Wireless Pairing of Personal Health Device with a Computing Device

• US 20180152837A1
• Filed: 01/24/2018
• Published: 05/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Trividia Health, Inc. (Sinocare, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trividia Health, Inc. (Sinocare, Inc.)
• Inventors: Modzelewski, Brent E., Leone, Steven V.
• Granted Patent: US 10,285,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• 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 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 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 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/65 Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data

Abstract

Systems and methods for the wireless pairing of a personal health device (PHD) (e.g., blood glucose monitor) with a computing device (e.g., smartphone) are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the PHD communicates a private key to the computing device via a first communication medium (e.g., light signal, audio signal, pattern). The PHD receives from the computing device via a second wireless communication medium (e.g., Bluetooth® or WiFi) pairing information including the private key. The PHD can then establish a secure communication channel with the computing device by pairing the PHD to the computing device.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a personal health device comprising a hardware processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the hardware processor; and

a computing device in communication with the personal health device via first communication medium and a second communication medium,

wherein the program logic comprises;

transmitting logic executed by the hardware processor for communicating, to the computing device via a first communication medium, a private key comprising an optical signal, an audio signal, or a pattern displayed on a display device;

receiving logic executed by the hardware processor for receiving, from the computing device via a second wireless communication medium comprising a wireless communication channel and being different than the first communication medium, pairing information encrypted using the private key; and

pairing logic executed by the hardware processor for pairing the personal health device to the computing device upon receiving of the pairing information.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting logic for communicating, to the computing device via the first communication medium, the private key further comprises transmitting logic executed by the hardware processor for transmitting, to the computing device, an optical signal.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting logic for communicating, to the computing device via the first communication medium, the private key further comprises transmitting logic executed by the hardware processor for transmitting, to the computing device, an audio signal.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting logic for communicating, to the computing device via the first communication medium, the private key further comprises displaying logic executed by the hardware processor for displaying a pattern, on a display device.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting logic for communicating, to the computing device via the first communication medium, the private key further comprises transmitting logic executed by the hardware processor for transmitting, to the computing device over a wired communication link, the private key.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the pairing logic further comprises key changing logic executed by the hardware processor for changing the private key.

7. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising generating logic executed by the hardware processor for generating the private key.

8. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a barcode for communication to the computing device via the first communication medium.

9. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising pairing initiation logic executed by the hardware processor for configuring the personal health device to be in a mode to initiate pairing.

10. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the personal health device does not comprise a near field communication (NFC) chip.

11. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising an embedded RFID tag for communicating the private key to the computing device via the first communication medium using near field communication.

12. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a private key from a hardware processor of a personal health device via a first communication medium, the private key comprising an optical signal, an audio signal, or a pattern displayed on a display device; and

transmitting, by the computing device, pairing information encrypted using the private key to the hardware processor of the personal health device via a second wireless communication medium different than the first communication medium,

wherein upon receiving of the pairing information by the hardware processor of the personal health device, the hardware processor of the personal health device is paired to the computing device using the pairing information comprising the private key.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein in the receiving step, the private key comprises an audio signal.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein in the receiving step, the private key comprises a pattern.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the pairing the personal health device to the computing device further comprises changing the private key.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the private key is generated by the hardware processor of the personal health device.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the private key further comprises enabling capture of a barcode on the personal health device by the computing device.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising configuring computing device to enable the personal health device to be in a mode to initiate pairing.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving , by the computing device, an embedded RFID tag via near field communication.