Universal Device id Registry, Back-End, and Self-Verification Architecture

• US 20090132746A1
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wivity, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kantan, Inc.
• Inventors: Tom, Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,937,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/300
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Modular devices consist of a user-interface shell and a detachable communication cartridge. The shell and cartridge both contain unique serial numbers, user-defined passwords, and secret authentication keys, which can be communicated to cartridges and shells, and to a network. A universal wireless device registry system stores serial numbers of integrated devices, device shells, and device cartridges, and other characteristics associated with devices such as secret keys, passwords, screen size, operating system, service usage, and supply chain information. This registry system is able to track communication devices all around the world and is connected to and shares information with computer servers controlled by service providers, manufacturers, and supply chain companies. When shells and cartridges communicate their numbers to the registry system, the registry system can authenticate shells and cartridges. Service providers can also track and control shells and cartridges (as well as devices) based on information from the registry system. Market research can be done using the information associated with each device on the registry system.

Claims

1. A device shell comprising:

system software;

a detachable interface to a cartridge that contains communication components for connection at least one communication network;

at least one unique serial number from a registry, wherein said registry is stored on a computer connected to said at least one communication network;

a processor that runs said system software, communicates over said detachable interface, and has means to read said unique serial number.

2. The shell of claim 1 wherein the detachable interface is at least one electro-mechanical connector.

3. The shell of claim 1 wherein the detachable interface is at least one short-range wireless link.

4. The shell of claim 1 wherein the at least one communication network is a wireless network.

5. The shell of claim 1 wherein the shell has means to communicate the serial number to the cartridge.

6. The shell of claim 1 further including casing to enclose the processor and system software.

7. The shell of claim 1 wherein the shell further includes a secret key authentication number.

8. The shell of claim 1 wherein the shell further contains at least one changeable password, wherein said password is also stored on a computer connected to said at least one communication network.

9. The shell of claim 1 wherein the shell has a means to receive at least one validation number from the cartridge, validate said at least one validation number, and limit operation based on the value of the at least one validation number.

10. The shell of claim 9 wherein the means to validate said validation number consists of communicating the validation number to a validation server connected to the at least one communication network.

11. A wireless cartridge comprising:

communication components, at least one of which comes from the set of protocol stack software, baseband, and RF section, for connection to at least one communication network, and;

an detachable interface for connection to a shell that contains at least one unique serial number from a registry, wherein said registry is stored on a computer connected to said at least one communication network, and;

a means to receive said serial number from the shell, and;

a means to transfer said serial number to the at least one communication network.

12. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the detachable interface is at least one electro-mechanical connector.

13. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the detachable interface is at least one short-range wireless link.

14. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the at least one communication network is a wireless network.

15. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the cartridge further includes at least one unique serial number from a registry, wherein said registry is stored on a computer connected to said at least one communication network.

16. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the cartridge further includes at least one changeable password, wherein said password is also stored on a computer connected to said at least one communication network.

17. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the cartridge has further means to receive at least one validation number from the shell, validate said at least one validation number, and limit operation based on the value of the at least one validation number.

18. The cartridge of claim 17 wherein the means to validate said validation number includes communicating the validation number to a validation server connected to the at least one communication network.

19. A modular communication device comprising:

a communication cartridge with communication components, at least one of which comes from the set of protocol stack software, baseband, and RF section, for connection to at least one communication network, and;

a shell with non-communication components, one of which is a unique serial number from a registry, wherein said registry is stored on a computer connected to said at least one communications network, and;

a detachable interface that connects the shell and cartridge.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the detachable interface is at least one electro-mechanical connector.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein the detachable interface is at least one short-range wireless link.

22. The device of claim 19 wherein the at least one communication network is a wireless network.

23. The device of claim 19 wherein the shell has means to communicate the serial number to the cartridge.

24. The device of claim 19 wherein the device further contains a secret key authentication number.

25. The device of claim 19 wherein the device further contains at least one changeable password, wherein said password is also stored on a computer connected to said at least one communication network.

26. The device of claim 19 wherein the shell has a means to receive at least one validation number from the cartridge, validate said at least one validation number, and limit operation based on the value of the at least one validation number.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the means to validate said validation number consists of communicating the validation number to a validation server connected to the at least one communication network.

46. The device of claim 19 wherein the cartridge has a means to receive at least one validation number from the shell, validate said at least one validation number, and limit operation based on the value of the at least one validation number.

47. The device of claim 46 wherein the means to validate said validation number consists of communicating the validation number to a validation server connected to the at least one communication network.

28. A device serial number registry system comprising:

at least one computer-based server with storage that contains at least one shell number that is embedded in a device shell with;

a detachable interface to a cartridge that contains communication components for connection to at least one communication network, system software, and a processor that runs said system software, communicates over said detachable interface, and has means to read said unique serial number.

29. The device serial number registry system of claim 28 wherein said server also stores at least one cartridge number that is embedded in a cartridge with communication components, at least one of which comes from the set of protocol stack software, baseband, and RF section, for connection to at least one communication network.

30. The device serial number registry system of claim 28 wherein device characteristics are stored in the server and associated with the at least one shell number.

31. The registry system of claim 30 wherein one of the characteristics is screen size.

32. The registry system of claim 30 wherein one of the characteristics is device location.

33. The registry system of claim 30 wherein one of the characteristics is network registration information.

34. The registry system of claim 30 wherein one of the characteristics is MAC address, ESN number, or IMEI number.

35. The registry system of claim 28 wherein the at least one shell number is a MAC address, ESN number, or IMEI number.

36. The registry system of claim 28 wherein the at least one computer-based server has a means to receive a number from a shell and authenticate said shell based on the number.

37. The registry system of claim 30 wherein the at least one computer-based server has a means to receive a number from a shell and authenticate said shell based on the device characteristics associated with the number.

38. The registry system of claim 29 wherein the at least one computer-based server has a means to receive a number from a cartridge and authenticate said cartridge based on the number.

39. The registry system of claim 30 wherein one of the characteristics is a secret key.

40. The registry system of claim 39 wherein the at least one computer-based server has a means to receive a response key from a shell and authenticate said shell based on comparing the response key to a derivation of the secret key.

48. The registry system of claim 29 wherein the at least one cartridge number is a MAC address, ESN number, or IMEI number.

41. The method of creating a device serial number registry system, associating device characteristics with the serial numbers, and receiving the characteristics from outside computer systems.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein such computers systems are controlled by device manufacturers.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein such computers systems are controlled by service providers.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein such computers systems are controlled by supply chain companies.

45. The method of claim 41 further including the step of give market research data based on the characteristics.