Security apparatus and method during BLUETOOTH pairing
First Claim
1. A method of providing security during a pairing operation of a wireless network device, comprising:
- entering a low power pairing mode within said wireless network device, said wireless network device comprised of said low power pairing mode and a high power communications mode;
receiving data associated with network establishment during said low power pairing mode; and
rejecting said received data if transmitted with said high power communications mode;
wherein said low power pairing mode is based upon a power level to allow close range communications with enhanced security.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A BLUETOOTH device is provided wherein the output RF transmission power level during pairing is purposefully reduced from otherwise conventional or normal communication levels to a low power level, greatly reducing the range of possible interception. Security can be improved even more by further reducing the transmit power even below that defined for a class 2 radio to an extremely low power level. After the link keys have been passed and/or other pairing processes, the BLUETOOTH devices may safely return to normal power levels to continue communications. In an alternative embodiment, a BLUETOOTH device may be required to transmit data keys (e.g., a link key) and/or other pairing operations over a temporary wired connection (or temporary line-of-sight or near line-of-sight connection such as infrared) to another BLUETOOTH device.
115 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of providing security during a pairing operation of a wireless network device, comprising:
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entering a low power pairing mode within said wireless network device, said wireless network device comprised of said low power pairing mode and a high power communications mode; receiving data associated with network establishment during said low power pairing mode; and rejecting said received data if transmitted with said high power communications mode; wherein said low power pairing mode is based upon a power level to allow close range communications with enhanced security. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for securely transmitting a data key from a wireless network device, comprising:
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transmitting with an RF front end of said wireless network device said data key to another network device during a pairing operation with a low power pairing mode; rejecting received data if transmitted with a high power communications mode; and after said data key has been transmitted, resetting said RF front end of said wireless network device to transmit with a high power communications mode. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for providing security during a pairing operation of a wireless network device, comprising:
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means for entering a low power pairing mode within said wireless network device, said wireless network device comprised of said low power pairing mode and a high power communications mode; means for receiving data during said low power pairing mode; and means for rejecting said received data if transmitted with said high power communications mode; wherein said low power pairing mode is based upon a power level to allow close range communications with enhanced security. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for securely transmitting a data key from a wireless network device, comprising:
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means for transmitting with an RF front end of said wireless network device said data key to another network device during a pairing operation with a low power pairing mode; rejecting received data if transmitted with a high power communications mode; and means for resetting said RF front end of said wireless network device to transmit at with a high power communications mode after said data key has been transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification