Device security utilizing continually changing qr codes

Abstract

A method provides device access security via use of periodically changing Quick Response (QR) codes. The method includes: generating a first authentication QR code and assigning the generated QR code as the current authentication mechanism for accessing the device. Contemporaneously with the generation of the QR code, at least one QR code validity parameter is established to define when access to the device can be provided to a second device that provides the correct authentication QR code along with the access request. The method includes, in response to a pre-defined trigger of the QR code validity parameter: generating a new authentication QR code, different from a previously generated authentication QR code; assigning the new authentication QR code as the current authentication mechanism for accessing the device; and enabling access to the first device to only second devices that provide the current authentication QR code as the authentication mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing security via Quick Response (QR) codes, the method comprising:
 generating a first authentication QR code;   assigning the first authentication QR code as a current authentication mechanism for accessing a first device;   establishing at least one QR code validity parameter that defines when access to the first device can be provided to at least one second device that provides the first authentication QR code along with an access request; and   in response to a pre-defined trigger associated with the selected at least one QR code validity parameter: generating a new authentication QR code that is different from a previously generated authentication QR code; assigning the new authentication QR code as the current authentication mechanism for accessing the first device; associating a corresponding new QR code validity parameter to the new authentication QR code; and initiating a tracking of the corresponding new QR code validity parameter during which the new authentication QR code remains valid.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one QR code validity parameter comprises at least one of (1) a time window having an end time and (2) a defined location within which an authentication QR code remains valid, and outside of which the authentication QR code is invalid, wherein a new authentication QR code is automatically generated when the first device moves outside of the defined location and a new defined location is established for the new authentication QR code;   the pre-defined trigger is an associated one of the end time and movement of the first device outside of the defined location; and   the method further comprises:
 enabling access to the first device by at least one second device that communicates an access request to the first device, where the access request provides an authentication QR code that is the current authentication parameter for accessing the first device, while the selected at least one QR code validity parameter associated with the authentication QR code remains valid; and 
 in response to the selected at least one QR code validity parameter being the defined location, periodically triggering the generating of the new authentication QR code. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein enabling access comprises enabling pairing of a second device with the first device in response to the second device providing the first authentication QR code as the current authentication parameter during pairing of the second device to the first device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein pairing of the devices comprises at least one of: enabling wireless communication between the first device and the second device; enabling at least one data transfer between the first device and the second device; enabling an exchange of information between the first device and the second device; enabling access to one or more of files and data on the first device by the second device; and enabling control of the first device via inputs provided on the second device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the first authentication QR code and periodically generating a new authentication QR code comprises:
 periodically generating a new device access authentication parameter required to be entered before access is permitted to the first device;   converting the new device access authentication parameter into a corresponding authentication QR code;   discarding the previous authentication QR code; and   preventing access to the first device when a received access request includes the previous authentication QR code.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to receiving a request for access to the first device from a second device:
 identifying whether the request for access includes a received QR code; 
 comparing the received QR code with a currently assigned authentication QR code; and 
 enabling the second device to access the first device only in response to the received QR code matching the currently assigned authentication QR code. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating the authentication QR code to at least one second device by displaying the generated authentication QR code on a display of the first device to allow a camera of the at least one second device that is placed in proximity to the first device to capture an image of the QR code, wherein authorization to access the first device is limited to only second devices that are allowed to be placed in a position adjacent the display, within a proximate distance to the display at which an image of the authentication QR code can be captured.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating the authentication QR code to at least one second device by transmitting the authentication QR code via a text message to a second device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating the authentication QR code to at least one second device by transmitting the authentication QR code via one of an electronic and a wireless communication medium to a second device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined trigger includes at least one of: passage of a preset amount of time following generation of a previously generated authentication QR code; completion of a pre-defined amount of data transfer from the first device to a requesting device; completion of a transfer of a specific set of data from the first device to a requesting device; and movement of the requesting device out of a communication range from the first device. 
     
