System and method for authenticating a request for access to a secured device

• US 8,627,433 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Conner, Bruce D., Patel, Vipul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smithers, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US13/249,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20130086664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 726/7, 726/2, 726/14, 713/168, 713/172
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/224 with countermeasures at transmission and/or reception of the jammed signal, e.g. stopping operation of transmitter or receiver, nulling or enhancing transmitted power in direction of or at frequency of jammer
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/226 Selection of non-jammed channel for communication spectrum sharing arrangements H04W16/14; selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/25 based on characteristics of target signal or of transmission as countermeasure against surveillance H04K3/827, e.g. using direct sequence spread spectrum or fast frequency hopping spread spectrum techniques H04B1/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

A method for authenticating a request for access comprises monitoring one or more ambient transmissions present in a local environment, analyzing the one or more ambient transmissions to create a characterization thereof, and transmitting information configured to instruct a security token regarding characteristics of an adapted transmission protocol based on the characterization. The adapted transmission protocol is configured for decreasing a likelihood of interference by the one or more ambient transmissions with reception of an authentication transmission from the security token. An authentication transmission comprising authentication information is received from the security token, and the security token is authenticated based on the authentication information. In response to a request for access, a signal is transmitted to a controller indicating the request is authentic. A system for authenticating a request for access comprises a secured device configured for use with a security token and for monitoring one or more ambient transmissions.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a request for access to a secured device configured for use with a security token, the method comprising:

monitoring one or more ambient transmissions present in a local environment;

analyzing the one or more ambient transmissions to create a characterization of the one or more ambient transmissions, the characterization comprising a schedule of one or more attributes of each of the one or more ambient transmissions as a function of time;

transmitting information configured to instruct a security token regarding characteristics of an adapted transmission protocol based on the characterization, the adapted transmission protocol for use by the security token to transmit authentication information, the adapted transmission protocol being configured for decreasing a likelihood of interference by the one or more ambient transmissions with reception of an authentication transmission from the security token;

receiving an authentication transmission from the security token, the authentication transmission comprising authentication information;

authenticating the security token based on the authentication information; and

in response to a request for access, transmitting a signal to a controller indicating the request is authentic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring comprises distinguishing, from the one or more ambient transmissions, any transmissions that are of a type corresponding to those expected to be transmitted by a security token configured for use in connection with the secured device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of monitoring includes determining whether the one or more ambient transmission bears characteristics according to a known protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting data encoded in the one or more ambient transmissions.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising decrypting the data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of authenticating comprises determining whether the information matches a predefined identity string.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting an adapted transmission protocol from a set of pre-defined adapted transmission protocols.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the one or more ambient transmissions are continuous.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising assessing a strength of the one or more ambient transmissions.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the interfering character of the one or more ambient transmissions.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of reducing comprises attenuating the one or more ambient transmissions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of attenuating comprises reducing a gain of an amplifier that processes the one or more ambient transmissions.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of attenuating comprises filtering the one or more ambient transmissions.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of attenuating comprises altering the effectiveness of an antenna through which the one or more ambient transmissions are received.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing comprises mapping a periodically recurring schedule of on- and off-cycles as a function of time.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing comprises tracking a signal strength, a baud rate, and a frequency profile of the one or more ambient transmissions as a function of time.

17. A system for authenticating a request, the system comprising a secured device and a security token,

the secured device being configured to monitor one or more ambient transmissions present in a local environment, to analyze the one or more ambient transmissions to create a characterization thereof, and to transmit information configured to instruct the security token regarding characteristics of an adapted transmission protocol based on the characterization, the characterization comprising a schedule of one or more attributes of each of the one or more ambient transmissions as a function of time, the adapted transmission protocol being for use by the security token to transmit authentication information, and the adapted transmission protocol being configured for decreasing a likelihood of interference by the one or more ambient transmissions with reception of an authentication transmission from the security token;

the security token being configured to transmit an authentication transmission containing authentication information in accordance with the adapted transmission protocol; and

the secured device being further configured to receive the authentication transmission from the security token, to authenticate the security token based on the authentication information; and

, in response to a request for access, to transmit a signal to a controller indicating the request is authentic.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the secured device is configured to distinguish, from the one or more ambient transmissions, any transmissions that are of a type corresponding to those expected to be transmitted by a security token configured for use in connection with the secured device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the secured device is configured to determine whether the one or more ambient transmission bears characteristics according to a known protocol.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the secured device is configured to reduce the interfering character of the one or more ambient transmissions by attenuating the one or more ambient transmissions.