Wireless data transfer with improved transport mechanism selection

• US 9,549,280 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bandyopadhyay, Somdas, Kumar, Pavana C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, ANGELICA
• Application Number:
  US14/520,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20150038081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411- 413
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• 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 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• 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

Generally, this disclosure describes devices, systems and methods for wireless data transfer with improved transport mechanism selection. The device may include a near field communication (NFC) circuit configured to initiate a data transfer between a first communication device and a second communication device; a Soft Access Point (Soft AP) data transport circuit configured to transfer data between the communication device and the second communication device; one or more additional data transport circuits configured to transfer data between the communication device and the second communication device; and a transport mechanism selection circuit coupled to the NFC interface circuit and further coupled to the one or more data transport circuits, the transport mechanism selection circuit configured to select one of the data transport circuits for the data transfer, wherein the selection is based on a determination of the size of the data transfer.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a Bluetooth communication circuit to initiate a data transfer between said mobile communication device and a remote communication device;

a near field communication (NFC) circuit;

one or more high-speed communication circuits, including at least one of;

an infrastructure WiFi communication circuit;

a WiFi Direct communication circuit;

or

a soft access point (Soft AP) communication circuit; and

a transport mechanism selection circuit to determine a size of said data transfer relative to a first threshold and a second threshold, where said second threshold is greater than said first threshold, and;

if the size of said data transfer is less than said first threshold, to select said NFC circuit for completion of said data transfer by said NFC circuit;

if the size of said data transfer is greater than said first threshold and less than said second threshold, to select said BT communication circuit for completion of said data transfer by said BT communication circuit;

if the size of said data transfer is greater than said second threshold, to select said BT communication circuit to securely exchange credential information with said remote communication device, said credential information associated with said high-speed communication circuits, and to select one of said high-speed communication circuits for completion of said data transfer, if one or more of said high-speed communication circuits are available; and

if the size of said data transfer is greater than said second threshold but no high-speed communication circuit is available, to select said BT communication circuit for completion of said data transfer by said BT communication circuit.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein said data transport selection circuit is further to determine if one or more of said high-speed communication circuits are available based at least in part on WiFi connection state information and Soft AP connection state information associated with said mobile communication device and said remote communication device.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein said Bluetooth communication circuit is further to securely exchange said connection state information with said remote communication device.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein said data transport mechanism selection circuit is further to determine an ability of said remote communication device to disconnect from an existing connection, and to determine if one or more of said high-speed communication circuits are available based at least in part on a determined ability of said remote communication device to disconnect from an existing connection.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, further comprising a communication security circuit to generate a random key wherein said random key is provided to said mobile communication device and said remote communication device for encryption and decryption of data transfers.

6. A method for wireless data transfer, said method comprising:

detecting, with Bluetooth communication, a data transfer initiation trigger between a mobile communication device and a remote communication device, the mobile communication device comprising a Bluetooth (BT) communication circuit to transfer data between said mobile communication device and said remote communication device, a near field communication (NFC) circuit, and one or more high-speed communication circuits, including at least one of;

Infrastructure WiFi communication;

WiFi-Direct communication;

or

Soft Access Point (Soft AP) communication;

determining a size of said data transfer with the lest mobile communication device relative to a first threshold and a second threshold, where said second threshold is greater than said first threshold; and

;

if the size of said data transfer is less than said first threshold, selecting said NFC circuit for completion of said data transfer by said NFC circuit;

if the size of said data transfer is greater than said first threshold and less than said second threshold, selecting said BT communication circuit for completion of said data transfer by said BT communication circuit;

if the size of said data transfer is greater than said second threshold, selecting said BT communication circuit to securely exchange credential information with said remote communication device, said credential information associated with said high-speed communication circuits, and selecting one of said high-speed communication circuits for completion of said data transfer if one or more of said high-speed communication circuits are available; and

if the size of said data transfer is greater than said second threshold but no high-speed communication circuit is available, selecting said BT communication circuit for completion of said data transfer by said BT communication circuit.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting said data transfer initiation trigger between the mobile communication device and the remote communication device using said Bluetooth communication.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating a random key with said mobile communication device; and

transmitting said random key from said mobile communication device to said remote communication device;

wherein said random key is to be used by said remote communication device and said mobile communication device to encrypt and decrypt said data transfer, respectively.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

exchanging WiFi connection state information and Soft AP connection state information between said mobile communication device and said remote communication device;

determining if one or more of said high-speed communication circuits are available based at least in part on said WiFi connection state information and said Soft AP connection state information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting said data transfer initiation trigger using said Bluetooth communication, and securely exchanging said connection state information between said mobile communication device and said remote communication device using said Bluetooth communication.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a processor result in the following operations for wireless data transfer, said operations comprising:

detecting, with Bluetooth communication, a data transfer initiation trigger between a mobile communication device and a remote communication device, the mobile communication device comprising a NFC circuit to transfer data between said mobile communication device and said remote communication device, a Bluetooth (BT) communication circuit, and one or more high-speed communication circuits including at least one of;

