Device pairing via device to device contact

• US 20110258689A1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Cohen, Alexander J., Rinaldo, John D. JR., Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,839,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• 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: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/65 Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• 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

Abstract

A system may include and/or involve a first device, a second device, and logic to effect pairing of the first and second devices upon detection of physical contact between the devices.

Claims

1-663. -663. (canceled)

664. A device comprising:

at least one contact sensor;

logic to enable the device to wirelessly exchange with at least one other device and prior to physical contact with the at least one other device information needed for pairing;

logic to determine one or more indications of contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor;

logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement associated with contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor;

logic to, in response to at least one of the one or more indications of contact, prompt for at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input; and

logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information or the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device and at least partially facilitate one or more commercial transactions.

665. The device of claim 664, wherein the logic to enable the device to wirelessly exchange with at least one other device and prior to physical contact with the at least one other device information needed for pairing comprises:

logic to enable the device to wirelessly exchange with at least one other device and prior to physical contact with the at least one other device information needed for pairing including at least one of authentication, authorization, and/or compatibility information needed for pairing.

666. The device of claim 664, wherein the logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement associated with contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor comprises:

logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including multiple instances of contact.

667. The device of claim 664, wherein the logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement associated with contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor comprises:

logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including one or more intensities of contact.

668. The device of claim 664, wherein the logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement associated with contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor comprises:

logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement occurring at and/or during contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor.

669. The device of claim 664, wherein the logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information or the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device and at least partially facilitate one or more commercial transactions comprises:

logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information or the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device with at least one function greater than and/or different from that which would be available without contact.

670. The device of claim 664, wherein the logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information or the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device and at least partially facilitate one or more commercial transactions comprises:

logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information or the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device the extent of which varies according to the one or more relative contact motions.

671. The device of claim 664, wherein the logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information or the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device and at least partially facilitate one or more commercial transactions comprises:

logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information or the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device the extent of which varies according to at least one of user identification or device identification.

672. The device of claim 664, further comprising:

logic to interrupt pairing if contact between the devices is broken.

673. The device of claim 664, further comprising:

logic to detect increasing proximity of the at least one other device.

674. A method comprising:

wirelessly exchanging with at least one other device and prior to physical contact with the at least one other device information needed for pairing;

determining one or more indications of contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor;

determining one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement associated with contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor;

in response to at least one of the one or more indications of contact, prompting for at least one voice input, biometric input, and/or key input; and

in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, applying the wirelessly exchanged information or the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device and at least partially facilitate one or more commercial transactions.

675. A system comprising:

at least one first device;

at least one second device;

logic to enable the at least one first device and the at least one second device to wirelessly exchange information needed for pairing prior to physical contact between the devices;

logic to determine one or more indications of contact between the devices;

logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement associated with contact between the devices;

logic to, in response to at least one of the one or more indications of contact, prompt for at least one voice input, biometric input, and/or key input; and

logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information or the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing of the devices and at least partially facilitate one or more commercial transactions.

676. A system comprising:

circuitry configured for receiving wirelessly from a first device or a second device information needed for pairing prior to contact involving the first device and the second device;

circuitry configured for receiving at least one pairing parameter determined in response to rotation, angle, and/or movement involving the first device or the second device;

circuitry configured for, subsequent to receiving the at least one pairing parameter determined in response to rotation, angle, and/or movement involving the first device or the second device, receiving at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input; and

circuitry configured for processing the information needed for pairing, the at least one pairing parameter, or the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input to effect pairing of the first device with the second device.

677. The system of claim 676, wherein the circuitry configured for receiving wirelessly from a first device or a second device information needed for pairing prior to contact involving the first device and the second device comprises:

circuitry configured for receiving wirelessly from a first phone device or a second phone device information needed for pairing prior to contact involving the first phone device and the second phone device.

678. The system of claim 676, wherein the circuitry configured for processing the information needed for pairing, the at least one pairing parameter, or the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input to effect pairing of the first device with the second device comprises:

circuitry configured for processing the information needed for pairing, the at least one pairing parameter, or the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input to effect pairing of the first device with the second device over one or more secure channels.

679. The system of claim 676, wherein the circuitry configured for processing the information needed for pairing, the at least one pairing parameter, or the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input to effect pairing of the first device with the second device comprises:

circuitry configured for processing the information needed for pairing, the at least one pairing parameter, or the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input to effect pairing of the first device with the second device to the extent authorized.

680. The system of claim 676, wherein the circuitry configured for processing the information needed for pairing, the at least one pairing parameter, or the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input to effect pairing of the first device with the second device comprises:

circuitry configured for processing the information needed for pairing, the at least one pairing parameter, or the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input to effect pairing of the first device with the second device via at least one network.

681. The system of claim 676, wherein the circuitry configured for processing the information needed for pairing, the at least one pairing parameter, or the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input to effect pairing of the first device with the second device comprises:

circuitry configured for processing the information needed for pairing, the at least one pairing parameter, or the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input to effect pairing of the first device with the second device and at least partially implement one or more commercial transactions.

682. The system of claim 676, further comprising:

circuitry configured for determining one or more instances of contact involving the first device and the second device.

683. The system of claim 676, further comprising:

circuitry configured for determining one or more instances of physical contact involving the first device and the second device.

684. The system of claim 676, further comprising

circuitry configured for determining whether the first device is located proximately with the second device.