Operation of a computing device involving wireless tokens

• US 8,849,246 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2011
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wherepro, LLC
• Original Assignee: Wherepro, LLC
• Inventors: Daigle, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, NATHAN A
• Application Number:
  US13/219,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• 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 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: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00

Abstract

Tokens can be sent from a token generator using wireless radio frequency signals, such as in the form of a network name. A computing device operates in a first mode when receiving the tokens and in a second mode when not receiving the tokens. Also, the network name can include a URL, a part of a URL, or data usable to obtain a URL. A computing device can utilize the URL to obtain content from a data communication network. The computing device can display a link to the content, which may include a graphical icon associated with the content.

Claims

1. A token generator, wherein the token generator is a mobile computing device, the token generator comprising:

a processor device;

a wireless communication device operably connected to the processor device and configured to wirelessly transmit a token using radio frequency signals according to a radio frequency data communication protocol, wherein the token is transmitted by the wireless communication device as a network name according to the data communication protocol, and the token includes at least a portion of a uniform resource locator;

a touch sensitive display configured to generate a user interface, operably connected to the processor device, and operable to receive input from a user; and

a cellular communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with a cellular data communication network and operably connected to the processor device.

2. The token generator according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency data communication protocol is a Wi-Fi protocol according to one of the IEEE 802.11 family of protocols, and wherein the network name is a Wi-Fi network name.

3. The token generator of claim 1, wherein the token generator is one of:

a remote control, a non-mobile computing device, a mobile computing device, a keychain, and a wireless network device.

4. A method of operating a token generator, wherein the token generator is a mobile computing device, the method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting a token with the token generator, the token generator including at least a processing device and a wireless communication device, wherein the token is transmitted with radio frequency signals according to a radio frequency data communication protocol as a network name, the token including at least a portion of a uniform resource locator;

receiving an input into a touch sensitive display of the mobile computing device; and

wirelessly transmitting the token after receipt of the input to a second mobile computing device that is within a wireless transmission range of the mobile computing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the input provides a transaction amount, and wherein the token includes the transaction amount to request approval of a transaction from the second mobile computing device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending a request to a token server including the transaction amount;

receiving a hash code from the token server in response to the request; and

including the hash code in the token when wirelessly transmitting the token.

7. A mobile computing device comprising:

a processor device;

a wireless communication device operably connected to the processor device to wirelessly receive a token encoded in a radio frequency signal, the token including at least part of a uniform resource locator;

a cellular communication device operably connected to the processor device to wirelessly request data through a data communication network using the at least part of the uniform resource locator; and

a touch sensitive display device operably connected to the processor device, configured to display a user interface, and configured to receive input from a user, wherein the user interface displays a graphical icon upon receipt of the token, the graphical icon being selectable by the user to cause the mobile computing device to retrieve additional content using the at least part of the uniform resource locator.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 7, wherein the mobile computing device is a smartphone.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 7, wherein the token is a security token, and wherein the mobile computing device is configured to operate in a first mode when the security token is received and in a second mode when the security token is not received.

9. A method of operating a mobile computing device, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving a token from a radio frequency signal using a wireless communication device, the token including at least a part of a uniform resource locator and a transaction amount, wherein receiving the token comprises receiving the token from a network name from the radio frequency signal according to a wireless radio frequency data communication protocol;

sending a request to a web server with a cellular communication device using at least the part of the uniform resource locator; and

displaying the transaction amount to the user with a display device and prompting the user to approve a transaction.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein prompting the user to approve a transaction comprises displaying a graphical element, and further comprising receiving approval of the transaction by receiving an input selecting the graphical element.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving multiple tokens including multiple different URLs, and a selectable graphical element for each of the multiple tokens.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein sending the request to the web server causes the web server to generate a work order.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the token is a security token, and further comprising operating the mobile computing device in a first mode when the security token is received, and in a second mode when the security token is not received.

15. A token generator comprising:

a processor device;

a wireless communication device operably connected to the processor device and configured to wirelessly transmit a token using radio frequency signals according to a radio frequency data communication protocol, wherein the token is transmitted by the wireless communication device as a network name according to the data communication protocol, and the token includes at least a portion of a uniform resource locator and a transaction amount.

16. The token generator according to claim 15, wherein the radio frequency data communication protocol is a Wi-Fi protocol according to one of the IEEE 802.11 family of protocols, and wherein the network name is a Wi-Fi network name.

17. The token generator of claim 15, wherein the token generator is a mobile computing device further comprising:

a touch sensitive display configured to generate a user interface, operably connected to the processor device, and operable to receive input from a user; and

a cellular communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with a cellular data communication network and operably connected to the processor device.

18. The token generator of claim 15, wherein the token generator is one of:

a remote control, a non-mobile computing device, a mobile computing device, a keychain, and a wireless network device.

19. A method of operating a token generator, the method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting a token with the token generator, the token generator including at least a processing device and a wireless communication device, wherein the token is transmitted with radio frequency signals according to a radio frequency data communication protocol as a network name, the token including at least a portion of a uniform resource locator,

wherein the token generator is a wireless network device providing a wireless hotspot for accessing a data communication network, the method further comprising alternating between transmission of the token and transmission of a descriptive name of the wireless hotspot.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the token generator is also a mobile computing device, and further comprising:

receiving an input into a touch sensitive display of the mobile computing device;

wirelessly transmitting the token after receipt of the input to a second mobile computing device that is within a wireless transmission range of the mobile computing device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the input provides a transaction amount, and wherein the token includes the transaction amount to request approval of a transaction from the second mobile computing device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

sending a request to a token server including the transaction amount;

receiving a hash code from the token server in response to the request; and

including the hash code in the token when wirelessly transmitting the token.

23. A method of operating a mobile computing device, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving a token from a radio frequency signal using a wireless communication device, the token including at least a part of a uniform resource locator;

sending a request to a web server with a cellular communication device using at least the part of the uniform resource locator;

displaying a selectable graphical icon on the mobile computing device, the graphical icon including a company logo;

receiving an input selecting the graphical element; and

sending the request for data upon receipt of the input.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving the token comprises receiving the token from a network name from the radio frequency signal according to a wireless radio frequency data communication protocol.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the token includes a transaction amount, and further comprising displaying the transaction amount to the user with a display device and prompting the user to approve a transaction.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein prompting the user to approve a transaction comprises displaying a graphical element, and further comprising receiving approval of the transaction by receiving an input selecting the graphical element.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising receiving multiple tokens including multiple different URLs, and a selectable graphical element for each of the multiple tokens.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein sending the request to the web server causes the web server to generate a work order.