Secure communications in a wireless system

• US 6,167,137 A
• Filed: 11/23/1999
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pittway Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Schmit, Thomas P., Marino, Francis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peeso, Thomas R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACK, TODD M
• Application Number:
  US09/447,778
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 380/255, 380/270, 380/271
• US Class Current: 380/255
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0023 with encription of the transmittted data signal
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00253 dynamically, e.g. variable code - rolling code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0891 Revocation or update of secret information, e.g. encryption key update or rekeying
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]

Abstract

Disclosed are three major aspects relating to wireless transmission of encrypted data messages in a security system wherein the receiver stores locally an encryption key utilized by the transmitting device to encrypt the data message and the receiver uses the encryption key to decrypt an encrypted data message, and wherein a sequence number generator is used to synchronously track the message sequence at both the transmitter and receiver. A first major aspect involves encrypted device registration (learning) methods that are user-friendly and immune from detection by technically skilled intruders with special RF equipment, and periodic user-friendly changing of the encryption key per encrypted transmitting device in the system. A second major aspect involves encrypted device de-registration (unlearning, or deletion) that is likewise user friendly. A third major aspect of the invention allows the receiver to process encrypted and non-encrypted messages, interchangeably, within the same wireless security system.

Claims

1. In a communications system comprising a plurality of remote transmitting devices and a receiving station having a receiver associated therewith, a method for determining whether a message received from a transmitting device is encrypted or unencrypted, said method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving at said receiving station a message from a transmitting device;

b) storing said message in a buffer;

c) analyzing a portion of said stored message to determine if was validly received;

d) further processing said message portion as a validly received unencrypted message when said message portion has been so determined to be validly received;

e) analyzing said stored message to determine if it was validly received when said message portion has been so determined to be not validly received;

f) further processing said stored message as an encrypted message when said stored message has been so determined to be validly received;

g) ignoring said stored message when said stored message has been so determined to be not validly received;

wherein said message portion comprises a message portion cyclic redundancy character, and wherein said message portion analyzing step comprises the step of performing a cyclic redundancy check routine on said message portion and comparing the results thereof to said message portion cyclic redundancy character.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said message comprises a message cyclic redundancy character, and wherein said message analyzing step comprises the step of performing a cyclic redundancy check routine on said message and comparing the results thereof to said message cyclic redundancy character.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said message portion comprises a message portion cyclic redundancy character, and wherein said message portion analyzing step comprises the step of performing a cyclic redundancy check routine on said message portion and comparing the results thereof to said message portion cyclic redundancy character.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said message portion cyclic redundancy character and said message cyclic redundancy character are located in different positions of said message.