Providing enhanced security for wireless telecommunications devices

• US 8,792,862 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Juels, Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US13/076,534
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/412.1
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/65 Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method and system for use in providing enhanced security for wireless telecommunications devices is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method and system comprises providing a first sensor, included in a wireless telecommunications device, for helping derive a first set of physical context data associated with the wireless telecommunications device; providing a second sensor, included in an authentication device, for helping derive a second set of physical context data associated with the wireless telecommunications device; and using the first and second set of physical context data to help determine whether the wireless telecommunications device has been moved in a gesture that is consistent with a use of the wireless telecommunications device for a specific purpose.

Claims

1. A method for use in providing enhanced security for wireless telecommunications devices, the method comprising:

providing a first sensor, included in a wireless telecommunications device, for helping derive a first set of physical context data associated with the wireless telecommunications device;

providing a second sensor, included in a separate secure authentication device, for helping derive a second set of physical context data associated with the wireless telecommunications device;

securely transmitting the first set of physical context data to the authentication device;

at the authentication device, using the first and second set of physical context data to help determine whether the wireless telecommunications device has been moved in a gesture that is consistent with a use of the wireless telecommunications device for a specific purpose; and

permitting further communication between the wireless telecommunications device and the authentication device based on a determination that the gesture that is consistent with a use of the wireless telecommunications device for a specific purpose, wherein the communication includes exchanging commercial transaction information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless telecommunications device comprises a cellular telephone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second sensors are selected from a group of sensors consisting of an accelerometer, gyroscope, camera, microphone, Bluetooth receiver, and a GPS receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on the determination, enabling the wireless telecommunications device for the specific purpose.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein enabling the wireless telecommunications device requires that a signal be received at the wireless telecommunications device from the authentication device.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein enabling the wireless telecommunications device requires user confirmation.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific purpose is to communicate information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the determination is based on a comparison of the first set of physical context data with the second set of physical context data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the determination is performed by the wireless telecommunications device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the determination is performed by the authentication device.

11. A system for use in providing enhanced security for wireless telecommunications devices, the system comprising:

first logic configured to provide a first sensor, included in a wireless telecommunications device, for helping derive a first set of physical context data associated with the wireless telecommunications device and securely communicate the first set of physical context data to the authentication device;

second logic configured to provide a second sensor, included in a separate secure authentication device, for helping derive a second set of physical context data associated with the wireless telecommunications device;

third logic configured to use the first and second set of physical context data to help determine whether the wireless telecommunications device has been moved in a gesture that is consistent with a use of the wireless telecommunications device for a specific purpose; and

fourth logic configured to permit further communication between the wireless telecommunications device and the authentication device based on a determination that the gesture that is consistent with a use of the wireless telecommunications device for a specific purpose, wherein the communication includes exchanging commercial transaction information.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the wireless telecommunications device comprises a cellular telephone.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second sensors are selected from a group of sensors consisting of an accelerometer, gyroscope, camera, microphone, Bluetooth receiver, and a GPS receiver.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

based on the determination, fourth logic enabling the wireless telecommunications device for the specific purpose.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein enabling the wireless telecommunications device requires that a signal be received at the wireless telecommunications device from the authentication device.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein enabling the wireless telecommunications device requires user confirmation.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the specific purpose is to communicate information.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the determination is based on a comparison of the first set of physical context data with the second set of physical context data.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the determination is performed by the wireless telecommunications device.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the determination is performed by the authentication device.