System and method for securing communications in a distributed computing system

Abstract

A computing device for secure communications includes a communication interface, a transceiver, and a processor. The processor identifies an action to be completed by a third computing device operably connected to the computing device via the communication interface. The action is associated with data stored in the third computing device. In response to identifying the action, the processor transmits an identifier, obtained from the third computing device, to a second computing device using the transceiver; receives a second identifier from the second computing device using the transceiver; transmits the second identifier to the third computing device via the communication interface; and receives a confirmation of completion of the action from the third computing device via the communication interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing device for secure communications, comprising:
 a communication interface;   a transceiver; and   a processor programmed to:
 identify an action to be completed by a third computing device operably connected to the computing device via the communication interface, wherein the action is associated with data stored in the third computing device; 
 in response to identifying the action:
 transmit an identifier, obtained from the third computing device, to a second computing device using the transceiver; 
 receive a second identifier from the second computing device using the transceiver; 
 transmit the second identifier to the third computing device via the communication interface; and 
 receive a confirmation of completion of the action from the third computing device via the communication interface. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein communication interface supports a first operable connection, the transceiver supports a second operable connection, and the first operable connection is separate from the second operable connection, wherein the transceiver is an optical transceiver. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 2 , wherein the third computing device is not operably connected via the second operable connection. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the confirmation indicates that the second computing device has been uniquely identified by the third computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the confirmation indicates that the third computing device has verified that completion of the action is authorized by both of a first user of the computing device and a second user of the second computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the transceiver comprises:
 a light transmitting portion, and   a light receiving portion.   
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 6 , wherein the light transmitting portion comprises a display adapted to display information to a user of the first computing device, wherein the light receiving portion comprises a camera. 
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 7 , wherein the identifier is transmitted using the display, wherein the second identifier is received using the camera. 
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency transceiver, wherein the radio frequency transceiver supports the communication interface. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device does not communicate with the second computing device via the communication interface during the response to the secure communication request. 
     
     
         11 . A method for securing communications between computing devices, comprising:
 identifying an action to be completed by a third computing device of the computing devices operably connected to a first computing device of the computing devices via a communication interface, wherein the action is associated with data stored in the third computing device;   in response to identifying the action:
 transmitting an identifier, obtained from the third computing device, to a second computing device of the computing devices using a transceiver; 
 receiving a second identifier from the second computing device using the transceiver; 
 transmitting the second identifier to the third computing device via the communication interface; and 
 receiving a confirmation of completion of the action from the third computing device via the communication interface. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein communication interface supports a first operable connection, the transceiver supports a second operable connection, and the first operable connection is separate from the second operable connection. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 12 , wherein the third computing device is not operably connected via the second operable connection. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the confirmation indicates that the third computing device has verified that completion of the action is authorized by both of a first user of the computing device and a second user of the second computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the transceiver comprises:
 a display adapted to display information to the first user, and   a camera.   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by a computer processor enables the computer processor to perform a method for securing communications between computing devices, the method comprising:
 identifying an action to be completed by a third computing device of the computing devices operably connected to a first computing device of the computing devices via a communication interface, wherein the action is associated with data stored in the third computing device;   in response to identifying the action:
 transmitting an identifier, obtained from the third computing device, to a second computing device of the computing devices using a transceiver; 
 receiving a second identifier from the second computing device using the transceiver; 
 transmitting the second identifier to the third computing device via the communication interface; and 
 receiving a confirmation of completion of the action from the third computing device via the communication interface. 
   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein communication interface supports a first operable connection, the transceiver supports a second operable connection, and the first operable connection is separate from the second operable connection. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the third computing device is not operably connected via the second operable connection. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the confirmation indicates that the third computing device has verified that completion of the action is authorized by both of a first user of the computing device and a second user of the second computing device. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the transceiver comprises:
 a display adapted to display information to the first user, and   a camera.