Method and apparatus to create multicast groups based on proximity
First Claim
1. A method for joining a first communications device to a multicast group over a multicast communication link, comprising:
- establishing a close range communications peer-to-peer (P2P) link using a self establishing near field communication (NFC) protocol between the first communications device and a second communications device which is already a member of the multicast group, wherein establishing the close range communication P2P link uses a wireless proximity-limited communication technology that requires the first communications device and the second communications device to be within about twenty centimeters of each other;
exchanging multicast group services advertisement data pertaining to the multicast group between the second communications device and the first communications device using the close range communications P2P link, wherein the multicast group services advertisement data comprises;
multicast group information required for the first communications device to join the multicast group; and
security or encryption information from the second communications device needed for the first communications device to access the multicast communication link so as to establish the multicast communication link with the multicast group over a longer range communications link different from the close range communication P2P link; and
joining the first communications device to the multicast group based on the multicast group services advertisement data;
wherein joining the first communications device to the multicast group based on the multicast group services advertisement data comprises;
sending signaling data pertaining to a communications capability of the first communications device from the first communications device to the second communications device; and
sending the signaling data from the second communications device to another member of the multicast group;
wherein the signaling data is sent from the first communications device to the second communications device over the close range communications P2P link.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods use close range communication links, such as near field communication (NFC) protocol links, to enable users to authenticate mobile devices to one another to create or expand secure multicast groups. Once the two or more devices establish a close range communication peer-to-peer link the devices exchange multicast group communication data sufficient to permit the devices to receive or send multicast messages. Long range wireless or wired network communication links are then used for multicast message communications. Proximity limits of the close range communication P2P link enables mutual trust to be presumed among devices, reducing the need for security and authentication signaling. The limited range of close range communication P2Plinks renders multicast groups established in this manner less vulnerable to eavesdropping and intrusion. Embodiments enable users to initiate secure multicast group participation merely by bringing two or more devices into close proximity.
39 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for joining a first communications device to a multicast group over a multicast communication link, comprising:
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establishing a close range communications peer-to-peer (P2P) link using a self establishing near field communication (NFC) protocol between the first communications device and a second communications device which is already a member of the multicast group, wherein establishing the close range communication P2P link uses a wireless proximity-limited communication technology that requires the first communications device and the second communications device to be within about twenty centimeters of each other; exchanging multicast group services advertisement data pertaining to the multicast group between the second communications device and the first communications device using the close range communications P2P link, wherein the multicast group services advertisement data comprises; multicast group information required for the first communications device to join the multicast group; and security or encryption information from the second communications device needed for the first communications device to access the multicast communication link so as to establish the multicast communication link with the multicast group over a longer range communications link different from the close range communication P2P link; and joining the first communications device to the multicast group based on the multicast group services advertisement data; wherein joining the first communications device to the multicast group based on the multicast group services advertisement data comprises; sending signaling data pertaining to a communications capability of the first communications device from the first communications device to the second communications device; and sending the signaling data from the second communications device to another member of the multicast group; wherein the signaling data is sent from the first communications device to the second communications device over the close range communications P2P link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 37)
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5. A mobile device, comprising:
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a processor; a first transceiver coupled to the processor, the first transceiver configured to establish a long range communication link; a second transceiver coupled to the processor, the second transceiver being a close range communication transceiver that uses a wireless proximity-limited near field communication (NFC) protocol communication technology that is self establishing and requires other communications devices to be within about twenty centimeters of the mobile device to establish communications; and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising; establishing a close range communications peer-to-peer (P2P) link between the mobile device and a communications device via the second transceiver; exchanging information comprising multicast group information required for the mobile device to join the multicast group over the close range communications peer-to-peer (P2P) link between the mobile device and the communications device via the second transceiver; exchanging, over the close range communications peer-to-peer (P2P) link between the mobile device and the communications device via the second transceiver, security or encryption information needed to access a multicast communication link so as to establish the multicast communication link with a multicast group via the first transceiver over the longer range communications link different from the close range communication P2P link; and joining the multicast group based on the exchanged information communicated over the close range communications P2P link, wherein multicast group communications are sent and received via the first transceiver over the longer range communications link; wherein joining the mobile device to the multicast group based on the exchanged information communicated over the closer range communications P2P link comprises; sending signaling data pertaining to a communications capability of the mobile device from the mobile device to the communications device; and sending the signaling data from the communications device to another member of the multicast group; wherein the signaling data is sent from the mobile device to the communications device over the close range communications P2P link. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 38)
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16. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a mobile device to perform steps comprising:
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establishing a close range communication peer-to-peer (P2P) link using a self establishing near field communication (NFC) protocol between the mobile device and a communications device, wherein establishing the close range communication P2P link is wireless and requires the mobile device and the communications device to be within twenty centimeters of each other; exchanging, via the close range communication P2P link, information comprising multicast group information required to join a multicast group, and security or encryption information from the communications device needed for the mobile device to access a multicast communication link so as to establish the multicast communication link with the multicast group; and joining the mobile device via the multicast communication link to a multicast group communicating over a longer range communication link different from the close range communication P2P link based on the exchanged information communicated over the close range communications P2P link; wherein joining the mobile device to the multicast group based on the exchanged information communicated over the close range communications P2P link comprises; sending signaling data pertaining to a communications capability of the mobile device from the mobile device to the communications device; and sending the signaling data from the communications device to another member of the multicast group; wherein the signaling data is sent from the mobile device to the communications device over the close range communications P2P link. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 39)
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26. A mobile device, comprising:
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means for establishing a close range communications peer-to-peer (P2P) link using a self establishing near field communication (NFC) protocol between the mobile device and a communications device, wherein the close range communication P2P link is wireless and requires the mobile device and the communications device to be within twenty centimeters of each other; means for exchanging, via the close range communication P2P link, information comprising multicast group information required to join a multicast group, and security or encryption information from the communications device needed for the mobile device to access a multicast communication link so as to establish the multicast communication link with a multicast group over a longer range communications link different from the close range communication P2P link; and means for joining the mobile device via the multicast communication link to a multicast group over the longer range communication link based on the exchanged information communicated over the close range communications P2P link; wherein joining the mobile device to the multicast group based on the exchanged information communicated over the close range communications P2P link comprises; sending signaling data pertaining to a communications capability of the mobile device from the mobile device to the communications device; and sending the signaling data from the communications device to another member of the multicast group; wherein the signaling data is sent from the mobile device to the communications device over the close range communications P2P link. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40)
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Specification