System and method for wireless power control communication using bluetooth low energy

• US 9,407,106 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2012
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Redding, Brian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughan, Michael R
• Application Number:
  US13/678,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/55 using an external connection, either wireless or wired
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for authenticating a device via an out of band personal area network are disclosed. In one aspect, a wireless charger includes a power transmitter configured to transmit power wirelessly to charge a charging device. The wireless charger further includes an out of band transmitter configured to transmit an authentication request to authenticate the charging device. The wireless charger further includes a receiver configured to receive an authentication response based on the transmitted authentication request. The wireless charger further includes a processor configured to adjust an amount of power wirelessly transmitted to the charging device based on whether the authentication succeeds or fails.

Claims

1. A wireless charger for authenticating a device via an out of band wireless communications network, the wireless charger comprising:

a power transmitter configured to transmit power wirelessly at a first level to a charging device, wherein the transmission of the power at the first level begins before any information is received from the charging device;

an out of band transmitter configured to transmit an authentication request comprising authentication information used to authenticate the charging device;

a receiver configured to receive an authentication response in response to the transmitted authentication request; and

a processor configured to adjust an amount of the power wirelessly transmitted to the charging device to a level higher than the first level if the authentication succeeds.

2. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive at least one of a public key, a private key, a public key certificate, a digital signature, a security token, and a unique manufacturer identifier.

3. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to terminate the transmission of power wirelessly to the charging device if the authentication fails.

4. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the amount of power wirelessly transmitted to the charging device remains at the first level if the authentication fails.

5. The wireless charger claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to compare the received authentication response with a stored value, and wherein the authentication succeeds if the received authentication response and the stored value match.

6. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive an authentication key stored in the charging device.

7. The wireless charger of claim 6, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a combination key stored in an authentication device, and wherein the authentication key comprises a charger technology key and a manufacturer key.

8. The wireless charger of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to compare the charger technology key with a first stored value and the manufacturer key with a second stored value, wherein the charging device is compatible if the charger technology key and the first stored value match, and wherein the authentication succeeds if the manufacturer key and the second stored value match.

9. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive an authentication key generated by the charging device based on the received authentication request.

10. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the out of band transmitter is further configured to transmit a message to the charging device, and wherein the authentication succeeds or fails based on an action taken by the charging device after receiving the message.

11. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications network uses a Bluetooth protocol for communication.

12. A method for authenticating a device via an out of band wireless communications network, the method comprising:

transmitting power wirelessly at a first level to a charging device, wherein the transmitting of the power at the first level begins before any information is received from the charging device;

transmitting, via the out of band wireless communications network, an authentication request comprising authentication information used to authenticate the charging device;

receiving an authentication response in response to the transmitted authentication request; and

adjusting an amount of the power wirelessly transmitted to the charging device to a level higher than the first level if the authentication succeeds.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving an authentication response comprises receiving at least one of a public key, a private key, a public key certificate, a digital signature, a security token, and a unique manufacturer identifier.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein adjusting an amount of power wirelessly transmitted to the charging device comprises terminating the transmission of power wirelessly to the charging device if the authentication fails.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the amount of power wirelessly transmitted to the charging device remains at the first level if the authentication fails.

16. The method claim 12, further comprising comparing the received authentication response with a stored value, wherein the authentication succeeds if the received authentication response and the stored value match.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving an authentication response comprises receiving an authentication key stored in the charging device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving an authentication key stored in the charging device comprises receiving a combination key stored in an authentication device, wherein the authentication key comprises a charger technology key and a manufacturer key.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising comparing the charger technology key with a first stored value and the manufacturer key with a second stored value, wherein the charging device is compatible if the charger technology key and the first stored value match, and wherein the authentication succeeds if the manufacturer key and the second stored value match.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving an authentication response comprises receiving an authentication key generated by the charging device based on the received authentication request.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting a message to the charging device, wherein the authentication succeeds or fails based on an action taken by the charging device after receiving the message.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless communications network uses a Bluetooth protocol for communication.

23. An apparatus for authenticating a device via an out of band wireless communications network, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting power wirelessly at a first level to a charging device, wherein the transmission of the power at the first level begins before any information is received from the charging device;

means for transmitting, via the out of band wireless communications network, an authentication request comprising authentication information used to authenticate the charging device;

means for receiving an authentication response in response to the transmitted authentication request; and

means for adjusting an amount of the power wirelessly transmitted to the charging device to a level lower than the first level if the authentication fails.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for receiving an authentication response comprises means for receiving at least one of a public key, a private key, a public key certificate, a digital signature, a security token, and a unique manufacturer identifier.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for adjusting an amount of power wirelessly transmitted to the charging device comprises means for terminating the transmission of power wirelessly to the charging device if the authentication fails.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the amount of power wirelessly transmitted to the charging device remains at the first level if the authentication fails.

27. The apparatus claim 23, further comprising the means for comparing the received authentication response with a stored value, wherein the authentication succeeds if the received authentication response and the stored value match.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for receiving an authentication response comprises means for receiving an authentication key stored in the charging device.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for receiving an authentication key stored in the charging device comprises means for receiving a combination key stored in an authentication device, wherein the authentication key comprises a charger technology key and a manufacturer key.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising means for comparing the charger technology key with a first stored value and the manufacturer key with a second stored value, wherein the charging device is compatible if the charger technology key and the first stored value match, and wherein the authentication succeeds if the manufacturer key and the second stored value match.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for receiving an authentication response comprises means for receiving an authentication key generated by the charging device based on the received authentication request.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for transmitting a message to the charging device, wherein the authentication succeeds or fails based on an action taken by the charging device after receiving the message.

33. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the wireless communications network uses a Bluetooth protocol for communication.

34. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for transmitting power comprises a transmitter, the means for transmitting an authentication request comprises an out of band transmitter, the means for receiving comprises a receiver, and the means for adjusting comprises a processor.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:

transmit power wirelessly at a first level to a charging device, wherein the transmission of the power at the first level begins before any information is received from the charging device;

transmit, via an out of band wireless communications network, an authentication request comprising authentication information used to authenticate the charging device;

receive an authentication response in response to the transmitted authentication request; and

adjust an amount of the power wirelessly transmitted to the charging device to a level higher than the first level if the authentication succeeds.

36. The medium of claim 35, further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to receive at least one of a public key, a private key, a public key certificate, a digital signature, a security token, and a unique manufacturer identifier.

37. The medium of claim 35, further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to terminate the transmission of power wirelessly to the charging device if the authentication fails.

38. The medium of claim 35, wherein the amount of power wirelessly transmitted to the charging device remains at the first level if the authentication fails.

39. The medium claim 35, further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to compare the received authentication response with a stored value, wherein the authentication succeeds if the received authentication response and the stored value match.

40. The medium of claim 35, further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to receive an authentication key stored in the charging device.

41. The medium of claim 40, further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to receive a combination key stored in an authentication device, wherein the authentication key comprises a charger technology key and a manufacturer key.

42. The medium of claim 41, further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to compare the charger technology key with a first stored value and the manufacturer key with a second stored value, wherein the charging device is compatible if the charger technology key and the first stored value match, and wherein the authentication succeeds if the manufacturer key and the second stored value match.

43. The medium of claim 35, further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to receive an authentication key generated by the charging device based on the received authentication request.

44. The medium of claim 35, further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to transmit a message to the charging device, wherein the authentication succeeds or fails based on an action taken by the charging device after receiving the message.

45. The medium of claim 35, further comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to transmit an authentication request using a Bluetooth protocol.