Systems and methods for authenticating mobile devices at an incident via collaboration

• US 8,971,850 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2012
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Klein, David E., Blanco, Alejandro G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Suhail
• Application Number:
  US13/517,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20130337771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/411
• 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 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A mobile device collaboration method includes provisioning a first mobile device with unique user identification related to a role and skill set of an associated user of the first mobile device, detecting a second mobile device responsive to a condition at the first mobile device, communicating the unique user identification to the second mobile device, authenticating the first mobile device through the second mobile device communicating the unique user identification to an external database, and providing access for the first mobile device through the second mobile device if the authenticating is successful. A mobile device collaboration system and a mobile device are also described.

Claims

1. A mobile device collaboration method, comprising:

provisioning a first mobile device with unique user identification related to a role and skill set of an associated user of the first mobile device;

detecting a second mobile device responsive to a condition at the first mobile device;

communicating the unique user identification to the second mobile device;

authenticating the first mobile device by the second mobile device performing;

communicating the unique user identification to an external database;

receiving, from the external database, a verification of one or more of the role and the skill set of the associated user; and

providing access for the first mobile device through the second mobile device if the authenticating is successful.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

installing an application on the first mobile device, wherein the application comprises the unique user identification and wherein the application is configured to implement the detecting the second mobile device and the communicating the unique user identification to the second mobile device responsive to the condition.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing the unique user identification to one or more databases comprising the external database.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of databases comprises any of public safety registries, national databases, and agency supplied databases.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

reporting a location of the first mobile device via the application to a location server;

following the condition, notifying the second mobile device of the location of the first mobile device, wherein the location server detects the second mobile device is within range of the first mobile device; and

turning on beaconing at the second mobile device allowing the first mobile device to detect the second mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

arriving with the second mobile device at an incident, wherein the second mobile device has wireless coverage at the incident;

advertising the second mobile device for collaboration at the incident.

7. The method of claim 6, where the advertising comprises:

transmitting beacons utilizing one of a personal area networking system and a wireless local area networking system to identify the second mobile device to the first mobile device.

8. The method of claim 6, where the advertising comprises:

communicating by the second mobile device with a location server;

receiving notification from the location server that the first mobile device is at the incident with the condition; and

transmitting beacons responsive to the notification utilizing one of a personal area networking system and a wireless local area networking system to identify the second mobile device to the first mobile device.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, at the second mobile device, the unique user identification from the first mobile device via one of the personal area networking system and the wireless local area networking system;

selecting the external database from one or more databases, wherein the external database is selected based on the unique user identification;

sending the unique user identification to the external database; and

receiving an authentication from the external database for the first mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing the access for the first mobile device through the second mobile device if the authenticating is successful via one of the personal area networking system and the wireless local area networking system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device comprises a broadband mobile device and the second mobile device comprises a Land Mobile Radio device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device comprises a mobile device configured to operate on a public network and the second mobile device comprises a mobile device configured to operate on a private network.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving authentication from the external database;

if the authentication fails, providing an alert through the second mobile device identifying the first mobile device;

if the authentication succeeds, establishing a connection between the second mobile device and the first mobile device; and

communicating data from the first mobile device through the connection.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

arbitrating the connection between the first mobile device and the second mobile device to provide higher priority to the first mobile device; and

if the arbitrating fails, attempting to detect another mobile device by the first mobile device for collaboration at a higher priority level.

15. A mobile device capable of device collaboration, the mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a memory that is configured to store a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform the following functions;

receive a unique user identification from another mobile device, wherein the unique user identification is related to a role and skill set of an associated user of the another mobile device wherein the another mobile device detects the mobile device, responsive to a condition at the another mobile device;

authenticate the another mobile device by communicating the unique user identification to an external database;

authenticating the another mobile device by;

communicating the unique user identification to an external database;

receiving, from the external database, a verification of one or more of the role and the skill set of the associated user; and

if the authenticating is successful, provide access for the another mobile device, through the mobile device, to a network.

16. A system for device collaboration, the system comprising:

a first mobile device configured to;

maintain a unique user identification related to a role and skill set of an associated user of the first mobile device;

detect a second mobile device responsive to a condition at the first mobile device;

communicate the unique user identification to the second mobile device;

the second mobile device, wherein the second mobile device is configured to;

authenticate the first mobile device by;

communicating the unique user identification to an external database;

receiving, from the external database, a verification of one or more of the role and the skill set of the associated user; and

provide access for the first mobile device, through the second mobile device, to a network if the authenticating is successful.