Method and system for establishing wireless local area network link between portable terminals

• US 9,137,665 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Hahm, Seongil, Kim, Youngri
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JASON T
• Application Number:
  US13/854,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20130276063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3, 713/168
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method of establishing a WLAN link between portable terminals using a cellular network and a sound, the method including: transmitting a connection request message including a first partial security key being a portion of a first security key to a second portable terminal through a cellular network by a first portable terminal; outputting a sound including a second partial security key being a remaining portion of the first security key after transmitting the connection request message; receiving a request of a WLAN connection including a second security key from the second portable terminal having received the sound through a WLAN; and establishing the WLAN link with the second portable terminal when the second security key corresponds to the first security key.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a wireless local area network (WLAN) link in a portable terminal, the method comprising:

transmitting a connection request message including a first partial security key being a portion of a first security key to a second portable terminal through a cellular network, by a first portable terminal;

outputting a sound including a second partial security key being a remaining portion of the first security key, after transmitting the connection request message;

receiving a request of a WLAN connection including a second security key from the second portable terminal having received the sound through a WLAN; and

establishing the WLAN link with the second portable terminal when the second security key corresponds to the first security key,

wherein the second partial security key is loaded into the sound.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the connection request message comprises:

acquiring contact information of a plurality of second terminals of a neighboring zone;

displaying a contact list based on the contact information of the plurality of second terminals; and

receiving an input for selecting at least one second portable terminal from the contact list.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the acquiring the contact information comprises acquiring the contact information from a contact server, by the first portable terminal.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the acquiring the contact information comprises acquiring the contact information from a memory of the first portable terminal.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting the connection request message to the contact server, by the first portable terminal,

wherein the contact server pushes the connection request message to the second portable terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising dividing the first security key into the first partial security key and the second partial security key.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting the sound comprises:

determining an output level of the sound; and

outputting the sound according to the determined output level.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user input for establishing the WLAN link.

9. A method of establishing a wireless local area network (WLAN) link in a portable terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a connection request message from a contact server through a cellular network via a push operation, by a second portable terminal;

turning-on a microphone for receiving a sound output from a first portable terminal, in response to the connection request message;

receiving the sound output from the first portable terminal through the microphone;

acquiring a first partial security key according to the connection request message and a second partial security key according to the sound;

combining the second partial security key with the first partial security key to acquire a security key; and

requesting a WLAN connection to the first portable terminal using the acquired security key,

wherein the second partial security key is loaded into the sound.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the turning-on the microphone comprises:

displaying a selection menu for receiving an approval of the WLAN connection, when the connection request message is received; and

turning-on the microphone when the approval of the WLAN connection is input through the selection menu.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising acquiring connection information for the WLAN connection from the connection request message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the requesting the WLAN connection comprises:

identifying the first portable terminal transmitting the connection request message based on the connection information; and

transmitting the security key to the first portable terminal to request the WLAN connection.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the requesting the WLAN connection comprises requesting the WLAN connection by using the cellular network or a WLAN.

14. A first portable terminal comprising:

a memory which stores a program; and

a controller which executes the program to establish a wireless local area network (WLAN) link with a second portable terminal,

wherein the program comprises commands which, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to execute a method comprising;

transmitting a connection request message including a first partial security key being a portion of a first security key to the second portable terminal through a cellular network;

outputting a sound including a second partial security key being a remaining portion of the first security key, after transmitting the connection request message;

receiving a request of a WLAN connection including a second security key from the second portable terminal having received the sound through a WLAN; and

establishing the WLAN link with the second portable terminal when the second security key corresponds to the first security key,

wherein the second partial security key is loaded into the sound.

15. The first portable terminal of claim 14, wherein the outputting the sound comprises:

determining an output level of the sound; and

outputting the sound according to the determined output level.

16. The first portable terminal of claim 14, wherein the transmitting the connection request message comprises:

displaying a contact list corresponding to a plurality of second portable terminals, based on contact information of the plurality of second portable terminals of a neighboring zone acquired from a contact server; and

transferring the first partial security key and the second partial security key to a respective second portable terminal through the cellular network and the sound, respectively, when receiving an input for selecting the respective second portable terminal from the contact list.

17. A first portable terminal comprising:

a memory which stores a program; and

a controller which executes the program to control establishment of a wireless local area network (WLAN) link with a second portable terminal,

wherein the program comprises commands which, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to execute a method comprising;

turning-on a microphone for receiving a sound output from the second portable terminal in response to a connection request message received from a contact server via a push operation;

receiving the sound output from the second portable terminal through the microphone;

acquiring a first partial security key according to the connection request message and a second partial security key according to the sound received from the second portable terminal;

combining the second partial security key with the first partial security key to acquire a security key; and

requesting WLAN connection to the second portable terminal using the acquired security key, and

wherein the second partial security key is loaded into the sound.

18. The first portable terminal of claim 17, wherein the turning-on the microphone comprises:

displaying a selection menu for receiving a confirmation that the WLAN connection is approved, when receiving the connection request message; and

turning-on the microphone to receive the sound from the second portable terminal when the WLAN connection is approved.

19. The first portable terminal of claim 18, wherein the connection request message comprises the first partial security key being a portion of the security key and connection information for the WLAN connection, and the method further comprises:

identifying the second portable terminal transmitting the connection request message based on the connection information; and

transmitting the security key to the second portable terminal to request the WLAN connection.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute a method comprising:

transmitting a first partial security key and a second partial security key, which have been divided from a first security key, through a cellular network and by a sound, respectively;

combining the first and second partial security keys, which have been received through the cellular network and by the sound, with each other to generate a second security key; and

establishing a wireless local area network link using the first security key and the second security key,

wherein the transmitting comprises outputting the first partial security key and the second partial security key, and

the security key is loaded into the sound.