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the encryption information is at least one unique identifier and at least the transmitter or receiver combines the unique identifier with control information prior to sending the control information over the reverse channel link.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the unique identifier is “

OR'"'"'ed”

with the control information prior to sending the control information over the reverse channel link.

6. A method for transmitting data, comprising:

establishing a forward channel link and a reverse channel link between a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, the forward channel link being inherently more directional and shorter range than the reverse channel link;

communicating encryption information over the forward channel link;

altering data using the encryption information; and

communicating the data over the reverse channel link.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the forward channel link is in the 60 GHz band and the reverse channel link has a frequency of between 1 GHz and 10 GHz, inclusive.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the reverse channel link has a frequency of 2.4 GHz.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the encryption information is at least one encryption key and at least the transmitter or receiver uses the key to encrypt control information prior to sending the control information over the reverse channel link.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the encryption information is at least one unique identifier and at least the transmitter or receiver combines the unique identifier with control information prior to sending the control information over the reverse channel link.

11. The method of claim 11, wherein the unique identifier is “

OR'"'"'ed”

with the control information prior to sending the control information over the reverse channel link.

12. A computer comprising:

means for communicating unencrypted multimedia data and encryption information using a wireless forward channel link in the 60 GHz band;

means for altering control information using the encryption information; and

means for communicating altered control information over a reverse channel link not in the 60 GHz band, wherein the altered control information cannot be easily used by a recipient without access to the encryption information.

13. The computer of claim 12, wherein the reverse channel link has a frequency of between 1 GHz and 10 GHz, inclusive.

14. The computer of claim 13, wherein the reverse channel link has a frequency of 2.4 GHz.

15. The computer of claim 12, wherein the encryption information is at least one encryption key and at least the transmitter or receiver uses the key to encrypt control information prior to sending the control information over the reverse channel link.

16. The computer of claim 12, wherein the encryption information is at least one unique identifier and the computer combines the unique identifier with control information prior to sending the control information over the reverse channel link.

17. The computer of claim 16, wherein the unique identifier is “

OR'"'"'ed”

with the control information prior to sending the control information over the reverse channel link.