Event triggered pairing of wireless communication devices based on time measurements

• US 8,762,715 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Bloebaum, Leland Scott, Camp, Jr., William O.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, PETER C
• Application Number:
  US12/624,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20110126009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 713/168
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/00 Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0825 using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3228 One-time or temporary data, i.e. information which is sent for every authentication or authorization, e.g. one-time-password, one-time-token or one-time-key
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3297 involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

An event-triggered pairing mechanism allows pairing wireless devices having short range interfaces (e.g., Bluetooth devices) by bumping the wireless devices together. A wireless device being paired with a connecting device detects a bump event; exchanges time information about the bump event with the connecting device; authenticates the connecting device based on the exchanged time information; and allows exchange of user data with the connecting device based on verification of the exchanged time information. Once the devices are paired, user content can be securely exchanged between the devices.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a wireless device of pairing with a connecting device, the method comprising:

detecting a bump event, wherein the bump event can be based on either sound or motion;

sending an authentication request to the connecting device responsive to the bump event;

receiving first time information from the connecting device responsive to the authentication request;

authenticating the connecting device based on the first time information;

sending an authentication reply to the connecting device responsive to authenticating the connecting device, said authentication reply containing second time information about the bump event to authenticate the wireless device to the connecting device; and

allowing exchange of user data with the connecting device upon receiving an acknowledgement that the wireless device was successfully authenticated by the connecting device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting a bump event comprises detecting at least one of sound or motion associated with the bump event.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second time information comprises one of the time of the bump event, an elapsed time from the bump event;

or a time interval between the first and second bumps in the bump event.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a private session key from at least one of the first and second time information; and

encrypting/decrypting data exchanged with the connecting device using the private session key.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving user input indicating selection of user content to be exchanged with the connecting device; and

transmitting the selected user content responsive to the bump event.

6. A wireless device capable of exchanging data with a connecting device, the wireless device comprising:

a short-range radio transceiver for communicating with other wireless devices;

a processing circuit unit operatively connected to the transceiver and configured to;

detect a bump event, wherein the bump event can be based on either sound or motion;

send an authentication request to the connecting device responsive to the bump event;

receive first time information from the connecting device responsive to the authentication request;

authenticate the connecting device based on the first time information;

send an authentication reply to the connecting device responsive to authenticating the connecting device, said authentication replay containing second time information about the bump event to authenticate the wireless device to the connecting device; and

allow exchange of user data with the connecting device upon receiving an acknowledgement that the wireless device was successfully authenticated by the connecting device.

7. The wireless device of claim 6 wherein the processing circuit detects at least one of sound or motion associated with the bump event.

8. The wireless device of claim 6 wherein each of the first and second time information comprises one of the time of the bump event, an elapsed time from the bump event;

or a time interval between the first and second bumps in the bump event.

9. The wireless device of claim 6 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

generate a private session key from at least one of the first and second time information; and

encrypt/decrypt data exchanged with the connecting device using the private session key.

10. The wireless device of claim 6 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

receive user input indicating selection of user content to be exchanged with the connecting device; and

transmit the selected user content responsive to the bump event.

11. A method implemented by a wireless device of pairing with a connecting device, the method comprising:

detecting a bump event, wherein the bump event can be based on either sound or motion;

receiving an authentication request from a connecting device responsive to the bump event;

sending, responsive to the authentication request, an authentication response containing first time information about the bump event to the connecting device to authenticate the wireless device to the connecting device;

receiving, from the connecting device, an authentication reply responsive to the authentication response, the authentication reply containing second time information about the bump event;

authenticating the connecting device based on the second time information; and

allowing exchange of user data with the connecting device if the connecting device is successfully authenticated.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the processing circuit detects at least one of sound or motion associated with the bump event.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein each of the first and second time information comprises one of the time of the bump event, an elapsed time from the bump event;

or a time interval between the first and second bumps in the bump event.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

generate a private session key from at least one of the first and second time information; and

encrypt/decrypt data exchanged with the connecting device using the private session key.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

receive user input indicating selection of user content to be exchanged with the connecting device; and

transmit the selected user content responsive to the bump event.

16. A wireless device comprising:

a short-range radio transceiver for communicating with other wireless devices;

a processing circuit unit operatively connected to the transceiver and configured to;

detect a bump event, wherein the bump event can be based on either sound or motion;

receive an authentication request from a connecting device responsive to the bump event;

send, responsive to the authentication request, an authentication response containing first time information about the bump event to the connecting device to authenticate the wireless device to the connecting device;

receive, from the connecting device, an authentication reply responsive to the authentication response, the authentication reply containing second time information about the bump event;

authenticate the connecting device based on the second time information; and

allow exchange of user data with the connecting device if the connecting device is successfully authenticated.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein detecting a bump event comprises detecting at least one of sound or motion associated with the bump event.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the time information comprises one of the time of the bump event, an elapsed time from the bump event;

or a time interval between the first and second bumps in the bump event.

19. The device of claim 16 further comprising:

generating a private session key from at least one of the first and second time information; and

encrypting/decrypting data exchanged with the connecting device using the private session key.

20. The device of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving user input indicating selection of user content to be exchanged with the connecting device; and

transmitting the selected user content responsive to the bump event.