Proximity Authentication Protocol

• US 20170257760A1
• Filed: 03/02/2017
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arm IP Limited (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Arm IP Limited (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Moran, Brendon James, Meriac, Milosch, Luff, Geraint David
• Granted Patent: US 10,154,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• 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: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• 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 machine implemented method of authenticating a communication channel between a first device and a second device by providing proof of proximity between both devices, the method comprising: generating, at the first device, an acoustic authentication signal to be received at the second device via a solid body acoustic coupling established between the first device and the second device thereby providing proof of proximity between both devices and so authenticating the communication channel between the first device and the second device.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method of authenticating a communication channel between a first device and a second device by providing proof of proximity between both devices, the method comprising:

generating, at the first device, an acoustic authentication signal to be received at the second device via a solid body acoustic coupling established between the first device and the second device thereby providing proof of proximity between both devices and so authenticating the communication channel between the first device and the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic authentication signal is generated in response to pressure applied against the first device by the second device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the acoustic authentication signal is a modulated signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the modulated signal carries a public key or a hash of the public key of the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic authentication signal is audible.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid body acoustic coupling is provided through one or more layers, wherein optional one or more layers is a gel-like or flexible material.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein upon receiving the acoustic authentication signal at the second device, the second device verifies the acoustic authentication signal against a signal provided on the communication channel from the first device in order to authentication the communication channel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein upon verification the first and second device communicate on the authenticated communication channel.

9. A machine implemented method of authenticating a communication channel between a first device and a second device by providing proof of proximity between both devices, the method comprising:

receiving, at the second device, an acoustic authentication signal transmitted by the first device via a solid body acoustic coupling established between the first device and the second device thereby providing proof of proximity between both devices and so authenticating the communication channel between the first device and the second device.

10. A machine implemented method of identifying a first device by a second device to establish a communication channel by providing proof of proximity between both devices, the method comprising:

generating, at the first device, an acoustic authentication signal to be received at the second device via a solid body acoustic coupling established between the first device and the second device thereby providing proof of proximity between both devices and where the acoustic authentication signal is used by the second device to identify the first device to establish the communication channel.

11. Apparatus comprising acoustic authentication signal generation circuitry connected to a waveguide having an output capable of transmitting, via a solid body acoustic coupling, an acoustic authentication signal to a proximate device thereby providing proof of proximity between the apparatus and the device and so authenticating a communication channel between the apparatus and the device.