Event Triggered Pairing of Wireless Communication Devices Based on Time Measurements

• US 20110126014A1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Bloebaum, Leland Scott, Camp, William O. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US12/789,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20110126014A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/171
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/121 Timestamp cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements involving time stamps H04L9/3297
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/61 Time-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent

Abstract

An event-triggered pairing mechanism allows pairing wireless devices having short range interfaces (e.g., Bluetooth devices) by bumping the wireless devices together. A wireless device being paired with a connecting device detects a bump event, determines time information about the bump event, and then generates a private session key based on the time information. Once the devices are paired and the private session key is generated, user content can be securely exchanged between the devices.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a wireless device of pairing with a connecting device, the method comprising:

detecting a bump event;

determining time information about the bump event; and

generating a private session key from the time information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising encrypting and/or decrypting user data exchanged with the connecting device using the private session key.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing at least one of a unilateral authentication procedure and a bilateral authentication procedure using the private session key.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining time information about the bump event comprises exchanging time information about the bump event with the connecting device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein exchanging time information about the bump event with a connecting device comprises:

sending a request to the connecting device responsive to the bump event; and

receiving first time information from the connecting device responsive to the request.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein exchanging time information about the bump event with a connecting device further comprises sending second time information to the connecting device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein generating a private session key from the time information comprises generating the private session key from at least one of the first and second time information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a private session key from the time information comprises:

inputting the time information into a key generation function; and

using the resulting value as the private session key.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein inputting the time information into a key generation function comprises:

adjusting the time information to eliminate differences in the time information between the wireless device and the connecting device; and

inputting the adjusted time information into the key generation function.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a private session key from the time information comprises generating the private session key responsive to receiving a key exchange request from the connecting device.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

obtaining a public key for the connecting device;

encrypting the generated private session key using the public key; and

sending the encrypted private session key to the connecting device.

12. A wireless device capable of exchanging data with a connecting device, the wireless device comprising:

a short-range radio transceiver for communicating with other wireless devices;

a processing circuit unit operatively connected to the transceiver and configured to;

detect a bump event;

determine time information about the bump event; and

generate a private session key from the time information.

13. The wireless device of claim 12 wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine time information about the bump event by exchanging the time information about the bump event with the connecting device.

14. The wireless device of claim 13 wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

send a request to the connecting device responsive to the bump event; and

receive first time information from the connecting device responsive to the request.

15. The wireless device of claim 14 wherein the processing circuit is configured to send second time information to the connecting device.

16. The wireless device of claim 15 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to generate the private session key from at least one of the first and second time information.

17. The wireless device of claim 12 wherein the processing circuit is configured to generate the private session key by:

inputting the time information into a key generation function; and

using the resulting value as the private session key.

18. The wireless device of claim 17 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

adjust the time information to eliminate differences in the time information between the wireless device and the connecting device; and

input the adjusted time information into the key generation function.

19. The wireless device of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the private session key responsive to receiving a key exchange request from the connecting device.

20. The wireless device of claim 19 wherein the processor is further configured to:

obtain a public key for the connecting device;

encrypt the generated private session key using the public key; and

send the encrypted private session key to the connecting device.

21. The wireless device of claim 12 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to detect at least one of sound or motion associated with the bump event.

22. The wireless device of claim 12 wherein the time information comprises one of the time of the bump event, an elapsed time from the bump event, or a time interval between the first and second bumps in the bump event.

23. The wireless device of claim 12 wherein the processor is configured to perform at least one of a unilateral authentication procedure and a bilateral authentication procedure using the private session key.

24. A method implemented by a wireless device of pairing with a connecting device, the method comprising:

detecting a bump event;

receiving a request from a connecting device responsive to the bump event;

generating, responsive to the request, a private session key from first time information about the bump event.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

encrypting the generated private session key using a public key associated with the connecting device; and

sending the encrypted private session key to the connecting device; and

encrypting and/or decrypting user data exchanged with the connecting device using the generated private session key.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising authenticating the wireless device to the connecting device based on the generated private session key.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

receiving a session key from the connecting device; and

authenticating the connecting device based on the received session key.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the request comprises one of an authentication request and a key generation request.

29. A wireless device comprising:

a short-range radio transceiver for communicating with a other wireless devices;

a processing circuit unit operatively connected to the transceiver and configured to;

detect a bump event;

receive a request from a connecting device responsive to the bump event;

generate, responsive to the request, a private session key from first time information about the bump event.

30. The wireless device of claim 29 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

encrypt the generated private session key using a public key associated with the connecting device; and

send the encrypted private session key to the connecting device; and

encrypt and/or decrypt user data exchanged with the connecting device using the generated private session key.