Physical device bonding

• US 7,822,983 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Thompson, Bernard J., Aull, Randall E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pyzocha; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gelagay; Shewaye
• Application Number:
  US10/645,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20050044372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,623 Days
• Field of Search: 713/176, 713/172
• US Class Current: 713/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• 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 63/1441 Countermeasures against malicious traffic countermeasures against attacks on cryptographic mechanisms H04L9/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

A system and/or method that facilitates the installation and/or authentication of a device by invoking installation protocols and/or authentication protocols for a non-physical connection. A physical interface component provides a physical connection between at least one wireless device and at least one network entity in which the installation protocols and/or authentication protocols can be exchanged. The physical interface component can utilize a token key to establish multiple non-physical connections with multiple wireless devices. Additionally, the physical interface component can utilize a daisy chain scheme to install and/or authenticate a wireless device.

Claims

1. A physical device bonding system that facilitates at least one of device installation or authentication, comprising:

a physical interface component comprising hardware that physically couples at least a first device and a second device, wherein the physical interface component;

receives connection information associated with at least one of an installation protocol or an authentication protocol from the first device;

stores the connection information in a memory of the physical interface component;

provides the connection information to the second device to establish a non-physical connection between the first device and the second device; and

generates a prompt to the second device to invoke at least one of an installation or an authentication of the first device, wherein the generated prompt directs the second device to perform at least one of the installation or the authentication.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device is a wireless device and the second device is a network entity.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the generated prompt directs the second device to perform at least one of the installation or the authentication during the physical coupling.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the generated prompt directs the second device to perform at least one of the installation or the authentication after the physical coupling is disengaged.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the physical interface component utilizes a daisy chain scheme to establish a non-physical connection between at least a third device and the second device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the physical interface component is at least one of the following:

a cradle;

a dock;

or a wand.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the physical interface component comprises a touch-pad comprising a conductive material.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-physical connection is at least one of:

a wireless connection;

an optical connection;

or an infrared connection.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the physical interface component stores connection information for a plurality of first devices to establish a plurality of non-physical connections.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the non-physical connections are independent and separate.

11. A physical device bonding system, comprising:

a physical interface component comprising hardware that provides a physical connection between at least a device and a network entity, wherein the physical interface component;

receives connection information associated with at least one of an installation protocol or an authentication protocol from the device;

stores the connection information in a memory of the physical interface component; and

generates a prompt to the network entity to invoke performance by the network entity of at least one of a device installation or a device authentication to establish a non-physical connection with the device using the connection information, wherein the generated prompt directs the network entity to perform at least one of the device installation or the device authentication.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising an artificial intelligence component that utilizes a user profile to infer the connection information.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the device is at least one of a wireless adapter;

a wireless speaker;

a wireless headset;

a wireless keyboard;

a wireless mouse;

a wireless monitor;

a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA);

a wireless access point;

or a wireless MP3 player.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the network entity is at least one of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a music source, a router, or a host to a wireless device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the network entity is a host to a wireless device.

16. A physical device bonding system that facilitates at least one of device installation or authentication, comprising an invocation component operatively connected to physical interface hardware that physically connects a wireless device and a network entity, wherein the invocation component is configured to:

receive from the wireless device data identifying at least one of an installation protocol or an authentication protocol for establishing a wireless connection between the wireless device and the network entity;

provide the data to the network entity; and

generate a prompt to the network entity to .invoke establishment by the network entity of the wireless connection between the wireless device and the network entity using the at least one of the installation protocol or the authentication protocol, wherein the generated prompt directs the network entity to perform the establishment of the wireless connection.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the invocation component is further configured to utilize a daisy chain scheme to establish a second wireless connection between a second wireless device and the network entity.

18. A physical device bonding method that facilitates wireless communication, the method comprising:

while a physical interface component comprising hardware is physically connected to a wireless device, storing connection information associated with at least one of an installation protocol or an authentication protocol from the wireless device within a memory of the physical interface component; and

while the physical interface component is physically disconnected from the wireless device and physically connected to a network entity, providing the connection information to the network entity from the memory of the physical interface component, and generating a prompt from the physical interface component to the network entity to invoke establishment by the network entity of a wireless connection between the wireless device and the network entity so that the wireless device and the network entity communicate wirelessly, wherein the generated prompt directs the network entity to perform the establishment of the wireless connection.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the generated prompt directs the network entity to establish the wireless connection while the network entity is physically connected to the physical interface component.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the generated prompt directs the network entity to establish the wireless connection after the network entity is physically disconnected from the physical interface component.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising utilizing an artificial intelligence technique to infer the connection information.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising utilizing a daisy chain scheme to establish a second wireless connection between a second wireless device and the network entity.

23. A system comprising a computer readable storage medium and a physical interface component comprising hardware, the computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for facilitating at least one of device installation or authentication through performing steps of:

receiving first connection information associated with at least one of a first installation protocol or a first authentication protocol while the physical interface component is physically connected to a first wireless device;

receiving second connection information associated with at least one of a second installation protocol or a second authentication protocol while the physical interface component is physically connected to a second wireless device;

storing the first and second connection information in a memory of the physical interface component;

providing the first and second connection information to a network entity while the physical interface component is physically connected to the network entity; and

generating a prompt from the physical interface component to the network entity to invoke establishment by the network entity of non-physical connections between the first and second wireless devices and the network entity so that the first and second wireless devices and the network entity communicate wirelessly, wherein the generated prompt directs the network entity to perform the establishment of the wireless connection.

24. A physical device bonding system that facilitates wireless communication comprising:

means for physically coupling at least two devices through a physical interface;

means for storing, in a memory of the physical interface, data identifying at least one of an installation protocol or an authentication protocol for establishing a wireless connection between the at least two devices;

means for providing the data from the memory of the physical interface to at least one network entity; and

means for generating a prompt from the physical interface to the at least one network entity to invoke establishment by the at least one network entity of the wireless connection using the at least one of the installation protocol or the authentication protocol, wherein the generated prompt directs the network entity to perform the establishment of the wireless connection.