Pairing and authentication process between a host device and a limited input wireless device

• US 20120254987A1
• Filed: 03/30/2011
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ge, Renwei, Gantman, Alexander, Balakrishnan, Arun, Rosenberg, Brian M., Mao, Yinian
• Granted Patent: US 9,264,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• 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 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• 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: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• 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 12/50 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

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method to perform a pairing process with a limited input wireless device. A host device includes a transceiver and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute instructions to: receive from the transceiver a pairing process request from the limited input wireless device, wherein the pairing process request includes a private code based upon a physical user action implemented with the limited input wireless device; and implement a pairing process to validate the limited input wireless device for a particular host device function associated with the private code.

Claims

1. A host device to perform a pairing process with a limited input wireless device comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor to;

receive from the transceiver a pairing process request from the limited input wireless device, wherein the pairing process request includes a private code based upon a physical user action implemented with the limited input wireless device; and

implement a pairing process to validate the limited input wireless device for a particular host device function associated with the private code.

2. The host device of claim 1, wherein, the processor implements the particular host device function for the limited input wireless device based upon receipt and authentication of the private code.

3. The host device of claim 1, wherein, the limited input wireless device includes a motion sensor to detect motion from the user, wherein the physical user action to define the private code is a particular movement of the limited input wireless device selected by the user in the pairing process.

4. The host device of claim 3, wherein, the motion sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, digital compass, or a gyroscope.

5. The host device of claim 1, wherein, the limited input wireless device includes a microphone and a voice module to record the voice of a user from the microphone for transmission to the host device, wherein the physical user action to define the private code is a verbal sound spoken by the user to the limited input wireless device in the pairing process.

6. The host device of claim 5, wherein, the verbal sound includes at least one of a letter, number, word, or sound.

7. The host device of claim 1, wherein, the processor implements different types of host device functions for the limited input wireless device based upon receipt and authentication of different private codes from physical user action implemented with the limited input wireless device, such that some host device functions are lower security functions requiring a lower security private code from the limited input wireless device and some host device functions are higher security functions requiring a higher security private code from the limited input wireless device.

8. The host device of claim 1, wherein the limited input wireless device is a headset.

9. The host device of claim 1, wherein the limited input wireless device includes a user interface with at least one button.

10. A method to validate a limited input wireless device or a host device comprising:

defining a private code based upon a physical user action including at least one of a movement or a sound; and

validating the limited input wireless device or the host device based upon the private code.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the private code is defined by one of the limited input wireless device or the host device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the limited input wireless device validates the host device based upon the private code or the host device validates the limited input wireless device based upon the private code.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising implementing a particular host device function for the limited input wireless device based upon authentication of the private code.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein, the limited input wireless device includes a motion sensor to detect motion from the user, wherein the physical user action to define the private code is a particular movement of the limited input wireless device selected by the user.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein, the limited input wireless device includes a microphone and a voice module to record the voice of a user from the microphone for transmission to the host device, wherein the physical user action to define the private code is a verbal sound spoken by the user to the limited input wireless device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, the verbal sound includes at least one of a letter, number, word, or sound.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising implementing different types of host device functions for the limited input wireless device based upon authentication of different private codes from physical user action implemented with the limited input wireless device, such that some host device functions are lower security functions requiring a lower security private code from the limited input wireless device and some host device functions are higher security functions requiring a higher security private code from the limited input wireless device.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the limited input wireless device is a headset.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the limited input wireless device includes a user interface with at least one button.

20. A host device to perform a pairing process with a limited input wireless device comprising:

means for receiving from a transceiver a pairing process request from the limited input wireless device, wherein the pairing process request includes a private code based upon a physical user action implemented with the limited input wireless device; and

means for implementing a pairing process to validate the limited input wireless device for a particular host device function associated with the private code.

21. The host device of claim 20, further comprising means for implementing the particular host device function for the limited input wireless device based upon receipt and authentication of the private code.

22. The host device of claim 20, wherein, the limited input wireless device includes a means for motion sensing to detect motion from the user, wherein the physical user action to define the private code is a particular movement of the limited input wireless device selected by the user in the pairing process.

