SECURE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DEVICES

• US 20090167486A1
• Filed: 12/29/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Yarvis, Mark D., Shah, Rahul C.
• Application Number:
  US11/967,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20090167486A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3215 using a plurality of channels network architectures or network communication protocols using different networks H04L63/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

Methods and apparatus relating to secure association between devices are described. In one embodiment, devices capable of communicating via a wireless channel may be authenticated via a different channel established by signal generators and/or sensors present on the devices. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a communication channel, formed between a signal generator of a first device and a sensor of a second device, to communicate authentication signals between the first device and the second device,

wherein a wireless communication channel is to communicate wireless signals between the first device and the second device in response to an authentication between the first device and second device via the communication channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal generator comprises an analog signal generator and the sensor comprises an analog sensor, wherein the communication channel is to communicate analog authentication signals between the first device and the second device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication channel comprises a non-secure wireless communication channel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication channel is to communicate one or more of:

healthcare related data, entertainment related data, education related data, or telecommunication related data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal generator comprises a wireless transducer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second devices comprises a device association logic to cause secure association of the first and second devices.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the logic comprises a processor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor comprises one or more processor cores.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a plurality of signal generators.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second device comprises a plurality of sensors.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal generator comprises one or more of:

a mechanical actuator, a Light Emitting Diode (LED), or a speaker.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more of:

an accelerometer, an image capture device, or a microphone.

13. A method comprising:

forming a communication channel between a signal generator of a first device and a sensor of a second device; and

communicating authentication signals between the first device and the second device via the communication channel,

wherein a wireless communication channel is to communicate wireless signals between the first device and the second device in response to an authentication between the first device and second device via the communication channel.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising exchanging discovery information between the first device and the second device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising exchanging a shared secret between the first device and the second device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising generating a session key.

17. A computer-readable medium comprising one or more instructions that when executed on a processor configure the processor to:

form a communication channel between a signal generator of a first device and a sensor of a second device; and

communicate authentication signals between the first device and the second device via the communication channel,

wherein a wireless communication channel is to communicate wireless signals between the first device and the second device in response to an authentication between the first device and second device via the communication channel.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising one or more instructions that configure the processor to exchange discovery information between the first device and the second device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising one or more instructions that configure the processor to exchange a shared secret between the first device and the second device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising one or more instructions that configure the processor to generate a session key.