METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING BURDEN ON A BLUETOOTH LOW POWER END-POINT DEVICE

• US 20110021143A1
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kapur, Ash, Desai, Prasanna
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0464 using hop-by-hop encryption, i.e. wherein an intermediate entity decrypts the information and re-encrypts it before forwarding it
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A relay host wireless device is paired with a target host wireless device over a secure link. The relay host wireless device is operable to acquire link security information, which is associated with a link between the target host wireless device and a wireless end-point device, from the target host wireless device. The relay host wireless device is enabled to establish a link with the target host wireless device by faking its identity as an assumed identity of the target host wireless device. The acquired link security information is applied to the established link. The relay host wireless device is enabled to relay content between the target host wireless device and the wireless end-point device via the established fake link using said assumed identity of the target host wireless device and the secure link between the relay host wireless device and the target host wireless device, successively.

Claims

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:

acquiring, by a host wireless device, link security information from a trusted wireless device of said host wireless device, wherein said link security information is associated with a link between said trusted wireless device and a wireless end-point device;

establishing a link with said wireless end-point device using said acquired link security information and an assumed identity of said trusted wireless device; and

relaying content between said wireless end-point device and said trusted wireless device via said established link connection using said assumed identity of said trusted wireless device.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating with said wireless end-point device and said trusted wireless device using a Bluetooth protocol and/or a Bluetooth low energy protocol.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said assumed identity of said trusted wireless device is a Bluetooth device address.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said acquired link security information is created by bonding said trusted wireless device with said wireless end-point device.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising relaying content between said wireless end-point device and said trusted wireless device without establishing a link between said wireless end-point device and said trusted wireless device.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising establishing a link between said host wireless device and said trusted wireless device.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising relaying content from said trusted device to said wireless end-point device over said established link using said assumed identity of said trusted wireless device, and said established link between said host device and said trusted device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said wireless end-point device is operable to collect content for said trusted wireless device based on said relayed content from said trusted wireless device.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising relaying said collected content from said wireless end-point device to said trusted wireless device over said established link and said established link using said assumed identity of said trusted wireless device between said host wireless device and said trusted wireless device successively.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said relayed collected content is presented as visual data and/or audio data over said trusted device.

11. A system for communication, the system comprising:

one or more processors for use in a host wireless device, wherein said one or more processors is operable to acquire link security information from a trusted wireless device of said host wireless device, and said link security information is associated with a link between said trusted wireless device and a wireless end-point device;

said one or more processors is operable to establish a fake link with said wireless end-point device using said acquired link security information and an assumed identity of said trusted wireless device; and

said one or more processors is operable to relay content between said wireless end-point device and said trusted wireless device using said established link using said assumed identity of said trusted wireless device.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors is operable to communicate with said wireless end-point device and said trusted wireless device using a Bluetooth protocol and/or a Bluetooth low energy protocol.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said assumed identity of said trusted wireless device is a Bluetooth device address.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said acquired link security information is created by bonding said trusted wireless device with said wireless end-point device.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors is operable to relay content between said wireless end-point device and said trusted wireless device without establishing a link between said wireless end-point device and said trusted wireless device.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors is operable to establish a link between said host wireless device and said trusted wireless device.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more processors is operable to relay content from said trusted device to said wireless end-point device over said established link and said established link using said assumed identity of said trusted wireless device between said host device, and said trusted device successively.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said wireless end-point device is operable to collect content for said trusted wireless device based on said relayed content from said trusted wireless device.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said one or more processors is operable to relay said collected content from said wireless end-point device to said trusted wireless device over said established link and said established link using said assumed identity of said trusted wireless device between said host wireless device and said trusted wireless device successively.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said relayed collected content is presented as visual data and/or audio data over said trusted device.