Infrastructure WiFi communication;

WiFi-Direct communication;

or

Soft Access Point (Soft AP) communication;

determining a size of said data transfer with the mobile communication device relative to a first threshold and a second threshold, where said second threshold is greater than said first threshold; and

;

if the size of said data transfer is less than said first threshold, selecting said NFC circuit for completion of said data transfer by said NFC circuit;

if the size of said data transfer is greater than said first threshold and less than said second threshold, selecting said BT communication circuit for completion of said data transfer by said BT communication circuit; and

if the size of said data transfer is greater than said second threshold, selecting said BT communication circuit to securely exchange credential information with said remote communication device, said credential information associated with said high-speed communication circuits, and selecting one of said high-speed communication circuits for completion of said data transfer if one or more of said high-speed communication circuits are available; and

if the size of said data transfer is greater than said second threshold but no high-speed communication circuit is available, selecting said BT communication circuit for completion of said data transfer by said BT communication circuit.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said operations further comprise transmitting said data transfer initiation trigger between the mobile communication device and the remote communication device using said Bluetooth communication.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said operations further comprise:

exchanging WiFi connection state information and Soft AP connection state information between said mobile communication device and said remote communication device; and

determining if one or more of said high-speed communication circuits are available based at least in part on said WiFi connection state information and said Soft AP connection state information.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein said operations further comprise:

transmitting said data transfer initiation trigger using said Bluetooth communication, and

securely exchanging said connection state information between said mobile communication device and said remote communication device using said Bluetooth communication.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said operations further comprise:

generating a random key with said mobile communication device; and

transmitting said random key from said mobile communication device to said remote communication device, wherein said random key is used by said remote communication device and said mobile communication device for encryption and decryption of said data transfer, respectively.

16. A mobile communication platform comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor;

an input/output (I/O) system coupled to said processor;

a display coupled to said I/O system; and

a wireless communication device comprising;

a Bluetooth communication circuit to initiate a data transfer between said mobile communication platform and a remote communication device;

a near field communication (NFC) circuit;

one or more high-speed communication circuits, including at least one of;

an infrastructure WiFi communication circuit;

a WiFi Direct communication circuit;

or

a soft access point (soft AP) communication circuit; and

a transport mechanism selection circuit to determine a size of said data transfer relative to a first threshold and a second threshold, where said second threshold is greater than said first threshold, and;

if the size of said data transfer is less than said first threshold, to select said NFC circuit for completion of said data transfer by said NFC circuit,

if the size of said data transfer is greater than said first threshold and less than said second threshold, to select said BT communication circuit for completion of said data transfer by said BT communication circuit,

if the size of said data transfer is greater than said second threshold, to select said BT communication circuit to securely exchange credential information with said remote communication device, said credential information associated with said high-speed communication circuits, and to select one of said high-speed communication circuits for completion of said data transfer, if one or more of said high-speed communication circuits are available; and

if the size of said data transfer is greater than said second threshold but no high-speed communication circuit is available, to select said BT communication circuit for completion of said data transfer by said BT communication circuit.

17. The mobile communication platform of claim 16, wherein said data transport selection circuit is further to determine if one or more of said high-speed communication based at least in part on WiFi connection state information and Soft AP connection state information associated with said mobile communication platform and said remote communication device.

18. The mobile communication platform of claim 17, wherein said Bluetooth communication circuit is further to securely exchange said connection state information with said remote communication device.

19. The mobile communication platform of claim 16, wherein said data transport mechanism selection circuit is further to determine an ability of said remote communication device to disconnect from an existing connection, and to determine if one or more of said high-speed communication circuits are available based at least in part on a determined ability of said remote communication device to disconnect from an existing connection.

20. The mobile communication platform of claim 16, further comprising a communication security circuit to generate a random key wherein said random key is provided to said mobile communication platform and said remote communication device for encryption and decryption of data transfers.