     
         11 . An electronic device comprising:
 a display;   a communication mechanism;   a processor that is communicatively coupled to the display and the communication mechanism; and   a secure access authentication (SAA) utility that executes on the processor and configures the device to:
 generate a first authentication QR code; 
 assign the first authentication QR code as an authentication mechanism for accessing a first device; 
 establish at least one QR code validity parameter that defines when access to the first device can be provided to at least one second device that provides the first authentication QR code along with an access request; and 
 in response to a pre-defined trigger associated with the at least one QR code validity parameter: generate a new authentication QR code that is different from a previously generated authentication QR code; assign the new authentication QR code as the current authentication mechanism for accessing the first device; associate a corresponding new QR code validity parameter to the new authentication QR code; and 
   initiate a tracking of the corresponding new QR code validity parameter during which the new authentication QR code remains valid.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the at least one QR code validity parameter comprises at least one of (1) a time window having an end time and (2) a defined location within which an authentication QR code remains valid, and outside of which the authentication QR code is invalid, wherein a new authentication QR code is automatically generated when the first device moves outside of the defined location and a new defined location is established for the new authentication QR code;   the pre-defined trigger is an associated one of the end time and movement of the first device outside of the defined location; and   the SAA utility further configures the device to:
 enable access to the first device by at least one second device that communicates an access request to the first device, where the access request provides an authentication QR code that is the current authentication parameter for accessing the first device, while the selected at least one QR code validity parameter associated with the authentication QR code remains valid; and 
 in response to the selected at least one QR code validity parameter being the defined location, periodically trigger the generating of the new authentication QR code when the first device is moved away from the defined location. 
   
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the SAA utility further configures the device to enable access to the first device by enabling a pairing of a second device with the first device in response to the second device providing the authentication QR code that is the current authentication parameter during pairing of the second device to the first device. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the SAA utility configuring the device to pair the devices includes configuring the device to perform at least one of: wireless communication between the first device and the second device; data transfer between the first device and the second device; an exchange of information between the first device and the second device;
 accessing one or more of files and data on the first device by the second device; and controlling of the first device via inputs provided on the second device.   
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the SAA utility configuring the device to generate the first authentication QR code and periodically generate a new authentication QR code comprises the SAA utility further configuring the device to:
 periodically generate a new device access authentication parameter required to be entered before access is permitted to the first device;   convert the new device access authentication parameter into a corresponding authentication QR code;   discard the previous authentication QR code; and   preventing access to the first device when a received access request includes the previous authentication QR code.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the SAA utility further configures the device to:
 in response to receiving a request for access to the first device from a second device:
 identify whether the request for access includes a received QR code; 
 compare the received QR code with a currently assigned authentication QR code; and 
 enable the second device to access the first device only in response to the received QR code matching the currently assigned authentication QR code. 
   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the SAA utility further configures the device to:
 communicate the authentication QR code to at least one second device by displaying the generated authentication QR code on a display of the first device to allow a camera of the at least one second device that is placed in proximity to the first device to capture an image of the QR code, wherein authorization to access the first device is limited to only second devices that are allowed to be placed in a position adjacent the display, within a proximate distance to the display at which an image of the authentication QR code can be captured.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the SAA utility further configures the device to communicate the authentication QR code to at least one second device by transmitting the authentication QR code via a text message to a second device. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the SAA utility further configures the device to: communicate the authentication QR code to at least one second device by transmitting the authentication QR code via one of an electronic and a wireless communication medium to a second device. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined trigger includes at least one of: passage of a preset amount of time following generation of a previously generated authentication QR code; completion of a pre-defined amount of data transfer from the first device to a requesting device; completion of a transfer of a specific set of data from the first device to a requesting device; and movement of the requesting device out of a communication range from the first device. 
     
     
         21 . A method for providing secure access to a first device via Quick Response (QR) codes, the method comprising:
 generating a first authentication QR code;   assigning the first authentication QR code as a current authentication mechanism for accessing the first device;   identifying and associating a usage profile for the authentication QR code to permit secure access by a specified number of second devices using the authentication QR code and under pre-established access criteria supporting the secure access;   enabling connection to the first device by an initial second device that provides a valid authentication QR code during an access request; and   denying access to the first device by any second device that does not provide the valid authentication QR code during the access request.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising setting the usage profile of the authentication QR to enable any second device to access the first device once the second device provides the valid authentication QR code during the access request and to prevent any access to the first device that does not include the valid authentication QR code. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising setting the usage profile of the authentication QR to enable at least one of (a) only a single second device to access the first device using the valid authentication QR code and (b) only a single access using the valid authentication QR code by any one second device, wherein the method further comprises:
 in response to receiving the access request from the initial second device:
 confirming whether the valid authentication QR code has been previously received from another second device to provide access to the first device by the other second device; and 
 enabling the access by the initial second device to the first device only if the valid authentication QR code has not been previously utilized to provide access by another second device; and 
 in response to the valid authentication QR code having been previously utilized to provide access by another second device, denying access to the initial second device and any subsequent second device, including second devices that provide the authentication QR code. 
   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 generating a new authentication QR code in response to a pre-established trigger;   enabling an ongoing session established prior to the generating of the new authentication QR code to continue while the session remains connected;   detecting a disconnection of the session; and   preventing the second device involved in the session from reconnecting to the first device without the second device providing the new authentication QR code with an access request to reconnect the session.