Device Association

• US 20130122810A1
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Skype Limited (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: KAUFMAN, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,628,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• 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 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A method of associating a first device with a second device is disclosed. The first device through its speaker broadcasts a request for association using an audio signal. The broadcasted audio signal is received by the second device through its microphone. The first and second devices then cooperatively verifies a security code and upon a successful verification of the security code, the first and the second devices are enabled to communicate with each other.

Claims

1. A method of associating a first device with a second device, the method comprising:

transmitting from the first device and through a speaker of the first device, a request for association using an audio signal;

receiving, at the second device, the audio signal via a microphone; and

verifying a security code, wherein upon verification of the security code, enabling the first device and the second device to communicate with each other.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signals includes an identification of the first device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the identification is encoded in the audio signal using one of a frequency shift keying (FSK) method and a DTMF method.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying includes sending a second audio signal to the first device, wherein the second audio signal includes the security code that was previously provided by the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein upon verification of the security code, the first device and the second device communicate through audio signals using audible frequencies.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are connected to a communication network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein upon verification of the security code, the first device and the second device communicate through the communication network.

8. A computer readable storage medium containing programming instructions for associating a first device and a second device, the programming instructions comprising:

programming instructions for receiving, via a microphone, a request for association sent using an audio signal from another device, wherein the request includes an audio signal that is outputted from a speaker of the another device;

programming instructions for verifying a security code; and

programming instructions for enabling the first device and the second device to communicate with each other.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the audio signals includes an identification of the first device.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further including programming instruction for decoding the identification, wherein the identification is encoded in the audio signal using one of a frequency shift keying (FSK) method and a DTMF method.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, the programming instructions for verifying includes programming instructions for sending a second audio signal to the first device, wherein the second audio signal includes the security code that was previously provided by the first device.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, further including programming instruction for enabling communication between the first device and the second device through audio signals using audio frequencies, upon verification of the security code.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first device and the second device are connected to a communication network.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, further including programming instructions for enabling a communication between the first device and the second device through the communication network, upon verification of the security code.

15. A system, comprising:

a first device and a second device, wherein the first device includes a speaker and the second device includes a microphone;

a modulator incorporated in the first device, the modulator is coupled to the speaker, wherein the modulator being configured to generate an audio signal; and

a demodulator incorporate in the second device, the demodulator is coupled to the microphone, wherein the demodulator being configured to receive the audio signal,

wherein the first device is configured to include data in the audio signal, the data is encoded using a frequency shift keying mechanism and the demodulator is configured to retrieved the data from the audio signal,

wherein the data includes a request for association.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second device is further configured to decipher the data to retrieve the request for association when the data is received at the second device via the audio signal.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the data further includes a security code.

18. The system of claim 17, further including a third device that is connected to the first device and the second device via a network.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second device is configured to send the security code to the third device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the third device is configured to verify the security code by contacting the first device via the network and upon a successful verification, notifying the second device to start communicating with the first device.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein upon receiving the request for association, the second device is configured to transmit a security code associated with the first device to the first device.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the security code is a unique code associated with the second device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein upon a successful verification of the security code, the second device transmits a success signal to the first device.