Automatic resource availability using Bluetooth

• US 20060199537A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eisenbach, Andre
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system for automatically sharing data resources between Bluetooth devices. A Bluetooth device is paired with a “trusted” Bluetooth device. When paired devices are found, the Bluetooth device automatically allows the other device to present a virtual representation of data that is shared. The shared data can be selectively downloaded for use by the other device as long as the devices are in proximity. In an alternate embodiment, the devices may share pairing information with a network, so that the same shared resource can be made available at a large number of access points but specifically only for one paired, trusted device.

Claims

1. A method of sharing data on Bluetooth devices comprising:

a. pairing a first Bluetooth device and a second Bluetooth device;

b. designating said second Bluetooth device as a trusted device;

c. designating a resource available to said second Bluetooth device as sharable with said first Bluetooth device;

d. determining when said second Bluetooth device is in proximity with said first Bluetooth device, and;

e. automatically making said shared resource available on said first Bluetooth device.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising pairing said first Bluetooth device with a plurality of second Bluetooth devices.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first Bluetooth device deletes said shared resource when said second Bluetooth device is no longer in proximity.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said shared resource is an address book.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said shared resource is never entirely copied onto said first Bluetooth device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a second shared resource for said second Bluetooth device is designated on said first Bluetooth device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said second device propagates pairing information to a network of devices, each of which is allowed to make said shared resource available on said first Bluetooth device.

8. A system for automatically sharing resources on Bluetooth devices, comprising two paired Bluetooth devices, wherein a first one of said devices is paired with a second one of said devices, said second device has data designated as sharable with said first device, and said first device automatically presents a virtual representation of said sharable data to the user of said first device when said first and second devices are in proximity to each other.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the system includes a plurality of second devices.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said first device deletes said virtual representation when said first and second devices are no longer in proximity.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said shared data is an address book.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said shared data is never entirely loaded onto said first device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said first device also contains a resource shared with said second device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said second device propagates the pairing information for said first device to a network, whereon a plurality of devices are each allowed to share said shared resource with said first device.

15. An integrated circuit in a Bluetooth device, said integrated circuit including an application layer that performs the method comprising:

a. pairing with a second Bluetooth device;

b. detecting the proximity of a said second Bluetooth device; and

c. presenting a virtual data appearance for shared data designated by said second device as sharable with said Bluetooth device.

16. The integrated circuit of claim 15, wherein the integrated circuit is paired with a plurality of second devices.

17. The integrated circuit of claim 15, wherein said integrated circuit deletes said virtual representation when said second device is no longer in proximity.

18. The integrated circuit of claim 15, wherein said shared data is an address book.

19. The integrated circuit of claim 15, wherein said shared data is never entirely loaded by said integrated circuit.

20. The integrated circuit of claim 15, wherein said integrated circuit makes a resource available to said second device.