System and method for anonymous Bluetooth devices

• US 7,245,602 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Dent, Paul, Rydbeck, Nils, Skubic, Janez, Gehrman, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Ricky Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATTIS, JASON E
• Application Number:
  US09/802,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20020131445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,323 Days
• Field of Search: 370310-350, 370/474
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5053 Lease time; Renewal aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/75 Temporary identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling anonymous communications from a first Bluetooth device to a second Bluetooth device is disclosed wherein a temporary identification number associated with the first Bluetooth device is obtained and used in transmissions from the first Bluetooth device to the second Bluetooth device. A temporary identification number provides no clear indication of the particular Bluetooth communications device transmitting messages.

Claims

1. A method of communicating from a first wireless network device to a second wireless network device using a wireless network communications protocol without revealing an identity of the first wireless network device to a third party, comprising the steps of:

generating a random identification number at the first wireless network device;

using the random identification number to request a temporary identification number for the first wireless network device from a source located remotely from the first wireless network device;

receiving the temporary identification number from the remote source responsive to the request; and

transmitting information from the first wireless network device to the second wireless network device utilizing the temporary identification number instead of the identity of the first wireless network device, wherein the step of generating a random identification number comprises the step of randomly generating a portion of bits comprising a wireless network device address.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of periodically regenerating the portion of the bits comprising the wireless network device address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a random identification number comprises the step of randomly generating 32 bits of the 48 bits of the wireless network device addresses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a random identification number comprises the step of randomly generating lower address part (LAP) and upper address part (UAP) fields of a wireless network device address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote source is a device that is not operating according to the wireless network communication protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote source is a device operating according to the wireless network communications protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of randomly generating includes:

storing multiple temporary identification numbers within the first wireless network device; and

randomly selecting one of the multiple temporary identification numbers as the random identification number for the first wireless network device.