Devices, systems, and processes for authenticating devices

Abstract

Devices, systems and process for authenticating devices are described. For at least one embodiment, a process for authenticating an IoT device with a hub to initiate an authenticated session, includes the operations of establishing an electronic data connection between an IoT device and a hub, sending an initial authentication signal including a cryptologic component and at least two perceptible components, receiving a responsive message secured by a cryptologic component and including a selection of at least one of the at least two perceptible components, determining whether the selection includes the identifying perceptible component, and establishing an authenticated session between the hub and the IoT device, if the result of the determining step is affirmative.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process comprising:
 at a first device,
 establishing a hub link with a second device; 
 randomly generating at least two perceptible components;
 wherein at least one of the at least two perceptible components is an identifying perceptible component; 
 
 sending, over the hub link, an initial authentication signal that includes the identifying perceptible component and a second perceptible component; 
 receiving, over the hub link, a responsive message from the second device; 
 determining whether the responsive message includes a selection of the identifying perceptible component; and 
 when a result of the determining is affirmative, establishing an authenticated session over the hub link between the first device and the second device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 ,
 establishing a first connection between the first device and the second device;
 wherein a first connection is established before the hub link is established; 
 wherein the first connection is established using short range communications technology; and 
   wherein the hub link is established using at least one of the short range communications technology, an intermediate range communications technology, and a long range communications technology.   
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first device is a hub; and   wherein the second device is an Internet-of-things (IoT) device.   
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one of the at least two perceptible components includes at least one of a uniquely identifying sound, a uniquely identifying sequence of two or more sounds, and a uniquely identifying Morris code pattern that includes two or more sounds.   
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the identifying perceptible component includes at least one of a uniquely identifying vibration pattern, a uniquely identifying vibration frequency, and a uniquely identifying Morris code pattern that includes two or more vibrations.   
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at the first device,
 receiving, from the second device and over the hub link, user data uniquely identifying an intended user of the second device for the authenticated session; and 
 determining whether the intended user is authorized for the authenticated session. 
   
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the user data includes at least one of a fingerprint, a password, a pin, and a pattern.   
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at the first device,
 receiving, from the second device and over the hub link, a cryptological component securing the responsive message; and 
 decrypting the responsive message based on the cryptological component. 
   
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 before sending the authentication signal,
 presenting, by the first device and in a humanly perceptible form, the identifying perceptible component to a user of the second device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at the first device,
 communicatively couple, via an external hub link, the second device with a third device. 
   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the external hub link utilizes, in a first part, the hub link to connect the first device with the second device and, in a second part, a second hub link to connect the first device with the third device.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the third device is at least one of data source, a satellite service provide, a terrestrial service provider, a streaming server, a web server, and a service provider.   
     
     
         13 . A hub comprising:
 a hardware processor;   a data storage device; and   a communications module operable using at least one of a short-range communications technology, an intermediate range communication technology; and a long range communications technology; and   wherein the data storage device stores non-transitory hardware processor executable instructions instructing the hub to:
 establish a hub link between the hub and a first device; 
 randomly generate at least two perceptible components;
 wherein at least one of the at least two perceptible components is an identifying perceptible component; 
 
 send, to the first device and over the hub link, an initial authentication signal that includes the identifying perceptible component and a second perceptible component; 
 receive, from the first device and over the hub link, a responsive message; 
 determine whether the responsive message includes a selection of the identifying perceptible component; and 
 when a result of the determining is affirmative, 
 establish an authenticated session between the hub and the first device. 
   
     
     
         14 . The hub of  claim 13 ,
 wherein at least one of the at least two perceptible components includes at least one of:
 a uniquely identifying sound; 
 a uniquely identifying sequence of two or more sounds; 
 a uniquely identifying Morris code pattern that includes two or more sounds; 
 a uniquely identifying vibration pattern; 
 a uniquely identifying vibration frequency; and 
 a uniquely identifying Morris code pattern that includes two or more vibrations. 
   
     
     
         15 . The hub of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the non-transitory hardware processor executable instructions further instruct the hardware processor to:
 receive, from the first device and over the hub link, a cryptological component securing the responsive message; and 
 decrypt the responsive message based on the cryptological component. 
   
     
     
         16 . The hub of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the non-transitory hardware processor executable instructions are further operable to instruct the hub to:
 communicatively couple, via an external hub link, the first device with a second device; 
   wherein the external hub link utilizes, in a first part, the hub link connecting the first device with the hub and, in a second part, a second hub link to connect the hub with the second device; and   wherein the second device is at least one of data source, a satellite service provider, a terrestrial service provider, a streaming server, a web server, and an Internet service provider.   
     
     
         17 . The hub of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the non-transitory hardware processor executable instructions are further operable to instruct the hub to:
 receive from the first device and over the hub link, user data uniquely identifying an intended user of the first device for the authenticated session; and 
 determine whether the intended user is authorized for the authenticated session. 
   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer processor readable data storage medium comprising:
 hardware processor executable instructions which, when executed by a hardware processor in a hub, establish an authenticated session between the hub and a first device by facilitating operations including:
 establishing, by the hub, a hub link with the first device; 
 randomly generating, by the hub, at least two perceptible components;
 wherein at least one of the at least two perceptible components is an identifying perceptible component; 
 
 sending, by the hub and over the hub link, an initial authentication signal that includes the identifying perceptible component and a second perceptible component; 
 receiving by the hub, from the first device, and over the hub link a responsive message; 
 determining, by the hub, whether the responsive message includes a selection of the identifying perceptible component; and 
 when a result of the determining is affirmative, establishing an authenticated session over the hub link between the hub and the first device. 
   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer processor readable medium of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the hardware processor executable instructions further facilitate operations comprising:
 receiving from the first device and over the hub link, user data uniquely identifying an intended user of the first device for the authenticated session; and 
 determining whether the intended user is authorized for the authenticated session. 
   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer processor readable medium of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the hardware processor executable instructions further facilitate operations comprising:
 communicatively coupling the first device with at least one of data source, a satellite service provide, a terrestrial service provider, a streaming server, a web server, and a service provider.