Keytote component

• US 20070208930A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Atkinson, Robert, Blank, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/150
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• 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 9/0838 Key agreement, i.e. key establishment technique in which a shared key is derived by parties as a function of information contributed by, or associated with, each of these network architectures or network communication protocols for key exchange in a packet data network H04L63/061

Abstract

A novel microprocessor interface circuit is described which can alternately emit and detect light using only an LED, two digital I/O pins and a single current limiting resistor. This technique is first applied to create a smart illumination system that uses a single LED as both light source and sensor. We then present several devices that use an LED as a generic wireless serial data port. An important implication of this work is that every LED connected to a microprocessor can be thought of as a wireless two-way communication port. We present this technology as a solution to the “last centimeter problem”, because it permits disparate devices to communicate with each other simply and cheaply with minimal design modification.

Claims

1. A keytote component comprising:

a processor;

a first communication interface operatively connected to the processor for receipt of a key from a device(s) with encryption/decryption capabilities; and

a second communication interface operatively connected to the processor for a transfer of the key to another device with encryption and decryption capabilities.

2. The keytote component of claim 1 the first communication interface is at least one of a USB, NFC, RFID, and LED communication interface.

3. The keytote component of claim 2, the second communication interface is at least one of a USB, NFC, and RFID communication interface.

4. The keytote component of claim 1, the first communication interface is a same type as the second communication interface, the first communication interface and the second communication interface is selected from a group of USB, NFC, and RFID interfaces.

5. The keytote component of claim 1 further comprising a photo cell.

6. The keytote component of claim 1 further comprising an artificial intelligence component.

7. The keytote component of claim 1 further comprising a memory that stores the key for a predetermined period.

8. The keytote component of claim 1, the key is one of a symmetric key and an asymmetric key.

9. The keytote component of claim 1, the first communication interface and the second communication interface are LED(s) that communicate with the device(s) in a half-duplex channel.

10. A key exchange method via a keytote comprising:

receiving a key from a first device via a first communication interface associated with a keytote component;

moving the keytote component from a first location associated with the first device to a second location associated with a second device;

transferring the key from the keytote component to the second device via a second communication interface.

11. The key exchange method of claim 10 further comprising storing the key in a memory of the keytote component for a predetermined period.

12. The key exchange method of claim 10 further comprising deleting a memory of the keytote component by a user.

13. The key exchange method of claim 10 further comprising establishing an encrypted communication channel between the first device and the second device.

14. The key exchange method of claim 10 further comprising employing an LED(s) in a half-duplex channel for the receiving act, and rate matching via one of a training and managing crystal tolerance associated with clocks.

15. The key exchange method of claim 10 further comprising training the keytote component to a clock associated with the first device.

16. The key exchange method of claim 10 further comprising sending an acknowledgement by the keytote component to the first device.

17. The key exchange method of claim 10 further comprising employing a photo cell as part of the act of receiving the key.

18. The key exchange method of claim 10 further comprising employing one of a symmetric key and an asymmetric key.

19. The key exchange method of claim 10 further comprising employing at least one of a USB, NFC, and RFID communication interface.

20. A keytote component comprising:

a first communication interfacing means operatively connected to a processing means, for receiving a key from a device(s) with encryption and decryption capabilities; and

a second communication interfacing means operatively connected to the processing means, for transferring the key to another device with encryption and decryption capabilities.