23. The host device of claim 22, wherein, the means for motion sensing includes at least one of an accelerometer, digital compass, or a gyroscope.

24. The host device of claim 20, wherein, the limited input wireless device includes a microphone and a means for voice recording to record the voice of a user from the microphone for transmission to the host device, wherein the physical user action to define the private code is a verbal sound spoken by the user to the limited input wireless device in the pairing process.

25. The host device of claim 24, wherein, the verbal sound includes at least one of a letter, number, word, or sound.

26. The host device of claim 20, further comprising means for implementing different types of host device functions for the limited input wireless device based upon receipt and authentication of different private codes from physical user action implemented with the limited input wireless device, such that some host device functions are lower security functions requiring a lower security private code from the limited input wireless device and some host device functions are higher security functions requiring a higher security private code from the limited input wireless device.

27. The host device of claim 20, wherein the limited input wireless device is a headset.

28. The host device of claim 20, wherein the limited input wireless device includes a user interface with at least one button.

29. A computer program product to validate a limited input wireless device or a host device comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code for;

defining a private code based upon a physical user action including at least one of a movement or a sound; and

validating the limited input wireless device or the host device based upon the private code.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the private code is defined by one of the limited input wireless device or the host device.

31. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the limited input wireless device validates the host device based upon the private code or the host device validates the limited input wireless device based upon the private code.

32. The computer program product of claim 29, further comprising code for implementing the particular host device function for the limited input wireless device based upon authentication of the private code.

33. The computer program product of claim 29, further comprising code for implementing different types of host device functions for the limited input wireless device based upon authentication of different private codes from physical user action implemented with the limited input wireless device, such that some host device functions are lower security functions requiring a lower security private code from the limited input wireless device and some host device functions are higher security functions requiring a higher security private code from the limited input wireless device.

34. A limited input wireless device to perform a pairing process with a host device comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor to receive a private code based upon a physical user action implemented with the limited input wireless device and to transmit the private code through the transceiver to the host device, wherein the host device implements a pairing process to validate the limited input wireless device for a particular host device function associated with the private code.

35. The limited input wireless device of claim 34, wherein, the host device implements the particular host device function for the limited input wireless device based upon receipt and authentication of the private code from the physical user action implemented with the limited input wireless device.

36. The limited input wireless device of claim 34, further comprising a motion sensor to detect motion from the user, wherein the physical user action to define the private code is a particular movement of the limited input wireless device selected by the user in the pairing process.

37. The limited input wireless device of claim 36, wherein, the motion sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, digital compass, or a gyroscope.

38. The limited input wireless device of claim 34, further comprising a microphone and a voice module to record the voice of a user from the microphone for transmission to the host device, wherein the physical user action to define the private code is a verbal sound spoken by the user to the limited input wireless device in the pairing process.

39. The limited input wireless device of claim 38, wherein, the verbal sound includes at least one of a letter, number, word, or sound.

40. The limited input wireless device of claim 34, wherein the limited input wireless device is a headset.

41. The limited input wireless device of claim 34, wherein the limited input wireless device includes a user interface with at least one button.

42. A limited input wireless device to perform a pairing process with a host device, the limited input wireless device comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor to;

receive from the transceiver a pairing process request from the host device, wherein the pairing process request includes a private code based upon a physical user action implemented with the host device; and

implement a pairing process to validate the host device for a particular limited input wireless device function associated with the private code.

43. The limited input wireless device of claim 42, wherein the host device further comprises a motion sensor to detect motion from the user, wherein the physical user action to define the private code is a particular movement of the host device selected by the user in the pairing process.

44. The limited input wireless device of claim 43, wherein, the motion sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, digital compass, or a gyroscope.

45. The limited input wireless device of claim 42, wherein the host device further comprises a microphone and a voice module to record the voice of a user from the microphone for transmission to the limited input wireless device, wherein the physical user action to define the private code is a verbal sound spoken by the user to the host device in the pairing process.

46. The limited input wireless device of claim 45, wherein, the verbal sound includes at least one of a letter, number, word, or sound.

47. The limited input wireless device of claim 42, wherein the limited input wireless device is a headset.

48. The limited input wireless device of claim 42, wherein the limited input wireless device includes a user interface with at least one button.