User transparent registration process for secure communication

• US 7,649,997 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Alrabady, Ansaf I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moazzami; Nasser G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Traore; Fatoumata
• Application Number:
  US10/897,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20060003737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• Field of Search: 380/70, 380/248, 380/277, 380/270
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0844 with user authentication or key authentication, e.g. ElGamal, MTI, MQV-Menezes-Qu-Vanstone protocol or Diffie-Hellman protocols using implicitly-certified keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method for secure communication. The method includes receiving a request at a first device to communicate with a second device. The method also includes determining if an encryption key exists between the first device and the second device. Creation of the encryption key is initiated in response to a determination that that encryption key does not exist. The initiation of the creation of the encryption key occurs without user input. The method further includes communicating with the second device using the encryption key and performing user authentication of the communication.

Claims

1. A method for secure communication, the method comprising:

detecting a first device in proximity to a second device, wherein the detecting is performed using a gateway communication link;

receiving a request at the first device to communicate with the second device to establish an audio conversation between a plurality of users;

automatically performing a registration process using a key exchange protocol in response to receiving the request, the registration process comprising;

determining existence of an encryption key between the first device and the second device; and

initiating creation of the encryption key in response to a determination that the encryption key does not exist, the initiating occurring without user input, and wherein the creation includes;

at each of the first device and the second device, generating a unique public key, exchanging the unique public keys, and creating an encryption key based on the exchanged unique public key;

communicating with the second device using the encryption key to secure the audio conversation;

wherein the first device is a vehicle and the second device is a telephone, the first device and second device communicating via wireless link, and further wherein the gateway communication link is interfaced to a human-vehicle interface (HVI) over a vehicle network, the HVI enabling one of the plurality of users to initiate the request; and

performing user authentication of the communication.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the initiating includes:

transmitting a command to the second device, the command including instructions to create the encryption key on the second device; and

executing a command on the first device, the command including instructions to create the encryption key on the first device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the creation further includes:

transmitting a request for a second device public key to the second device;

receiving the second device public key from the second device; and

creating the encryption key in response to a first device private key and the second device public key, wherein the first device private key is selected independently of a second device private key.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the creation further includes:

creating a first device public key responsive to the first device private key; and

transmitting the first device public key to the second device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device and the second device utilize mathematically related algorithms.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device is a Bluetooth enabled cellular telephone.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the request is received from a driver of a vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the request is received from the first device or the second device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the user authentication is voice authentication.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the conversation further includes visual content and the user authentication is visual authentication.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the communicating includes using the encryption key to encrypt a message being sent to the second device.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the communicating includes using the encryption key to decrypt a message being received from the second device.

13. A system for secure communication, the system comprising:

a first device connected via a network to a second device, the first device including instructions to implement a method comprising;

detecting the first device in proximity to the second device, wherein the detecting is performed using a gateway communication link;

receiving a request at the first device to communicate with the second device to establish an audio conversation between a plurality of users;

automatically performing a registration process using a key exchange protocol in response to receiving the request, the registration process comprising;

determining existence of an encryption key between the first device and the second device; and

initiating creation of the encryption key in response to a determination that the encryption key does not exist, the initiating occurring without user input, and wherein the creation includes;

at each of the first device and the second device, generating a unique public key, exchanging the unique public keys, and creating an encryption key based on the exchanged unique public key;

communicating with the second device using the encryption key to secure the audio conversation;

wherein the first device is a vehicle and the second device is a telephone, the first device and second device communicating via wireless link, and further wherein the gateway communication link is interfaced to a human-vehicle interface (HVI) over a vehicle network, the HVI enabling one of the plurality of users to initiate the request; and

performing user authentication of the communication.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the network is a bluetooth network.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the network is a local area network.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the network is a short range communication network.

17. A computer program product for secure communication, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising;

detecting a first device in proximity to a second device, wherein the detecting is performed using a gateway communication link;

receiving a request at the first device to communicate with the second device to establish an audio conversation between a plurality of users;

automatically performing a registration process using a key exchange protocol in response to receiving the request, the registration process comprising;

determining existence of an encryption key between the first device and the second device; and

initiating creation of the encryption key in response to a determination that the encryption key does not exist, the initiating occurring without user input, and wherein the creation includes;

at each of the first device and the second device, generating a unique public key, exchanging the unique public keys, and creating an encryption key based on the exchanged unique public key;

communicating with the second device using the encryption key to secure the audio conversation;

wherein the first device is a vehicle and the second device is a telephone, the first device and second device communicating via wireless link, and further wherein the gateway communication link is interfaced to a human-vehicle interface (HVI) over a vehicle network, the HVI enabling one of the plurality of users to initiate the request; and

performing user authentication of the communication.

18. A method for secure communication, the method comprising:

receiving a request at a human vehicle interface (HVI) to communicate between a vehicle and a cellular telephone to establish an audio conversation between a plurality of users, wherein the request is one of an initiated call and a received call;

automatically performing a registration process using a key exchange protocol in response to receiving the request, the registration process comprising;

determining existence of an encryption key between the vehicle and the cellular telephone; and

initiating creation of the encryption key in response to a determination that the encryption key does not exist, the initiating occurring without user input, and wherein the creation includes;

at each of the vehicle and the cellular telephone, generating a unique public key, exchanging the unique public keys, and creating an encryption key based on the exchanged unique public key;

communicating with the cellular telephone using the encryption key to secure the audio conversation; and

wherein the vehicle and the cellular telephone communicating via wireless link, and

performing user authentication of the communication.