# US 2016/0261602 A1 · Device-to-Device Network Membership Confirmation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0261602 A1 - Document ID: US20160261602A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/060,605 - Filed: 2016-03-04 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-04 - Assignees: Neone, Inc. - Applicants: Neone, Inc. - Inventors: Dave E. Glassco; Athanassios H. Diacakis; Dan Cohen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160261602A1 ## CPC - H04L 9/0866: {involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics} - H04L 9/32: including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system {or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials} - H04L 9/3271: {using challenge-response} - H04L 12/06: Answer-back mechanisms or circuits - H04L 12/6418: {Hybrid transport} - H04L 63/0428: {wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload} - H04L 63/061: {for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838)} - H04L 63/062: {for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819)} - H04L 63/065: {for group communications (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833)} - H04L 63/08: {for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32)} - H04L 63/0876: {based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint} - H04L 63/102: {Entity profiles} - H04L 67/1046: {Joining mechanisms} - H04L 67/52: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal - H04W 12/02: Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII] - H04W 12/03: Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract An electronic device k a device-to-device network of a user of tire electronic device communicates with a group of one or more other instances of the electronic via dynamic connections that are based on pre-established and maintained (i.e., long-lived) associations in the device-to-device network. Moreover, a given dynamic connection between the electronic device and a given instance of the electronic device in the group is setup by the electronic device without assistance of a computer in another network, which conveys the communication within the group. During operation, the electronic device: confirms that a second instance of the electronic device in the group (which is associated with a second user in the device-to-device network) is associated with a provider of the electronic device; and when the association is confirmed, communicates a message to the second instance of the electronic device at a location specified by one of the associations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device, composing: an interface circuit configured to communicate with a group of one or more other instances of the electronic device via dynamic connections that are based on pre-established and maintained associations in a device-to-device network of a user of the electronic device, wherein the associations are maintained for longer time than the dynamic connections, and wherein a given dynamic connection between the electronic device and a given instance of the electronic device in the group is setup by the electronic device without assistance of a computer in another network, which conveys the communication between the electronic device and the given instance of the electronic device via at least a non-wireless communication technique; and a control mechanism, coupled to the interface circuit, configured to: confirm that a second instance of the electronic device in the group is associated with a provider of the electronic device, wherein the second instance of the electronic device is associated with a second user in the device-to-device network; and when the association is confirmed, communicate, via the interface circuit, a message to the second instance of the electronic device at a location specified by one of the associations. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an authentication circuit that implements a coding technique that is shared by the group; and wherein confirming that the second instance of the electronic device is associated with the provider involves; providing a challenge to the second instance of the electronic device; generating an encoded version of the challenge using the authentication circuit; receiving another encoded version of the challenge from the second instance of the electronic device; and comparing the encoded version and the other encoded version to confirm that the second instance of the electronic device is associated with the provider of the electronic device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the coding technique includes one of: a hash function; and an encryption technique. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the coding technique is selected from a set of coding techniques based on a setting common to the group. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the coding technique involves generating a hash of the challenge and a key. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, wherein confirming that the second instance of the electronic device is associated with the provider involves: determining, based on the other encoded version of the challenge, an identification number associated with one of: the second instance of the electronic device, and an instance of an authentication circuit in the second instance of the electronic device; accessing a list of identification numbers stored in memory in the electronic device; and verifying based on the identification number and the list that communication with the second instance of the electronic device is allowed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the confirmation is performed one of: when the user invites the second user to join the device-to-device network; after a time interval has elapsed; and each time the electronic device communicates with the second instance of the electronic device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism includes: a processor; and memory, coupled to the processor, which stores a program module configured to be executed by the processor, the program module including instructions for at least some of the operations performed by the control mechanism. ### Claim 9 A computer-program product for use in conjunction with an electronic device, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism embedded therein to communicate a message, the computer-program mechanism including: instructions for confirming that a second instance of the electronic device in a group is associated with a provider of the electronic device, wherein the second instance of the electronic device is associated with a second user in a device-to-device network, and wherein the group includes one or more other instances of the electronic device in a device-to-device network of a user of the electronic device; and instructions for communicating, when the association is confirmed, the message to the second instance of the electronic device at a location specified by a pre-established and maintained association between the electronic device and the second instance of the electronic device; wherein the association is maintained tor longer time than the dynamic connection; and wherein the communicating involves at least a dynamic connection that is based on the association and that is set up by the electronic device without assistance of a computer in another network, which conveys the communication between the electronic device and the second instance of the electronic device via at least a non-wireless communication technique. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer-program product of claim 9, wherein the electronic device includes an authentication circuit that implements a coding technique that is shared by the group; and wherein the instructions for confirming that the second instance of the electronic device is associated with the provider include: instructions for providing a challenge to the second instance of the electronic device; instructions for generating an encoded version of the challenge using the authentication circuit; instructions for receiving another encoded version of the challenge from the second instance of the electronic device; and instructions for comparing the encoded version and the other encoded version to confirm that the second instance of the electronic device is associated with the provider of the electronic device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the coding technique includes one of: a hash function; and an encryption technique. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the coding technique is selected from a set of coding techniques based on a setting common to the group. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the coding technique involves generating a hash of the challenge and a key. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the instructions for confirming that the second instance of the electronic device is associated with the provider include: instructions for determining, based on the other encoded version of the challenge, an identification number associated with one of: the second instance of the electronic device, and an instance of an authentication circuit in the second instance of the electronic device; instructions for accessing a list of identification numbers stored in memory in the electronic device; and instructions for verifying based on the identification number and the list that communication with the second instance of the electronic device is allowed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The computer-program product of claim 9, wherein the instructions for confirming are performed one of: when the user invites the second, user to join the device-to-device network; after a time interval has elapsed; and each time the electronic device communicates with the second instance of the electronic device. ### Claim 16 An electronic-device-implemented method for communicating a message, wherein the method comprises: confirming that a second instance of the electronic device in a group is associated with a provider of the electronic device, wherein the second instance of the electronic device is associated with a second user in a device-to-device network and wherein the group includes one or more other instances of the electronic device in a device-to-device network of a user of the electronic device; and communicating, when the association is confirmed, the message to the second instance of the electronic device at a location specified, by a pre-established and maintained association between the electronic device and the second instance of the electronic device; wherein the association is maintained for longer time than the dynamic connection; and wherein the communicating involves at least a dynamic connection that is based on the association and that is set up by the electronic device without assistance of a computer in another network, which conveys the communication between the electronic device and the second instance of the electronic device via at least a non-wireless communication technique. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the electronic device includes an authentication circuit that implements a coding technique that is shared by the group; and wherein confirming that the second instance of the electronic device is associated with the provider involves; providing a challenge to the second instance of the electronic device; generating an encoded version of the challenge using the authentication circuit; receiving another encoded version of the challenge from the second instance of the electronic device; and comparing the encoded version and the other encoded version to confirm that the second instance of the electronic device is associated with the provider of the electronic device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the coding technique is selected from a set of coding techniques based on a setting common to the group. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein confirming that the second instance of the electronic device is associated with the provider involves: determining, based on the other encoded version of the challenge, an identification number associated with one of: the second instance of the electronic device, and an instance of an authentication circuit in the second instance of the electronic device; accessing a list of identification numbers stored in memory in the electronic device; and verifying based on the identification number and the list that communication with the second instance of the electronic device is allowed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein confirming that the second instance of the electronic device is associated with the provider is performed one of: when the user invites the second user to join the device-to-device network; after a time interval has elapsed; and each time the electronic device communicates with the second instance of the electronic device.