SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, AND METHODS FOR SECURE BEACON AUTHENTICATION VIA MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20160135050A1
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InMarket Media, LLC
• Original Assignee: InMarket Media, LLC
• Inventors: Dipaola, Todd J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,848,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for secure beacon authentication via mobile devices are disclosed. In some example embodiments, a verification element comprises: a memory storing a plurality of non-repeated verification codes; a wireless broadcast element; and a processing circuit electronically coupled to the memory and the wireless broadcast element, the processing circuit being configured to retrieve one of the non-repeated verification codes from the memory and to transfer the non-repeated verification code to the wireless broadcast element, the wireless broadcast element being configured to wirelessly broadcast the non-repeated verification code to a plurality of mobile devices for individual verification of the plurality of mobile devices, the non-repeated verification code being different than any other non-repeated verification code previously retrieved from the memory and used for individual verification of the plurality of mobile devices.

Claims

1. A verification element comprising:

a memory storing a plurality of non-repeated verification codes;

a wireless broadcast element; and

a processing circuit electronically coupled to the memory and the wireless broadcast element, the processing circuit being configured to retrieve one of the non-repeated verification codes from the memory and to transfer the non-repeated verification code to the wireless broadcast element, the wireless broadcast element being configured to wirelessly broadcast the non-repeated verification code to a plurality of mobile devices for individual verification of the plurality of mobile devices, the non-repeated verification code being different than any other non-repeated verification code previously retrieved from the memory and used for individual verification of the plurality of mobile devices.

2. The verification element of claim 1 wherein the non-repeated verification code being a transformation of a unique identifier of the verification element, an encryption key corresponding to the verification element, and the current time.

3. The verification element of claim 1 being further configured to compare a received non-repeated verification code to an internally-generated non-repeated verification code.

4. The verification element of claim 1 being further configured to incorporate a time offset to sync a clock corresponding to a sender of the received non-repeated verification code with an internal clock of the verification element.

5. The verification element of claim 1 being further configured to authenticate a received non-repeated verification code if a current time portion of the received non-repeated verification code is only different by an amount less than a pre-determined threshold value.

6. The verification element of claim 1 being further configured to periodically retrieve a different one of the non-repeated verification codes from the memory and to transfer the different non-repeated verification code to the wireless broadcast element for wireless broadcast to the plurality of mobile devices, a time period between wireless broadcasts being configurable.

7. The verification element of claim 1 wherein a strength of the wireless broadcast is configurable and adjustable.

8. The verification element of claim 1 wherein the memory is configured to not receive or generate new non-repeated verification codes after deployment.

9. The verification element of claim 1 wherein the non-repeated verification code corresponds to a location of the verification element.

10. A method comprising:

storing a plurality of non-repeated verification codes in a memory; and

using a processing circuit to retrieve one of the non-repeated verification codes from the memory and to transfer the non-repeated verification code to a wireless broadcast element, and causing the wireless broadcast element to wirelessly broadcast the non-repeated verification code to a plurality of mobile devices for individual verification of the plurality of mobile devices, the non-repeated verification code being different than any other non-repeated verification code previously retrieved from the memory and used for individual verification of the plurality of mobile devices.

11. The method of claim 10 including performing a transformation of a unique identifier of the verification element, an encryption key corresponding to the verification element, and the current time.

12. The method of claim 10 including comparing a received non-repeated verification code to an internally-generated non-repeated verification code.

13. The method of claim 10 including incorporating a time offset to sync a clock corresponding to a sender of the received non-repeated verification code with an internal clock of the verification element.

14. The method of claim 10 including authenticating a received non-repeated verification code if a current time portion of the received non-repeated verification code is only different by an amount less than a pre-determined threshold value.

15. The method of claim 10 including periodically retrieving a different one of the non-repeated verification codes from the memory and transferring the different non-repeated verification code to the wireless broadcast element for wireless broadcast to the plurality of mobile devices, a time period between wireless broadcasts being configurable.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein a strength of the wireless broadcast is configurable and adjustable.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the memory is configured to not receive or generate new non-repeated verification codes after deployment.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the non-repeated verification code corresponds to a location of the verification element.