Method for identification using bluetooth wireless key

• US 7,545,795 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hinsey, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Matthew D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dao, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US10/911,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20060029015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 370/350, 370/329, 370/335, 370/337, 370/395.3, 370/342, 455/41.2, 235/486, 340/10.1, 340/10.42
• US Class Current: 370/350
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/01 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• 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 Bluetooth host solves the aforementioned problems by evaluating a Bluetooth service provider server ID and by determining which of a plurality of access IDs map to the server ID and, correspondingly, providing a Bluetooth access ID that corresponds thereto. Accordingly, one Bluetooth host may readily gain access to any one of a plurality of different devices and different types of devices. Additionally, the Bluetooth host includes capacity to store and provide additional supporting information according to the type of device that is the Bluetooth service provider. Generally, the Bluetooth host stores a plurality of access or link IDs in relation to a plurality of master device IDs and, upon detecting a beacon, determines what access or link ID to provide and whether to provide additional stored information.

Claims

1. A Bluetooth wireless transceiver host integrated circuit, comprising:

a Bluetooth protocol radio transceiver for a handheld host device that includes radio front-end circuitry and logic that generates radio frequency signals according to a Bluetooth communication protocol;

memory for storing a plurality of access IDs as well as service related access information in relation to Bluetooth server IDs;

a processor operatively coupled to communicate with the memory;

logic defining Bluetooth protocol operations including logic for providing a plurality of levels of security;

logic defining encryption operations;

logic for finding an access ID from the plurality of access IDs that corresponds to a received Bluetooth server ID; and

wherein the wireless transceiver host integrated circuit;

transmits an access ID to establish a Bluetooth communication link;

transmits, if required, service related access information to support a service;

maintains access ID and service related access information in relation to a plurality of Bluetooth communication device beacons; and

switches communications from one Bluetooth device that provides a service to another without having to re-establish a Bluetooth communication link.

2. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 1 further including logic for determining whether any additional information is stored and is to be produced to a Bluetooth server corresponding to the received Bluetooth server ID.

3. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the memory for storing the plurality of access IDs is EEPROM.

4. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the additional information is provided as a part of establishing a Bluetooth communication link.

5. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the additional information is provided after establishing a Bluetooth communication link.

6. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the Bluetooth host integrated circuit is formed within a watch.

7. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the Bluetooth host integrated circuit is formed within a pen.

8. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the Bluetooth host integrated circuit is formed within a badge.

9. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the Bluetooth host integrated circuit is formed within a smart credit card.

10. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the Bluetooth host integrated circuit is formed within decorative jewelry.

11. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the Bluetooth host integrated circuit is formed within a key.

12. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the Bluetooth host integrated circuit is operable to communicate with transceiver circuitry formed within a vehicle to provide access to the vehicle and to allow operation of the vehicle.

13. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the Bluetooth host integrated circuit is operable to communicate with transceiver circuitry formed within a point-of-entry access point to provide access through a controlled passageway.

14. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the Bluetooth host integrated circuit is operable to communicate with transceiver circuitry formed within a point-of-sale communication device to provide financial information to consummate a purchase.

15. The Bluetooth host integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the Bluetooth host integrated circuit is operable to communicate with transceiver circuitry formed within a personal computer to provide one of controlled or unlimited access to data and programs within the personal computer.

16. A transceiver host integrated circuit, comprising:

radio transceiver front-end circuitry for a handheld host device operable to transmit and receive RF signals on one of a plurality of RF frequencies;

memory for storing a plurality of access IDs in relation to server IDs;

a processor operatively coupled to communicate with the memory;

logic defining Bluetooth protocol operations for establishing a Bluetooth communication link with a Bluetooth device that provides a service and further including logic for providing a plurality of levels of security;

logic defining wireless local area network protocol operations for establishing a wireless local area network protocol link;

logic defining encryption operations;

logic for finding an access ID from the plurality of access IDs that corresponds to a received server ID; and

wherein the wireless transceiver host integrated circuit;

transmits an access ID to establish a Bluetooth communication link;

transmits, if required, service related access information to support a service;

maintains access ID and service related access information in relation to a plurality of Bluetooth communication device beacons; and

switches communications from one Bluetooth device to another without having to re-establish a Bluetooth communication.

17. The transceiver host integrated circuit of claim 16 further including logic for determining whether any additional information is stored and is to be produced to a Bluetooth server corresponding to the received server ID.

18. The transceiver host integrated circuit of claim 17 wherein the memory for storing the plurality of access IDs is LEPROM.

19. The transceiver host integrated circuit of claim 17 wherein the additional information is provided as a part of establishing a communication link.

20. The transceiver host integrated circuit of claim 17 wherein the additional information is provided after establishing a communication link.

21. A method for establishing a Bluetooth communication link within any one of a plurality of different types of Bluetooth servers, comprising:

detecting, in a handheld host device, a beacon transmitted by a Bluetooth communication device that provides a service, the beacon containing a Bluetooth server ID transmitted by a Bluetooth server;

retrieving a plurality of server access IDs from memory;

searching among the plurality of server access IDs to find an access ID that corresponds to the Bluetooth server ID;

transmitting the access ID to establish a Bluetooth communication link;

transmitting, if required, service related access information to support a service;

maintaining access ID and service related access information in relation to a plurality of Bluetooth communication device beacons; and

switching communications from one Bluetooth device that provides a service to another without having to re-establish a Bluetooth communication link.

22. A method for a Bluetooth transceiver, comprising:

searching for a beacon transmitted by a Bluetooth sewer;

extracting a sewer ID within the beacon and comparing the server ID to a plurality of stored sewer IDs stored in memory of a Bluetooth handheld host device;

determining a corresponding access ID;

obtaining a list of services from the Bluetooth server and selecting at least one service;

transmitting the access ID to establish a Bluetooth communication link;

transmitting, if required, service related access information to support a service;

maintaining access ID and service related access information in relation to a plurality of Bluetooth communication device beacons; and

switching communications from one Bluetooth device to another without having to re-establish a Bluetooth communication link.

23. The method of claim 22 further including browsing the list of services.

24. The method of claim 22 further including determining, based upon the selected service and the sewer ID, providing additional information in addition as a part of providing at least a portion of the two part ID.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the corresponding access ID is provided as a part of a security key.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the corresponding access ID is provided as a part of a link key.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the corresponding access ID is provided as a part of a combination key.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the corresponding access ID is provided as a part of a unit key.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein the corresponding access ID is provided as a part of a master key.

30. The method of claim 22 wherein the corresponding access ID is provided as a part of an initialization key.