Authenticating method for short-distance radio devices and a short-distance radio device

An authenticating method for portable radio devices, comprising data communicating means for performing radio communication over a first coverage area and authenticating means for performing authentication of said portable radio devices over a second coverage area, comprising the steps of:

• switching coverage area of a portable radio device, prior to initiating authentication between the portable radio devices, from the first coverage area to the second coverage area, the second coverage area being smaller than the first coverage area;
• bringing, prior to initiating authentication between the portable radio devices, the two or more portable radio devices having the second coverage area to within a proximity of one another so that the coverage areas of the two or more portable radio devices overlap;
• and
• performing mutual authentication between two or more portable radio devices by said authenticating means automatically when the coverage area of the two or more portable radio devices overlap,
• wherein a transmission output of only a particular one of said portable radio devices is reduced to shorten a communication distance of said portable radio devices.

An authenticating method for portable radio devices, comprising data communicating means for performing radio communication over a first coverage area and authentication means for performing authentication of said portable radio devices over a second coverage area, comprising the steps of:

• switching coverage area of a portable radio device, prior to initiating authentication between the portable radio devices, from the first coverage area to the second coverage area, the second coverage area being smaller than the first coverage area;
• bringing, prior to initiating authentication between the portable radio devices, the two or more portable radio devices having the second coverage area to within a proximity of one another so that the coverage areas of the two or more portable radio devices overlap;
• and
• performing mutual authentication between the two or more portable radio devices by said authenticating means automatically when the coverage area of the two or more portable radio devices overlap,
• wherein a reception sensitivity of only a particular one of said portable radio devices is reduced to shorten a communication distance of said portable radio devices.

A portable radio device comprising:

• data communicating means for performing radio communication over a first coverage areas;
• authenticating means for performing authentication over a second coverage area of said portable radio device;
• and
• switching means for switching the coverage area of said portable radio device, prior to initiating authentication between the portable radio devices, from said first coverage area to said second coverage area, said second coverage area being smaller than said first coverage area;
• wherein said authenticating means of said portable radio device initiates mutual authentication between two or more portable radio devices based only on the bringing of the two or more portable radio devices to within a proximity such that the coverage areas of the two or more portable radio devices overlap;
• and
• wherein said authenticating means of said portable radio device performs mutual authentication between the two or more portable radio devices automatically when the two or more portable radio devices are brought in proximity to one another so that the second coverage areas overlap.

A portable radio device comprising:

• data communicating means for performing radio communication over a first coverage area;
• authenticating means for performing authentication over a second coverage area of said portable radio device;
• and
• switching means for switching the coverage area of said portable radio device, prior to initiating authentication between the portable radio devices, from said first coverage area to said second coverage area, said second coverage area being smaller than said first coverage area;
• wherein said authenticating means of said portable radio device performs, in a condition where a plurality of portable radio devices exist, mutual authentication between two or more portable radio devices automatically when the two or more portable radio devices are brought in proximity to one another so that the second coverage areas overlap, and
• wherein a transmission output of only a particular one of said portable radio devices is reduced to shorten communication distance of said portable radio devices.

A portable radio device comprising:

• data communicating means for performing radio communication over a first coverage area;
• authenticating means for performing authentication over a second coverage area of said portable radio device;
• and
• switching means for switching the coverage area of said portable radio device, prior to initiating authentication between the portable radio devices, from said first coverage area to said second coverage area, said second coverage area being smaller than said first coverage area;
• wherein said authenticating means performs, in a condition where a plurality of portable radio devices exist, mutual authentication between two or more portable radio devices automatically when the two or more portable radio devices are brought in proximity to one another so that the second coverage areas overlap, and
• wherein a reception sensitivity of only a particular one of said portable radio devices is reduced to shorten communication distance of said portable radio devices.

An authenticating method for mobile radio devices, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of mobile radio devices, each of said plurality of mobile radio devices comprising data communicating means for performing radio communication and authenticating means for performing authentication of said mobile radio devices;
• reducing, prior to initiating authentication, the coverage areas of the mobile radio devices;
• initiating mutual authentication by establishing communication between two or more radio devices based only on the bringing of the two or more radio devices to within a proximity such that the coverage areas of radio waves generated by the two or more mobile radio devices overlap;
• and
• performing mutual authentication between two or more mobile radio devices by said authenticating means automatically when the two or more mobile radio devices come sufficiently closer to each other that coverage areas of radio waves generated by the two or more mobile radio devices overlap.