Bluetooth® system and Bluetooth® bonding process

• US 9,160,424 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Sang-Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, An T
• Application Number:
  US11/704,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20070202807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,169 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/540, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/825, 340/10.1, 455/39, 455/41.2, 455/41, 455/41.1, 455/411, 455/420, 455/500, 455/517, 235/375, 713/171
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• 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: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and a system for Bluetooth communication. In the Bluetooth system, a Bluetooth device includes: a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader for reading out RFID information from the RFID Tag within an effective transmission and receiving range and outputting the RFID information; a control unit for activating the RFID reader when a request for Bluetooth connection using the RFID is inputted by a user in a Bluetooth communication mode, extracting the bonding information from the RFID information inputted from the RFID reader, and outputting the bonding information; and a Bluetooth module for receiving the bonding information outputted from the control unit, pairing the first Bluetooth device using the bonding information, and performing Bluetooth communication.

Claims

1. A first Bluetooth device comprising:

a Bluetooth module configured for performing Bluetooth communication with a second Bluetooth device;

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader; and

a controller configured for;

displaying a menu for Bluetooth connection using an RFID in a Bluetooth communication mode;

when the menu for the Bluetooth connection using the RFID is selected by a user, activating the RFID reader;

reading RFID information from an RFID tag of the second Bluetooth device through the RFID reader;

extracting bonding information from the RFID information, the bonding information including a Personal Identification Number (PIN) Code of the second Bluetooth device and a Bluetooth device address of the second Bluetooth device;

when determining that a security mode is set, sending the PIN Code to the second Bluetooth device and exchanging a link key for an encryption procedure with the second Bluetooth device; and

when determining that the security mode is not set, exchanging the link key for the encryption procedure with the second Bluetooth device without sending the PIN Code to the second Bluetooth device.

2. The first Bluetooth device according to claim 1, wherein the first Bluetooth device further comprises an RFID Tag that stores bonding information of the first Bluetooth device.

3. The first Bluetooth device according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured for informing the user when the RFID reader is activated.

4. The first Bluetooth device according to claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured for informing the user when pairing and connection between the first Bluetooth device and the second Bluetooth device are successfully established.

5. A method for performing a pairing procedure for a Bluetooth connection by a first Bluetooth device, comprising the steps of:

displaying a menu for Bluetooth connection using a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in a Bluetooth communication mode;

when the menu for Bluetooth connection using the RFID is selected by a user, activating an RFID reader of the first Bluetooth device,

reading RFID information from an RFID Tag of a second Bluetooth device through the RFID reader;

extracting bonding information from the RFID information, the bonding information including a Personal Identification Number (PIN) Code of the second Bluetooth device and a Bluetooth device address of the second Bluetooth device;

when determining that a security mode is set, sending the PIN Code to the second Bluetooth device and exchanging a link key for an encryption procedure with the second Bluetooth device; and

when determining that the security mode is not set, exchanging the link key for the encryption procedure with the second Bluetooth device without sending the PIN Code to the second Bluetooth device.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising storing bonding information of the first Bluetooth device in an RFID Tag of the first Bluetooth device.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising informing the user when the RFID reader is activated.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising informing the user when pairing and connection between the first Bluetooth device and the second Bluetooth device are successfully established.