Pairing consumer electronic devices using a cross-body communications protocol

• US 9,860,928 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Mobile Communications Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: strand, Per, Bengtsson, Henrik, Rodzevski, Aleksandar
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US14/382,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20160286587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 455411
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2027 with data signals passing through the human body
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00809 with data transmission through the human body
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/88 Medical equipments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• 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 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: 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: H04L 9/0827 involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths network architectures or network communication protocols using different networks H04L63/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3215 using a plurality of channels network architectures or network communication protocols using different networks H04L63/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 : using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
• 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 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A wireless device, such as a mobile device, for example, pairs with a peripheral device, such as a wristlet, for example, worn by the user. One or both of the wireless device and the peripheral device, each of which contact the user'"'"'s skin, determine whether the other is in contact with the body of the same user. If both devices are in contact with the same body, the devices will pair with each other.

Claims

1. A method for pairing a wireless communication device with a peripheral device using a Body Area Network (BAN), the method performed at the wireless communication device and comprising:

detecting that a peripheral device is proximate a wireless communication device;

determining whether both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with a user'"'"'s body, wherein the determining comprises;

using the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium to;

send a request to the peripheral device to ping the wireless communication device;

receive the ping from the peripheral device; and

determining that both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the user'"'"'s body responsive to receiving the ping; and

BAN-pairing with the peripheral device using the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium responsive to determining that both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the user'"'"'s body.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein BAN-pairing with the peripheral device using the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium responsive to determining that both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the user'"'"'s body comprises:

generating a key based on a unique identifier received over a first communication link from the peripheral device;

transmitting the generated key to the peripheral device over the first communication link;

receiving the key from the peripheral device over a second communication link; and

pairing with the peripheral device if the key received over the second communication link is a valid key.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second communication link comprises a Body Area Network (BAN) link that uses the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

activating a receiver associated with the BAN link responsive to transmitting the key to the peripheral device over the first communication link;

listening on the BAN link to receive the key from the peripheral device; and

determining that both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the body of the user responsive to receiving the key over the BAN link during a predetermined time interval.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the second communication link comprises a Body Area Network (BAN) link that uses the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

prompting the user to indicate whether to BAN-pair with the peripheral device responsive to receiving the ping; and

sending the key to the peripheral device if the user indicates to BAN-pair with the peripheral device.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the unique identifier comprises a hardware identifier associated with the peripheral device, and wherein generating the key comprises:

inputting the hardware identifier into a predefined hash function; and

storing a hash code output by the hash function as the key in a memory circuit at the wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 3 further comprising sending one or more commands over the BAN link to selectively enable and disable a BAN transmitter at the peripheral device.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising requesting the unique identifier from the peripheral device if both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the user'"'"'s body.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device is configured to display a passcode lock screen to the user, and further comprising bypassing the passcode lock screen responsive to determining that both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the user'"'"'s body.

11. A wireless communication device configured to pair with a peripheral device using a Body Area Network (BAN), the wireless communication device comprising:

a communications interface circuit configured to communicate data and signals with a peripheral device disposed proximate the wireless communication device; and

a processor circuit configured to;

determine whether both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with a user'"'"'s body by;

using the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium to;

send a request to the peripheral device to ping the wireless communication device; and

receive the ping from the peripheral device; and

determine that both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the user'"'"'s body responsive to receiving the ping; and

BAN-pair with the peripheral device using the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium responsive to determining that both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the user'"'"'s body.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein to BAN-pair with the peripheral device using the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium, the processor circuit is configured to:

generate a key based on a unique identifier received over a first communication link from the peripheral device;

transmit the generated key to the peripheral device over the first communication link;

receive the key from the peripheral device over a second communication link; and

pair with the peripheral device if the key received over the second communication link is a valid key.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 12 wherein the second communication link comprises a Body Area Network (BAN) link that uses the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 13 wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

activate a receiver associated with the BAN link responsive to transmitting the key to the peripheral device over the first communication link;

listen on the BAN link to receive the key from the peripheral device; and

determine that both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the body of the user responsive to receiving the key over the BAN link during a predetermined time interval.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 12 wherein the second communication link comprises a Body Area Network (BAN) link that uses the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 15 wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

prompt the user to indicate whether to BAN-pair with the peripheral device responsive to receiving the ping; and

send the key to the peripheral device if the user indicates to BAN-pair with the peripheral device using the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 12 further comprising a memory circuit operatively coupled to the processor circuit, and wherein to generate the key, the processor circuit is further configured to:

input a hardware identifier received from the peripheral device into a predefined hash function; and

store a hash code output by the hash function as the key in the memory circuit.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 13 wherein the processor circuit is further configured to send one or more commands over the BAN link to selectively enable and disable a BAN transmitter at the peripheral device.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the processor circuit is further configured to request the unique identifier from the peripheral device if both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the user'"'"'s body.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 11 further comprising a display, and wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

display a passcode lock screen to the user; and

bypass the passcode lock screen responsive to determining that both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the user'"'"'s body.

21. A method for pairing a wireless communication device with a peripheral device using a Body Area Network (BAN), the method performed at the peripheral device and comprising:

determining whether both a wireless communication device and a peripheral device are in contact with a user'"'"'s body, wherein the determining comprises pinging the wireless communication device over a second communication link responsive to receiving a request for the ping from the wireless communication device over a first communication link, and wherein the second communications link comprises a BAN link that uses the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium; and

BAN-pairing with the wireless communication device using the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium responsive to determining that both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the user'"'"'s body.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

transmitting a unique identifier to the wireless communication device over the first communication link;

receiving a key from the wireless communication device over the first communication link, wherein the key is based on the unique identifier;

storing the key in a memory circuit at the peripheral device; and

transmitting the key to the wireless communication device over the second communication link.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising activating a BAN transmitter associated with the BAN link, and wherein transmitting the key to the wireless communication device over the second communication link comprises transmitting the key over the BAN link at predetermined intervals.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising enabling or disabling the BAN transmitter responsive to receiving one or more commands from the wireless communication device.

25. A peripheral device configured to pair with a wireless communication device using a Body Area Network (BAN), the peripheral device comprising:

a communications interface circuit configured to communicate with a wireless communication device proximate the peripheral device;

a processor circuit configured to;

determine whether both a wireless communication device and a peripheral device are in contact with a user'"'"'s body by pinging the wireless communication device over a second communication link responsive to receiving a request for the ping from the wireless communication device over a first communication link, wherein the second communications link comprises a BAN link that uses the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium; and

BAN-pair with the wireless communication device using the user'"'"'s body as a transmission medium responsive to determining that both the wireless communication device and the peripheral device are in contact with the user'"'"'s body.

26. The peripheral device of claim 25 further comprising a memory circuit, and wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

transmit a unique identifier to the wireless communication device over the first communication link;

receive a key from the wireless communication device over the first communication link, wherein the key is based on the unique identifier;

store the key in the memory circuit; and

transmit the key to the wireless communication device over the second communication link.

27. The peripheral device of claim 25 further comprising a BAN transmitter associated with the BAN link, and wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

activate the BAN transmitter; and

transmit the key to the wireless communication device over the BAN link at predetermined intervals.