Position based enhanced security of wireless communications

• US 20050232425A1
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hughes, John M., Shoemake, Matthew Brendan, Schrum, Sidney Brower Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,208,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/122 Counter-measures against attacks; Protection against rogue devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent

Abstract

The convenience of a wireless network is tempered by the concern that a rogue device can listen in on the wireless communications. Determining the position of the home device and other devices within range allows the user of the home device to choose the specific wireless devices with which to communicate. The distance to the other devices within wireless communications range is helpful and allows the user to sort between safe and unsafe or rogue devices. Distance can be determined by a variety of methods including use of trusted references, signal strength, and error rate. Once the safe device is selected, the system will then establish a communications path with that device.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing the security of wireless communications from a home device comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying unique devices equipped to communicate with the home device;

(b) determining a distance to each unique device;

(c) selecting from a list of the unique devices; and

(d) establishing a communications path with the selected unique devices.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises querying the unique devices for information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises determining the distance to each of the identified devices from the home device using a signal strength.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises determining the distance to each of the identified devices from the home device using at least two trusted references.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises creating a log of each device detected.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises displaying a list to a user of unique devices.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprises allowing the user to select from the list.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises determining the distance to each of the identified devices from the home device using at least three trusted references.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises querying a user for a distance criteria.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises sorting the list according to a device type.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises sorting the list according to a distance.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises sorting the list according to a date stamp.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises determining if a selected device has an encryption key and authenticating that key.

14. A wireless network comprising:

(a) a home device;

(b) at least one additional wireless device;

wherein the network comprises means for identifying unique devices equipped to communicate with the home device, determining a distance to each unique device;

selecting from a list of the unique devices; and

establishing a communications path with the selected unique devices.

15. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein the network further comprises means for querying the at least one additional wireless device for information.

16. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein the network further comprises means for determining the distance to each of the identified devices from the home device using a signal strength.

17. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein the network comprises means for determining the distance to each of the identified devices from the home device using at least two trusted references.

18. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein the network further comprises means for creating a log of each device detected.

19. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein the network comprises means for displaying a list to a user of unique devices.

20. The wireless network of claim 19 further comprises allowing the user to select from the list.

21. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein the network comprises means for determining the distance to each of the identified devices from the home device using at least two trusted references.

22. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein the network further comprises means for querying a user for a distance criteria.

23. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein the network further comprises means for sorting the list according to a device type.

24. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein the network further comprises means for sorting the list according to a distance.

25. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein the network further comprises means for sorting the list according to a date stamp.

26. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein the network comprises means for determining if a selected device has an encryption key and authenticating that key.

27. The wireless network of claim 14 wherein the means to select a device further comprises a display for showing the location of the device.

28. A method of enhancing the security of wireless communications from a home device comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a handshake signal from a plurality of wireless devices,

(b) identifying a position attribute for each of the wireless devices;

(c) querying the user for a sorting criteria.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprises

(d) displaying only those wireless devices that meet the sorting criteria.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein step (c) comprises selecting a default sorting criteria.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein step (c) comprise applying no sorting criteria.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein step (b) comprises identifying a distance to the wireless device.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein step (b) comprises identifying if the wireless device is moving.

34. The method of claim 28 further comprises:

(d) establishing a communications path with the selected wireless device.

35. The method of claim 28 further comprises prompting a user to connect a wireless device based on its distance.

36. The method of claim 33 further comprises prompting a user to connect to a wireless device depending on if the wireless device is coming closer or moving away.

37. The method of claim 28 further comprising excluding a wireless device based on an absolute location that is established via other fixed references.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein step (d) further comprises exchanging an encryption key only with a wireless device within a predetermined distance.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein step (d) further comprises turning down a transmission power to limit the distance that a wireless signal can be detected by the wireless devices.