Device pairing via device to device contact

• US 7,925,022 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K. Y., Malamud, Mark A., Cohen, Alexander J., Lord, Robert W., Levien, Royce A., Rinaldo, Jr., John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moazzami, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): Traore, Fatoumata
• Application Number:
  US11/136,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20070003061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,150 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/65 Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A system may include and/or involve a first device, a second device, and logic to effect pairing of the first and second devices upon detection of physical contact between the devices.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

at least one contact sensor;

logic to enable the device to wirelessly exchange with at least one other device and prior to physical contact with the at least one other device information needed for pairing;

logic to determine one or more indications of contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor;

logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement associated with contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor;

logic to, in response to at least one of the one or more indications of contact, prompt for at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input; and

logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information and the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

logic to detect increasing proximity of the at least one other device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement associated with contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor comprises:

logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including multiple instances of contact.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement associated with contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor comprises:

logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including one or more intensities of contact.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information and the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device comprises:

logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information and the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device with at least one function greater than and/or different from that which would be available without contact.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information and the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device comprises:

logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information and the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device the extent of which varies according to the one or more relative contact motions.

7. A method comprising:

wirelessly exchanging with at least one other device and prior to physical contact with the at least one other device information needed for pairing between the devices;

determining one or more indications of contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor;

determining one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement associated with contact of the at least one other device with the at least one contact sensor;

in response to at least one of the one or more indications of contact, prompting for at least one voice input, biometric input, and/or key input; and

in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, applying the wirelessly exchanged information and the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting increasing proximity of the at least one other device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the wirelessly exchanging with at least one other device and prior to physical contact with the at least one other device information needed for pairing comprises:

wirelessly exchanging with at least one other device and prior to physical contact with the at least one other device information needed for pairing including at least one of authentication, authorization, and/or compatibility information needed for pairing.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, applying the wirelessly exchanged information and the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device comprises:

in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, applying the wirelessly exchanged information and the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device the extent of which varies according to at least one of user identification and device identification.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, applying the wirelessly exchanged information and the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device comprises:

in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, applying the wirelessly exchanged information and the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing with the at least one other device the extent of which varies according to the one or more relative contact motions.

12. A system comprising:

at least one first device;

at least one second device;

logic to enable the at least one first device and the at least one second device to wirelessly exchange information needed for pairing prior to physical contact between the devices;

logic to determine one or more indications of contact between the devices;

logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement associated with contact between the devices;

logic to, in response to at least one of the one or more indications of contact, prompt for at least one voice input, biometric input, and/or key input; and

logic to, in response to receiving the at least one of voice input, biometric input, and/or key input, apply the wirelessly exchanged information and the one or more pairing parameters to effect pairing of the devices.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

logic to interrupt pairing if contact between the devices is broken.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement associated with contact between the devices comprises:

logic to determine one or more pairing parameters in response to one or more relative contact motions including at least one of rotation, angle, and/or movement occurring at and/or during contact between the devices.