Method and system for managing bluetooth communication using software or firmware filtering

• US 20090055516A1
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhodzishsky, Victor
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Aspects of method and system for managing secure Bluetooth communication using software or firmware filtering are provided. In this regard, the IT or system administration may select one or more Bluetooth profiles for Bluetooth devices and inform the host software on the selection. The host software passes the information to host control interface (HCI). A Bluetooth security filter is integrated into the HCI to ensure a security policies set for the Bluetooth device. The Bluetooth security filter may be part of the Bluetooth host stack or the Bluetooth host controller stack. All HCI packets such as HCI commands, HCI events and HCI data packets are parsed in the Bluetooth security filter and act upon the policies determined by the IT or system administration.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

receiving from a centralized network management entity, one or more messages by a Bluetooth device that enable managing secure communication by said Bluetooth device; and

configuring said Bluetooth device to enable or disable one or more security policies based on said received one or more messages to enable said secure communication.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more security policies affects usage of one or more profiles and/or usage models.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising controlling transmission and/or reception of information between said Bluetooth device and one or more other Bluetooth enabled devices based on said configuration.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising filtering HCI Commands originating from Bluetooth upper layer stack associated with said Bluetooth device.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising filtering HCI events from Bluetooth Controller Driver associated with said Bluetooth device.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising filtering HCI data packets communicated to and from said Bluetooth device.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising filtering one or more HCI packets via a firmware filter which is communicatively coupled to a HCI layer, and said firmware filter and said HCI layer are part of a Bluetooth host stack of said Bluetooth device.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising filtering one or more HCI packets via a firmware filter which is communicatively coupled to a HCI layer, and said firmware filter and said HCI layer are part of a Bluetooth host controller stack of said Bluetooth device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said centralized management entity comprise an administration console.

10. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits that receives from a centralized network management entity, one or more messages by a Bluetooth device that enable secure communication by said Bluetooth device; and

said one or more circuits configures said Bluetooth device to enable or disable one or more security policies based on said received one or more messages to enable said secure communication.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more security policies affects usage of one or more profiles and/or usage models.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits controls transmission and/or reception of information between said Bluetooth device and one or more other Bluetooth enabled devices based on said configuration.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits enable filtering of HCI Commands originating from Bluetooth upper layer stack associated with said Bluetooth device.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits enable filtering of HCI events from Bluetooth Controller Driver associated with said Bluetooth device.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits enable filtering of HCI data packets communicated to and from said Bluetooth device.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits enable filtering of one or more HCI packets via a firmware filter which is communicatively coupled to a HCI layer, and said firmware filter and said HCI layer are part of a Bluetooth host stack of said Bluetooth device.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits enable filtering of one or more HCI packets via a firmware filter which is communicatively coupled to a HCI layer, and said firmware filter and said HCI layer are part of a Bluetooth host controller stack of said Bluetooth device.

19. The system according to claim 10, wherein said centralized management entity comprise an administration console.