VIBRATION-BASED SECURE SIDE CHANNEL FOR MEDICAL DEVICES

• US 20180043168A1
• Filed: 02/12/2016
• Published: 02/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University)
• Original Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University), Purdue Research Foundation (The Trustees of Purdue University (d/b/a Purdue University))
• Inventors: Kim, Younghyun, Lee, Woo Suk, Raghunathan, Vijay, Jha, Niraj K., Raghunathan, Anand
• Granted Patent: US 10,722,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0028 Body tissue as transmission medium, i.e. transmission systems where the medium is the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/12 for acoustic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/825 by jamming
• 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 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a system for securing communications between an implantable wearable medical device (IWMD) and an external device (ED) is disclosed. The system includes a wireless radio frequency (RF) channel configured for communication between the IWMD and the ED. The system further includes a vibration-based side channel configured for verifying communication between the IWMD and the ED such that the RF channel is activated only when the IWMD detects a vibration signal generated by an ED.

Claims

1. A system for securing communications between an implantable wearable medical device (IWMD) and an external device (ED), the system comprising:

a wireless radio frequency (RF) channel configured for communication between the IWMD and the ED; and

a vibration-based side channel configured for verifying communication between the IWMD and the ED such that the RF channel is activated only when the IWMD detects a vibration signal generated by an ED.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a high-pass filter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the IWMD and ED each comprise a RF module for wireless communication.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the ED is a mobile device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the ED comprises a modulator and vibration source for transmitting vibration.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the ED comprises a speaker for masking the vibration source.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the IWMD includes an accelerometer and demodulator for receiving vibration.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein demodulation of the vibration signal is based on a combination of an amplitude gradient and amplitude mean of the signal waveform.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein an encryption key is transmitted through the vibration channel.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein wireless communication is encrypted if the IWMD receives the encryption key.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the IWMD performs a key reconciliation process if the encryption key includes ambiguous bits.

12. A method for securing radio frequency (RF) communication between an implantable wearable medical device (IWMD) and an external device (ED) comprising the steps of:

periodically activating the IWMD to detect a vibration signal;

placing the IWMD in a measurement mode if vibration is detected;

high-pass filtering vibrations below a predetermined frequency while the IWMD is in the measurement mode;

returning the IWMD to a standby mode if no vibration above the predetermined frequency is detected; and

activating an RF channel for secure communication if vibration is detected above the predetermined frequency.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a vibration signal from an ED.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising masking the vibration signal.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising demodulating the vibration signal based on a combination of an amplitude gradient and amplitude mean of the signal waveform.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting an encryption key through the vibration channel.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising encrypting RF communication if the IWMD receives the transmitted encryption key.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising performing a key reconciliation process if the transmitted encryption key includes ambiguous bits.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program for execution by a processor configured to perform a method of securing radio frequency (RF) communications between an implantable wearable medical device (IWMD) and an external device (ED), the method comprising:

periodically activating the IWMD to determine if a vibration signal exceeds a predetermined threshold;

placing the IWMD in a measurement mode if vibration is detected;

high-pass filtering vibration below a predetermined frequency while the IWMD is in the measurement mode;

returning the IWMD to a standby mode if no vibration above the predetermined frequency is detected; and

activating an RF channel for secure communication if vibration is detected above the predetermined frequency.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising demodulating the vibration signal based on a combination of an amplitude gradient and amplitude mean of the signal waveform.