US2007032195A1PendingUtilityA1

Security apparatus and method during BLUETOOTH pairing

43
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 12, 2001Filed: Oct 10, 2006Published: Feb 8, 2007
Est. expirySep 12, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Mark KuriskoPhilip D. Mooney
H04W 12/50H04W 84/18H04L 63/061H04W 52/50H04W 76/10
43
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Claims

Abstract

A BLUETOOTH device is provided wherein the output RF transmission power level during pairing is purposefully reduced from otherwise conventional or normal communication levels to a low power level, greatly reducing the range of possible interception. Security can be improved even more by further reducing the transmit power even below that defined for a class 2 radio to an extremely low power level. After the link keys have been passed and/or other pairing processes, the BLUETOOTH devices may safely return to normal power levels to continue communications. Thus, a BLUETOOTH device is forced to radiate in low power when pairing is performed. The user(s) may be directed to co-locate the pairing BLUETOOTH devices in any appropriate manner, e.g., through a display prompt on the BLUETOOTH device. In an alternative embodiment, a BLUETOOTH device may be required to transmit data keys (e.g., a link key) and/or other pairing operations over a temporary wired connection (or temporary line-of-sight or near line-of-sight connection such as infrared) to another BLUETOOTH device.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A method of providing security during a pairing operation of a wireless network device, comprising: 
 receiving data at said wireless network device associated with network establishment during network establishment, said data received over a physical front end during said pairing operation; and    once said pairing operation is completed, switching to a wireless front end to wirelessly communicate data between said wireless network device and a network.    
   
   
       20 . The method of providing security during a pairing operation of a wireless network device according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said physical front end is a wired front end.    
   
   
       21 . The method of providing security during a pairing operation of a wireless network device according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said data includes link key information.    
   
   
       22 . The method of providing security during a pairing operation of a wireless network device according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said wireless network device is a BLUETOOTH piconet device.    
   
   
       23 . A method for securely transmitting a data key from a wireless network device, comprising: 
 transmitting with a physical front end of said wireless network device said data key to another network device during a pairing operation; and    after said data key has been transmitted, switching to an RF front end of said wireless network device to transmit wirelessly.    
   
   
       24 . The method for securely transmitting a data key from a wireless network device according to  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said wireless network device is a piconet network device.    
   
   
       25 . The method for securely transmitting a data key from a wireless network device according to  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said physical front end is a infrared connection.    
   
   
       26 . The method for securely transmitting a data key from a wireless network device according to  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said wireless network device is a BLUETOOTH piconet device.    
   
   
       27 . The method for securely transmitting a data key from a wireless network device according to  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said physical connection is a wired connection.    
   
   
       28 . The method for securely transmitting a data key from a wireless network device according to  claim 25 , wherein: 
 said infrared connection transmits said data key along a directed path towards another wireless network device.    
   
   
       29 . Apparatus for providing security during a pairing operation of a wireless network device, comprising: 
 means for receiving data at said wireless network device associated with network establishment during network establishment, said data received over a physical front end during said pairing operation; and    means for switching to a wireless front end to wirelessly communicate data between said wireless network device and a network once said pairing operation is completed.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus for providing security during a pairing operation of a wireless network device according to  claim 29 , wherein: 
 said network establishment is a pairing operation.    
   
   
       31 . The apparatus for providing security during a pairing operation of a wireless network device according to  claim 29 , wherein: 
 said data is a link key.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus for providing security during a pairing operation of a wireless network device according to  claim 29 , wherein: 
 said wireless network device is a BLUETOOTH piconet device.    
   
   
       33 . Apparatus for securely transmitting a data key from a wireless network device, comprising: 
 means for transmitting with an physical front end of said wireless network device said data key to another network device during a pairing operation; and    means for switching to an RF front end of said wireless network device to transmit wirelessly after said data key has been transmitted.    
   
   
       34 . The apparatus for securely transmitting a data key from a device according to  claim 33 , wherein: 
 said physical front end is an infrared front end.    
   
   
       35 . The apparatus for securely transmitting a data key from a device according to  claim 33 , wherein: 
 said wireless network device is a BLUETOOTH piconet device.

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