Techniques for establishing secure electronic communication between parties using wireless mobile devices

• US 20060046692A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Jelinek, Lenka M., Sanvitale, Dean J.
• Application Number:
  US10/928,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20060046692A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• 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 9/0825 using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0827 involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths network architectures or network communication protocols using different networks H04L63/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/12 Transmitting and receiving encryption devices synchronised or initially set up in a particular manner
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6045 Identity confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/16 with lock-out or secrecy provision in party-line systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0471 Key exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

Use of electronic devices to communicate using a cryptographic key that has been exchanged by parties using mobile wireless devices. Two or more individuals may exchange identification information using a short-range wireless protocol so that the individuals may physically see and verify each other'"'"'s identities, which may eliminate the need for a trusted third party to be involved in a security key exchange.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing, with a local electronic device, a wireless communication session with a remote electronic device using a short-range wireless protocol;

receiving a security key with the local electronic device from the remote electronic device without use of a trusted key authority using the short-range wireless protocol;

transmitting, with the local electronic device, the security key from the remote electronic device to an other electronic device; and

using the other electronic device to engage in secure communications using the security key.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to a Bluetooth standard.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to an IEEE 802.11 standard.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the local electronic device comprises a cellular telephone.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the local electronic device comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the security key with the local electronic device from the remote electronic device comprises receiving data formatted as a vCard that includes the security key.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting, with the local electronic device, the security key from the remote electronic de-vice to an other electronic device comprises distributing the security key to up to a pre-selected number of electronic devices.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the local electronic device transmits the security key to the other electronic device without use of a trusted key authority.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a control circuit;

a memory coupled with the control circuit to store a security key;

a wireless receiver coupled with the control circuit and the memory to receive the security key from a remote wireless device in response to a first predetermined user input, wherein the security key is received via communications using a short-range wireless protocol, and further wherein the security key is received without use of a trusted key authority; and

a wireless transmitter coupled with the control circuit and the memory to transmit the security key to an other electronic device in response to a second predetermined user input without use of a trusted key authority.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to a Bluetooth standard.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to an IEEE 802.11 standard.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the security key is received as data formatted as a vCard that includes the security key.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the control circuit limits distribution of the security key to up to a pre-selected number of electronic devices.

14. An article comprising a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

establish, with a local electronic device, a wireless communication session with a remote electronic device using a short-range wireless protocol;

receive a security key with the local electronic device from the remote electronic device without use of a trusted key authority using the short-range wireless protocol;

transmit, with the local electronic device, the security key from the remote electronic device to an other electronic device; and

use the other electronic device to engage in secure communications using the security key.

15. The article of claim 14 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to a Bluetooth standard.

16. The article of claim 14 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to an IEEE 802.11 standard.

17. The article of claim 14 wherein the local electronic device comprises a cellular telephone.

18. The article of claim 14 wherein the local electronic device comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

19. The article of claim 14 wherein the instructions that cause the one or more processors to receive the security key with the local electronic device from the remote electronic device comprise instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to receive data formatted as a vCard that includes the security key.

20. The article of claim 14 wherein the instructions that cause the one or more processors to transmit, with the local electronic device, the security key from the remote electronic device to an other electronic device comprise instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to distribute the security key to up to a pre-selected number of electronic devices.

21. The article of claim 14 wherein the local electronic device transmits the security key to the other electronic device without use of a trusted key authority.

22. A system comprising:

one or more substantially omni-directional antennae;

a control circuit;

a memory coupled with the control circuit to store a security key;

a wireless receiver coupled with the control circuit, at least one of the antennae and the memory to receive the security key from a remote wireless device in response to a first predetermined user input, wherein the security key is received via communications using a short-range wireless protocol, and further wherein the security key is received without use of a trusted key authority; and

a wireless transmitter coupled with the control circuit, at least one of the antennae and the memory to transmit the security key to an other electronic device in response to a second predetermined user input without use of a trusted key authority.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to a Bluetooth standard.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to an IEEE 802.11 standard.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the security key is received as data formatted as a vCard that includes the security key.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the control circuit limits distribution of the security key to up to a pre-selected number of electronic devices.

27. A method comprising:

establishing, with a local cellular-enabled electronic device, a wireless communication session with a remote cellular-enabled electronic device using a non-cellular, short-range wireless protocol;

receiving a security key with the local cellular-enabled electronic device from the remote cellular-enabled electronic device without use of a trusted key authority using the non-cellular, short-range wireless protocol;

transmitting, with the local cellular-enabled electronic device, the security key from the remote cellular-enabled electronic device to an other electronic device without use of a trusted key authority; and

using the other electronic device to engage in secure communications using the security key.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to a Bluetooth standard.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to an IEEE 802.11 standard.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the local electronic device comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

31. A method comprising:

establishing, with a local mobile electronic device, a wireless communication session with a remote mobile electronic device using a short-range wireless protocol and utilizing a security key;

receiving a identifying information corresponding to an electronic device with the local mobile electronic device from the remote mobile electronic device;

transmitting, with the local mobile electronic device, the identifying information from the remote mobile electronic device to an other electronic device; and

using the other electronic device to engage in communications with the electronic device corresponding to the identifying information.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the identifying information comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the electronic device corresponding to the identifying information.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to a Bluetooth standard.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to an IEEE 802.11 standard.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the local mobile electronic device comprises a cellular telephone.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein the local mobile electronic device comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

37. An article comprising a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

establish, with a local cellular-enabled electronic device, a wireless communication session with a remote cellular-enabled electronic device using a short-range wireless protocol and utilizing a security key;

receive a identifying information corresponding to an electronic device with the local cellular-enabled electronic device from the remote cellular-enabled electronic device;

transmit, with the local cellular-enabled electronic device, the identifying information from the remote cellular-enabled electronic device to an other electronic device; and

use the other electronic device to,engage in communications with the electronic device corresponding to the identifying information.

38. The article of claim 37 wherein the identifying information comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the electronic device corresponding to the identifying information.

39. The article of claim 37 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to a Bluetooth standard.

40. The article of claim 37 wherein the short-range wireless protocol conforms to an IEEE 802.11 standard.

41. The article of claim 37 wherein the local cellular-enabled electronic device comprises a cellular telephone.

42. The article of claim 37 wherein the local cellular-enabled electronic device comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).