AUTHENTICATION OF DEVICES IN A WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20090241169A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Rao, Srinivasa, Dhand, Harsh
• Granted Patent: US 8,151,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/43 wireless channels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/10 Integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 705/907 Specific computer id, e.g. serial number, configuration

Abstract

A method for authentication of devices (D1, D2, D3) in a wireless network, wherein—a device (D1, D2, D3) periodically switches its mode from a read mode, in which it is able to receive authentication data from one or more other devices (D1, D2, D3), to a write mode, in which it sends out authentication data to the one or more other devices (D1, D2, D3), according to a random time slot scheme,—the device (D1, D2, D3) authenticates itself after having received authentication data from another device (D1, D2, D3) during the read mode, and—the device (D1, D2, D3) switches permanently its mode to the write mode after being authenticated.

Claims

1. A method for authentication of devices in a wireless network, wherein

a device is operated in an authentication mode in which it periodically switches from a read mode, in which it is able to receive authentication data from one or more other devices, to a write mode, in which it sends out authentication data to the one or more other devices, and vice versa according to a random time slot scheme,

the device authenticates itself after having received authentication data from another device during the read mode, and

the device switches permanently its mode to the write mode after being authenticated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device enters the authentication mode after being powered on.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device enters the authentication mode after a pre-specified application has started.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device enters a further authentication mode when it is shut down, in which it authenticates the shutdown operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication data comprise an identifier for signalling the type of data and an encrypted user ID.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication mode is limited to a predefined period.

7. A wireless network device which comprises an authentication protocol which is provided to operate the device in an authentication mode in which it periodically switches from a read mode, in which it is able to receive authentication data from one or more other devices, to a write mode, in which it sends out authentication data to the one or more other devices, and vice versa according to a random time slot scheme, wherein the device is adapted to authenticate after having received authentication data from another device during the read mode, and wherein the device is further adapted to switch permanently its mode to the write mode after being authenticated.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the authentication protocol is implemented in the device as part of an application or an operating system of the device.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein it is adapted to initiate the authentication protocol after power on of the device.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein it is adapted to initiate the authentication protocol after launching an application on the device.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a mobile phone with wireless network capabilities, a personal digital assistant with wireless network capabilities, or a smart card with wireless network capabilities.

12. A system for authentication of devices in a wireless network, comprising

at least two devices each having an authentication mode in which a device periodically switches its mode from a read mode, in which it receives authentication data from one or more other devices, to a write mode, in which it sends out authentication data to the one or more other devices, according to a random time slot scheme,

wherein in the system one of the at least two devices authenticates itself after having received authentication data from another device during the read mode, and the device switches permanently its mode to the write mode after being authenticated.