Systems, devices, and methods for securely transmitting a security parameter to a computing device

• US 8,171,292 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Brown, Michael S., Little, Herbert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reza, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US12/420,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 713/171, 380/223, 380/228, 380/259, 380/278, 380/279
• US Class Current: 713/171
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• 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 63/18 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 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/08 Key distribution or management, e.g. generation, sharing or updating, of cryptographic keys or passwords network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting key management in a packet data network H04L63/06
• 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 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083

Abstract

Embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods described herein generally facilitate the secure transmittal of security parameters. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a representation of first data comprising a password is generated at the first computing device as an image or audio signal. The image or audio signal is transmitted from the first computing device to the second computing device. The password is determined from the image or audio signal at the second computing device. A key exchange is performed between the first computing device and the second computing device wherein a key is derived at each of the first and second computing devices. In at least one embodiment, one or more security parameters (e.g. one or more public keys) are exchanged between the first and second computing devices, and techniques for securing the exchange of security parameters or authenticating exchanged security parameters are generally disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting one or more security parameters from a first computing device to a second computing device, the method being performed at the first computing device, the method comprising:

generating an image for transmission to the second computing device, wherein the image is a representation of first data, the first data comprising a password, wherein the password is not derived from the one or more security parameters;

transmitting the image to the second computing device at which the password is determinable from the image; and

performing a key exchange with the second computing device over a communication channel between the first and second computing devices, wherein second data is exchanged between the first and second computing devices in accordance with a key exchange protocol, such that a key is derived at each of the first and second computing devices using the password, and wherein the one or more security parameters is transmitted to the second computing device during the key exchange;

wherein said performing further comprises

computing a confirmation value based on at least the one or more security parameters and the key derived at the first computing device, and

transmitting the confirmation value to the second computing device, wherein the one or more security parameters are authenticated when the confirmation value is successfully verified at the second computing device;

and wherein the one or more security parameters comprise one or more public keys stored on the first computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting the image to the second computing device is performed when the first and second computing devices are in close physical proximity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirmation value comprises a keyed-hash message authentication code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the key exchange protocol comprises a SPEKE protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the image comprises a barcode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at the transmitting, the image is transmitted via a display of the first computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data further comprises routing data associated with the first computing device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the routing data associated with the first computing device comprises a PIN associated with the first computing device, and wherein the communication channel between the first and second computing devices comprises a PIN-to-PIN channel.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the password, wherein the password is generated as a random number or string.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the password is generated for a single instance of said generating the image.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving one or more second security parameters from the second computing device, receiving a second confirmation value from the second computing device, and verifying the second confirmation value.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one computing device selected from the following group comprises a mobile device:

the first computing device, and the second computing device.

13. A first computing device comprising a processor and a memory, the processor configured to perform a method of transmitting one or more security parameters to a second computing device by executing one or more application modules, said one or more application modules comprising:

a module configured to generate an image for transmission to the second computing device, wherein the image is a representation of first data, the first data comprising a password, wherein the password is not derived from the one or more security parameters;

a module configured to transmit the image to the second computing device at which the password is determinable from the image; and

a module configured to perform a key exchange with the second computing device over a communication channel between the first and second computing devices, wherein second data is exchanged between the first and second computing devices in accordance with a key exchange protocol, such that a key is derived at each of the first and second computing devices using the password, and wherein the one or more security parameters is transmitted to the second computing device during the key exchange;

wherein said module configured to perform a key exchange is further configured to

compute a confirmation value based on at least the one or more security parameters and the key derived at the first computing device, and to

transmit the confirmation value to the second computing device, wherein the one or more security parameters are authenticated when the confirmation value is successfully verified at the second computing device

and wherein the one or more security parameters comprise one or more public keys stored on the first computing device.

14. The first computing device of claim 13, wherein at least one computing device selected from the following group comprises a mobile device:

the first computing device, and the second computing device.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of a first computing device, cause the first computing device to perform acts of a method of transmitting one or more security parameters to a second computing device, the method performed at the first computing device, the acts comprising:

generating an image for transmission to the second computing device, wherein the image is a representation of first data, the first data comprising a password, wherein the password is not derived from the one or more security parameters;

transmitting the image to the second computing device at which the password is determinable from the image; and

performing a key exchange with the second computing device over a communication channel between the first and second computing devices, wherein second data is exchanged between the first and second computing devices in accordance with a key exchange protocol, such that a key is derived at each of the first and second computing devices using the password, and wherein the one or more security parameters is transmitted to the second computing device during the key exchange;

wherein said performing further comprises

computing a confirmation value based on at least the one or more security parameters and the key derived at the first computing device, and

transmitting the confirmation value to the second computing device, wherein the one or more security parameters are authenticated when the confirmation value is successfully verified at the second computing device;

and wherein the one or more security parameters comprise one or more public keys stored on the first computing device.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein at least one computing device selected from the following group comprises a mobile device:

the first computing device, and the second computing device.