Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, program, and wireless communication system

• US 7,873,836 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Rekimoto, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand; Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanders; Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/155,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20060002558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,038 Days
• Field of Search: 726/201, 713/189, 380/270
• US Class Current: 713/189
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0662 with particular pseudorandom sequence generator
• 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: H04L 9/3239 involving non-keyed hash functions, e.g. modification detection codes [MDCs], MD5, SHA or RIPEMD
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

The present invention provides a wireless communication system having a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus communicating with each other in a wireless manner. The first information processing apparatus includes first transmission means for transmitting a wireless signal for computing a position of the first information processing apparatus to a second information processing apparatus. The second information processing apparatus includes first reception means, computation means, determination means, and second transmission means. The first information processing apparatus further includes second reception means for receiving the data transmitted from the second information processing apparatus.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus communicating with each other in a wireless manner,

said first information processing apparatus including

first transmission means for initially transmitting a wireless signal for computing a location of said first information processing apparatus to said second information processing apparatus; and

said second information processing apparatus including

first reception means for receiving said wireless signal, transmitted from said first information processing apparatus, at a plurality of positions;

computation means for computing said location of said first information processing apparatus on the basis of reception times of said wireless signal received at said plurality of positions;

determination means for determining whether said computed location of said first information processing apparatus is inside a predetermined area; and

second transmission means for transmitting, if said computed location of said first information processing apparatus is found inside said predetermined area, data necessary for encrypting or decrypting information to be communicated between said first information processing apparatus and said second information processing apparatus;

said first information processing apparatus further including

second reception means for receiving said data transmitted from said second information processing apparatus;

first hash value generating means for generating a first hash value of said data; and

first display means for displaying said generated first hash value; and

said second information processing apparatus further includes,

second hash value generating means for generating a second hash value of said data; and

second display means for displaying said generated second hash value.

2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein said first transmission means transmits said wireless signal for computing said location of said first information processing apparatus to said second information processing apparatus in a UWB (Ultra Wide Band) manner, and

said first reception means receives said wireless signal at said plurality of positions in a UWB manner.

3. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein said first information processing apparatus further comprises:

first hash value generating means for generating a first hash value of said data; and

first display means for displaying an image that is identified by said first hash value; and

said second information processing apparatus further comprises;

second hash value generating means for generating a second hash value of said data; and

second display means for displaying an image that is identified by said second hash value.

10. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein said second information processing apparatus further includes,

session key generating means for generating a session key when said computed location of said first information processing apparatus is found inside said predetermined area;

session key encrypting means for encrypting the session key using a public key; and

session key transmitting means for transmitting the encrypted session key to said first information processing apparatus, and

said first information processing apparatus further includes,

session key receiving means for receiving the encrypted session key from said second information processing apparatus; and

session key decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted session key using a private key.

4. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

reception means for receiving a wireless signal, transmitted from an opposite party, at a plurality of positions;

computation means for computing a location of said opposite party on the basis of reception times of said wireless signal received at said plurality of positions;

determination means for determining whether said computed location of said opposite party is inside a predetermined area;

transmission means for transmitting, if said computed location of said opposite party is found inside said predetermined area, data necessary for encrypting or decrypting information to be communicated between said opposite party and said information processing apparatus;

hash value generating means for generating a hash value of said data; and

display means for displaying said generated hash value.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the display means displays an image that is identified by said hash value.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

session key generating means for generating a session key when said computed location of said another information processing apparatus is found inside said predetermined area;

session key encrypting means for encrypting the session key using a public key; and

session key transmitting means for transmitting the encrypted session key to said another information processing apparatus, wherein

said another information processing apparatus receives the encrypted session key and decrypts the encrypted session key using a private key.

5. An information processing method performed by a computer configured as an information processing apparatus, comprising:

controlling, by a processor of the information processing apparatus, reception of a wireless signal, transmitted from another information processing apparatus, at a plurality of positions;

computing a location of said another information processing apparatus on the basis of reception times of said wireless signal received at said plurality of positions; and

determining whether said computed location of said another information processing apparatus is inside a predetermined area;

transmitting, if said computed location of said another information processing apparatus is found inside said predetermined area, data necessary for encrypting or decrypting information to be communicated between said another information processing apparatus and said information processing apparatus;

generating a hash value of said data; and

displaying said generated hash value.

8. The information processing method according to claim 5, wherein

displaying said generated hash value includes displaying an image that is identified by said hash value.

12. The information processing method according to claim 5, further comprising:

generating, in the processor, a session key when said computed location of said another information processing apparatus is found inside said predetermined area;

encrypting, in the processor, the session key using a public key;

transmitting, from said information processing apparatus, the encrypted session key to said another information processing apparatus;

receiving, at said another information processing apparatus, the encrypted session key; and

decrypting, in said another information processing apparatus, the encrypted session key using a private key.

6. A computer-readable storage medium having embedded therein instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

controlling, by a processor of the information processing apparatus, reception of a wireless signal, transmitted from another information processing apparatus, at a plurality of positions;

computing a location of said another information processing apparatus on the basis of reception times of said wireless signal received at said plurality of positions; and

determining whether said computed location of said another information processing apparatus is inside a predetermined area;

transmitting, if said computed location of said another information processing apparatus is found inside said predetermined area, data necessary for encrypting or decrypting information to be communicated between said another information processing apparatus and said information processing apparatus;

generating a hash value of said data; and

displaying said generated hash value.

9. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 6, wherein

displaying said generated hash value includes displaying an image that is identified by said hash value.

13. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 6, further comprising:

generating, in the processor, a session key when said computed location of said another information processing apparatus is found inside said predetermined area;

encrypting, in the processor, the session key using a public key;

transmitting, from said information processing apparatus, the encrypted session key to said another information processing apparatus;

receiving, at said another information processing apparatus, the encrypted session key; and

decrypting, in said another information processing apparatus, the encrypted session key using a private key.