System and method for authenticating components in wireless home entertainment system

• US 8,024,780 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2009
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: DaCosta, Behram Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; David Y
• Application Number:
  US12/574,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/225, 709/228, 709/229, 726/4, 726/22, 726/26
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/061 applying further key derivation, e.g. deriving traffic keys from a pair-wise master key
• 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: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

Configuration information is exchanged between a home entertainment system server and various wireless components by pushing a button on the server and a random button on a remote control device as it is pointed at the devices sought to be authenticated.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a computerized component in a home network with a computerized server in the network, comprising:

instructing a user to point wireless a remote control device at the server;

instructing a user to press a button indicating that authentication is impending, the button being on at least one of the server or the remote control device;

instructing a user to randomly select a button on the remote control device;

instructing a user to press the randomly selected button to generate a wireless signal;

instructing a user to point the remote control device at the component;

instructing a user to press the randomly selected button to generate the wireless signal;

from at least one of;

the server, or the component, sending a signal representing the wireless signal to the other of;

the server, or the component, which compares the wireless signal it received from the remote control device with the a signal assumed to represent the wireless signal and if a match is found, determines that authentication exists between the server and component and otherwise does not determine that authentication exists between the server and component.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising sending an authentication request message along with the signal representing the wireless signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the server and component communicate over a power line communication (PLC) system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the server and component communicate over a 802.11 system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the server is established by a set-top box receiver.

6. A method for authenticating a component in a home network with a server in the network, comprising:

instructing a user to point a remote control device at the server;

instructing a user to press a button indicating that authentication is impending, the button being on at least one of the server or the remote control device;

instructing a user to randomly select a button on the remote control device;

instructing a user to press the randomly selected button to generate a wireless signal;

at the server, deriving an encryption key from the wireless signal;

instructing a user to point the remote control device at the component;

instructing a user to press the randomly selected button to generate the wireless signal;

at the component, deriving the encryption key from the wireless signal; and

exchanging authentication information between the server and component, the authentication information being encrypted by the key.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the server and component communicate over a power line communication (PLC) system.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the server and component communicate over a 802.11 system.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the server is established by a set-top box receiver.