Battery pack authentication for a mobile communication device

• US 8,278,870 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Little, Herbert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): STERNBANE, LAURENCE J
• Application Number:
  US12/709,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20100148721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/573, 320/106
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2103 Challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Various embodiments are described herein for a mobile communication device that authenticates a smart battery prior to use. The mobile device includes a main processor and a device memory. The device memory stores first and second portions of security information used for authentication. The smart battery includes a battery processor and a battery memory. The battery memory stores a third portion of security information used for authentication. The main processor sends an authentication request including the first portion of security information to the battery processor, and the battery processor generates a response based on the first and third portions of security information and sends the generated response to the main processor. The smart battery is authenticated if the generated response matches the second portion of security information.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a main processor for controlling operation of the mobile communication device;

a device memory coupled to the main processor, the device memory being adapted for storing first and second portions of security information used for authentication; and

,

a smart battery coupled to the main processor, the smart battery being adapted to provide supply power to the mobile communication device, the smart battery comprising;

a battery processor for controlling operation of the smart battery and communicating with the main processor; and

a battery memory coupled to the battery processor, the battery memory being adapted for storing information including a third portion of security information used for authentication;

wherein the main processor is configured to send an authentication request including the first portion of security information to the battery processor,

wherein the battery processor is configured to generate a response based on the first and third portions of security information and send the generated response to the main processor,

wherein the smart battery is authenticated if the generated response matches the second portion of security information, and

wherein when a smart battery fails authentication, the main processor is configured to allow charging of that unauthenticated smart battery to a predetermined less than full charge capacity, if said battery is in an under-voltage condition.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1,

wherein the first portion of security information comprises a pre-computed challenge,

wherein the second portion of security information comprises a corresponding pre-computed response generated by operating on the pre-computed challenge with a cryptographic method and a private key,

wherein the third portion of security information includes the cryptographic method and the private key, and

wherein the cryptographic method and the private key are stored in the smart battery and not on the mobile communication device.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2,

wherein after the authentication request is made by the main processor, the battery processor is configured to generate a response based on the pre-computed challenge, the private key and the cryptographic method, and

wherein the smart battery is authenticated if the generated response matches the corresponding pre-computed response stored on the device memory.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein if the smart battery fails authentication, the main processor is configured to allow the mobile communication device to continue operating for a limited time duration.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein if the smart battery fails authentication, the main processor is configured to control radio access of the mobile communication device.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein several sets of first and second portions of security information are stored on the device memory, and wherein the main processor is configured to perform authentication on the smart battery using one or more of the several sets of first and second portions of security information.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the main processor and the smart battery are coupled via a data line with a maximum data rate of approximately 300 bits per second.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the under-voltage condition occurs when a termination voltage of the smart battery is approximately 2.5 V, and wherein the pre-determined charge capacity of the smart battery is approximately 3.0 V.

9. A method for authenticating a smart battery for use with a mobile communication device that includes a main processor, a device memory and the smart battery including a battery processor and a battery memory, the method comprising:

storing first and second portions of security information used for authentication on the device memory;

storing a third portion of security information used for authentication on the battery memory but not on the mobile communication device;

sending an authentication request and the first portion of security information from the main processor to the smart battery;

generating a response at the smart battery based on the first and third portions of security information and sending the generated response to the main processor;

comparing the generated response with the second portion of security information at the main processor and authenticating the smart battery if the generated response matches the second portion of security information; and

wherein when a smart battery fails authentication, allowing charging of that unauthenticated smart battery to a predetermined less than full charge capacity, if said battery is in an under-voltage condition.

10. The method of claim 9,

wherein the first portion of security information comprises a pre-computed challenge,

wherein the second portion of security information comprises a corresponding pre-computed response generated by operating on the pre-computed challenge with a cryptographic method and a private key, and

wherein the third portion of security information includes the cryptographic method and the private key.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising, in the case of non-authentication, repeating authentication several times to determine that non-authentication is not due to a data transmission error for data transmission between the main processor and the battery processor.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising, if the smart battery fails authentication, allowing operation of the mobile communication device to continue for a limited time duration.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising, if the smart battery fails authentication, controlling radio access of the mobile communication device.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing several sets of first and second portions of security information on the device memory and performing authentication on the smart battery using one or more of the several sets of first and second portions of security information.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising coupling the main processor and the smart battery via a data line having a maximum data rate of approximately 300 bits per second.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the under-voltage condition occurs when a termination voltage of the smart battery is approximately 2.5 V, and wherein the minimum charge capacity of the smart battery is approximately 3.0 V.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising encrypting the pre-computed challenge.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating a random number for the pre-computed challenge.

19. The method of claim 9, further comprising authenticating the smart battery each time the mobile communication device is turned on.

20. A mobile communication device comprising:

a main processor for controlling operation of the mobile communication device;

a device memory coupled to the main processor, the device memory being adapted for storing first and second portions of security information used for authentication; and

,

a smart battery coupled to the main processor, the smart battery being adapted to provide supply power to the mobile communication device, the smart battery comprising;

a battery processor for controlling operation of the smart battery and communicating with the main processor; and

a battery memory coupled to the battery processor, the battery memory being adapted for storing information including a third portion of security information used for authentication;

battery authentication means for authenticating the smart battery by, sending an authentication request including the first portion of security information to the battery processor, receiving from the battery processor a response generated based on the first and third portions of security information, and determining that the smart battery is authenticated if the generated response matches the second portion of security information; and

battery charging means for allowing charging of an unauthenticated smart battery to a predetermined less than full charge capacity, when said battery fails authentication and if said battery is in an under-voltage condition.