Method and Apparatus to Create Trust Domains Based on Proximity
First Claim
1. A method for deploying credential infrastructure, comprising:
- establishing a close range communications link between a first device and a second device;
sending credential information across the close range communications link; and
using the credential information in communications between the first device and the second device transmitted via another communications link that is different from the close range communications link.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods use close range communication links, e.g., near field communication (NFC) links, to authenticate communication devices to one another to create or join a new device to a trust domain. Once two devices establish a close range communication peer-to-peer link the devices exchange credential information that provide an infrastructure for the trust domain. Medium or long range wireless or wired network communication links can then be used for secure and trusted communications. Proximity limits of the close range communication P2P link enables mutual trust to be presumed among devices, providing added security to the process of extending a trust domain and reducing the need for security and authentication signaling. Embodiments provide a variety of methods for extending credential infrastructure among devices. Embodiments further enable simple to use virtual cables that can provide secure point-to-point communications that are configured merely by touching two communication devices together.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A method for deploying credential infrastructure, comprising:
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establishing a close range communications link between a first device and a second device; sending credential information across the close range communications link; and using the credential information in communications between the first device and the second device transmitted via another communications link that is different from the close range communications link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A mobile device, comprising:
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a processor; a first transceiver coupled to the processor; a second transceiver coupled to the processor, the second transceiver being a close range communication transceiver; and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising; establishing a close range communications link between the mobile device and a first communications device via the second transceiver; receiving credential information from the first communications device over the close range communications link; and using the credential information in communications between the mobile device and the first communications device using the first transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A tangible storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:
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establishing a close range communications link between the processor and a first communications device via the second transceiver; receiving credential information from the first communications device over the close range communications link; and using the credential information in communications between the processor and the first communications device transmitted via a communication link different from the close range communications link. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A mobile device, comprising:
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means for establishing a close range communications link between the mobile device and a first communications device; means for receiving credential information from the first communications device over the close range communications link; and means for using the credential information in communications between the mobile device and the first communications device transmitted via another communications link that is different from the close range communications link. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A computer, comprising:
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a processor, a first transceiver coupled to the processor; a second transceiver coupled to the processor, the second transceiver being a close range communication transceiver; a memory coupled to the processor; and a network interface coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising; establishing a close range communications link between the computer and a first communications device via the second transceiver; providing credential information to the first communications device over the close range communications link; and using the credential information in communications between the mobile device and the first communications device using the first transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A tangible storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:
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establishing a close range communications link between the processor and a first communications device via the second transceiver; sending credential information to the first communications device over the close range communications link; and using the credential information in communications between the processor and the first communications device transmitted via a communication link different from the close range communications link. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A computer, comprising:
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means for establishing a close range communication link between the computer and a first communications device; means for providing credential information to the first communications device over the close range communications link; and means for using the credential information in communications between the mobile device and the first communications device transmitted via another communications link that is different from the close range communications link. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A medical monitoring system, comprising:
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a computer including a computer processor; a memory coupled to the processor; a first transceiver coupled to the processor; and a second transceiver coupled to the processor, the second transceiver being a close range communication transceiver, wherein the computer processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising; establishing a close range communications link between the computer and a first communications device via the second transceiver, providing credential information to the first communications device over the close range communications link, and using the credential information in communications between the mobile device and the first communications device using the first transceiver; a medical device including a processor; a third transceiver coupled to the processor; and a fourth transceiver coupled to the processor, the fourth transceiver being a close range communication transceiver, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising; establishing a close range communications link between the medical device and computer via the fourth transceiver; receiving credential information from the computer over the close range communications link; and using the credential information in communications between the medical device and the computer using the third transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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63. A virtual cable device, comprising:
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a cable connector plug configured to establish an electrical connection with a cable socket; a processor electronically coupled to the cable connector plug; a wireless network transceiver coupled to the processor; and a near-field communication wireless transceiver coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising; establishing a near-field communication link between the virtual cable device and another communication device via the near-field communication wireless transceiver; receiving credential information from the other communications device over the near-field communication link; and using the credential information in communications between the virtual cable device and the other communication device using the wireless network transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66)
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67. A virtual cable device, comprising:
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means for wireless communicating data to a wireless network; means for establishing a near-field communication link between the virtual cable device and another communication device via the near-field communication wireless transceiver; means for receiving credential information from the other communications device over the near-field communication link; and means for using the credential information in communications between the virtual cable device and the other communication device using the means for wireless communicating data to a wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69)
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70. A system, comprising:
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a network; a first communication device including a first transceiver and a second transceiver, wherein the first transceiver is configured to communicate via the network, and the second transceiver is a close range communication transceiver; and a second communication device including a third transceiver and a fourth transceiver, wherein the third transceiver is configured to communicate via the network, and the fourth transceiver is a close range communication transceiver, wherein the first and second communication devices are configured to establish a close range communications link between the first and second communication devices via the second and fourth transceivers; exchange credential information between the first and second communication devices via the close range communications link; and establish communications between the first and second communication devices via the first and third transceivers based on the exchanged credential information.
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Specification