US 8,509,738 B2Granted

Secure device identification protocol with autonomous determination of specific class and capabilities of an electronic device cradle connected to an electronic device

AssigneeMotorola Mobility LLC

InventorsKevin M. Cutts, David M. Hess

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An electronic device comprises: a memory having one or more class capabilities look-up tables; a communication port that enables connection of the electronic device to a device interface mechanism of a cradle accessory; an accessory authentication mechanism including configuration logic that, responsive to detection of an electrical coupling of the electronic device to the cradle accessory: initiates an authentication protocol that authenticates the cradle as an approved device for communicatively connecting with the electronic device; receives, from the cradle, N device status bits having a first set of M class bits that identify a class type of the cradle and a second set of P capabilities bits that identify which capabilities available to devices in that class type are supported by the cradle; and activates, on the electronic device and cradle, the one or more specific capabilities supported by the cradle, based on the class type and associated capabilities.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A cradle for receiving an electronic device, the cradle comprising:

an external casing having a device interfacing mechanism;
an integrated circuit (IC) disposed within the casing and electrically coupled to the device interfacing mechanism, wherein the IC comprises authentication information of the cradle and N device status bits having:
(a) a first set of M class bits that define to the electronic device a particular class type of the cradle among a plurality of different classes of cradles;
and (b) a second set of P capabilities bits that identify to the electronic device which functionality of a plurality of possible functionalities are supported by the cradle for the identified class type of the cradle;
and
a logic module associated with the IC that, responsive to detection of an electrical coupling of a communication port of the electronic device to the device interfacing mechanism of the cradle, automatically transmits the N device status bits to the electronic device;
wherein transmission of the N device status bits causes the electronic device to activate specific operating functions based on receipt and identification of the M class bits and P capabilities bits transmitted from the cradle.

4 more elements

A mobile phone comprising:

a processor;
a memory component couple to the processor and having stored thereon one or more class capabilities look-up tables;
a communication port coupled to the processor that enables connection of the mobile phone to a device interface mechanism of an accessory;
an accessory authentication mechanism including configuration logic that, responsive to detection of an electrical coupling of the communication port with a device interface mechanism of a cradle:
initiates an authentication protocol to authenticate the cradle as being an approved device for communicatively connecting with the mobile phone;
receives, from the cradle, N device status bits having a first set of M class bits that identify a class type of the cradle and a second set of P capabilities bits that identify one or more capabilities of that class type that are supported by the cradle;
and
activates, on the mobile phone and cradle, the one or more specific capabilities supported by the cradle, based on the class type and associated one or more capabilities of that class type identified by the N device status bits.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/276,339Filed 19 Oct 2011
Published: US 2013/0102282 A125 Apr 2013
Granted: 13 Aug 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

H04W 12/06
Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity: authentication
G06F 1/1632
For portable computers: external expansion units, e.g. docking stations
G06F 21/10
Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity: protecting distributed…
G06F 21/445
Program or device authentication: by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs