Secure wireless power access protocol suited for implementing levels of service in public and private environments

• US 9,866,070 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Do, Lydia M., Eda, Sasikanth, Shiraguppi, Riyazahamad M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zweizig, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US14/840,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20170063099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to a system for transferring power wirelessly from a transmitter to a receiver, the transmitter having a transmitter processor and a transmitter antenna. The system includes the transmitter processor configured to convert electric power signals to an electromagnetic field (EMF); associate each of a plurality of keys with one of a plurality of operating frequencies, and store the plurality of keys associated with the plurality of operating frequencies in a table; select one of the plurality of operating frequencies stored in the table as an active operating frequency, wherein the active operating frequency is assigned as the current operating frequency of the transmitter antenna, and wherein the key associated with the active operating frequency is assigned as an active key; wirelessly transmit to the receiver the EMF at the active operating frequency; and wirelessly transmit to the receiver the table and an identification of the active key.

Claims

1. A power transfer system for transferring power wirelessly from a transmitter to a receiver, the transmitter having at least one transmitter processor circuit and at least one transmitter antenna circuit, the system comprising:

the at least one transmitter processor circuit configured to;

convert an electric power signal to an electromagnetic field (EMF);

associate each of a plurality of keys with one of a plurality of operating frequencies, and store the plurality of keys associated with the plurality of operating frequencies in a table;

select one of the plurality of operating frequencies stored in the table as an active operating frequency, wherein the active operating frequency is assigned as the current operating frequency of the transmitter antenna circuit, and wherein the key associated with the active operating frequency is assigned as an active key;

wirelessly transmit to the receiver, using the at least one transmitter antenna circuit, the EMF at the active operating frequency; and

wirelessly transmit to the receiver, using the at least one transmitter antenna circuit, the table and an identification of the active key.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmitter processor circuit is further configured to vary the active operating frequency and the active key randomly over time.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the active key comprise an active digital key.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the active digital key is modulated onto the EMF prior to wirelessly transmitting the EMF at the active operating frequency.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the active key comprises an active time range key.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one transmitter antenna circuit is further configured to wirelessly transmit a password to the receiver; and

the password allows a predetermined level of service for the receiver.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined level of service comprises a predetermined period of time during which the password is valid.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one transmitter antenna circuit is further configured to transmit to the receiver application program instructions readable by at least one receiver processor circuit to cause the at least one receiver processor circuit to perform an application program method comprising;

identifying an entry in the table containing the active key;

identifying, based at least in part on the active key, an entry in the table corresponding to the active operating frequency associated with the active key; and

tuning at least one receiver antenna circuit to the active operating frequency.

9. A computer program product for controlling a wireless transfer of electric power from a transmitter to a receiver, the transmitter having at least one transmitter processor circuit and at least one transmitter antenna circuit, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions readable by the at least one processor circuit to cause the at least one processor circuit to perform a method comprising;

converting, using the at least one transmitter processor circuit, an electric power signal to an electromagnetic field (EMF);

associating, using the at least one transmitter processor circuit, each of a plurality of keys with one of a plurality of operating frequencies, and storing the plurality of keys associated with the plurality of operating frequencies in a table;

selecting, using the at least one transmitter processor circuit, one of the plurality of operating frequencies stored in the table as an active operating frequency, wherein the active operating frequency is assigned as the current operating frequency of the transmitter antenna circuit, and wherein the key associated with the active operating frequency is assigned as an active key;

wirelessly transmitting to the receiver, using the at least one transmitter antenna circuit, the EMF at the active operating frequency; and

wirelessly transmitting to the receiver, using the at least one transmitter antenna circuit, the table and an identification of the active key.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising varying, using the at least one transmitter processor circuit, the active operating frequency and the active key randomly over time.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein:

the active key comprise an active digital key; and

the active digital key is modulated onto the EMF prior to wirelessly transmitting the EMF at the active operating frequency.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting, using the at least one transmitter antenna circuit, a password to the receiver;

wherein the password allows a predetermined level of service for the receiver.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising:

transmitting to the receiver, using the at least one transmitter antenna circuit, a set of application program instructions readable by at least one receiver processor circuit to cause the at least one receiver processor circuit to perform an application program method comprising;

identifying an entry in the table containing the active key;

identifying, based at least in part on the active key, an entry in the table corresponding to the active operating frequency associated with the active key; and

tuning the at least one receiver antenna circuit to the active operating frequency.