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US 9,544,766 B2Granted
System and method for authentication and key exchange for a mobile device via spectrally confined wireless communications
AssigneeBlackBerry Limited
InventorsSteve Hranilovic, Christopher Labrador
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An architecture, system and associated method and apparatus for securely communicating authentication data to a communication device. In one embodiment, the method includes modulating a spectral source's radiation using the authentication data, wherein the spectral source's radiation is adapted to operate as a first transmission medium for carrying the authentication data, the first transmission medium being containable within an enclosure that inhibits passage of the spectral source's radiation (i.e., spectrally opaque enclosure). The modulated authentication data is transmitted via the first transmission medium to the communication device disposed in the spectrally opaque enclosure.
Claims26
A method for securely communicating information to a communication device, said method comprising:
- modulating a spectral source's radiation with authentication data using at least a sub-carrier pulse position modulation (SC-PPM);
- transmitting said modulated authentication data via a first transmission medium using a non-line-of-sight link to said communication device disposed in an enclosure that is spectrally opaque with respect to said spectral source's radiation, wherein the first transmission medium is contained within the enclosure by spectrally selective films, and said authentication data is used by said communication device to decrypt encrypted information transmitted over a second, different transmission medium;
- and
- when said enclosure is no longer spectrally opaque with respect to said spectral source's radiation, inactivating transmission of said modulated authentication data.
1 more element
A secure communication system for communicating information to a communication device, said secure communication system comprising:
- a spectral source for emitting radiation;
- a modulator for modulating said radiation with authentication data using at least a sub-carrier pulse position modulation (SC-PPM);
- a transmitter for transmitting said modulated authentication data via a first transmission medium using a non-line-of-sight link to said communication device disposed in an enclosure that is spectrally opaque with respect to said spectral source's radiation, wherein the first transmission medium is contained within the enclosure by spectrally selective films, said authentication data is used by said communication device to decrypt encrypted information transmitted over a second, different, transmission medium, and the transmitter is configured to inactivate transmission of said modulated authentication data when said enclosure is no longer spectrally opaque with respect to said spectral source's radiation.
A mobile communication device comprising:
- a first communication subsystem configured to receive and transmit authentication data on an optical wireless transmission medium using a non-line-of-sight link, wherein said optical wireless transmission medium is contained within an enclosure by spectrally selective films;
- a second communication subsystem configured to receive and transmit information on a radio frequency transmission medium, wherein said second communication subsystem is disposed in the enclosure;
- and
- a processor configured to control said first and second communication subsystems in order to effectuate:
- receiving of said authentication data via said optical wireless transmission medium using a non-line-of-sight link, wherein the authentication data is transmitted using at least a sub-carrier pulse position modulation (SC-PPM), and transmission of said authentication data is inactivated when an enclosure for a source of said authentication data is no longer spectrally opaque with respect to radiation from the source;
- and
- receiving of encrypted information via said radio frequency transmission medium;
- and
- a cryptographic module controlled by said processor for decrypting said encrypted information using said authentication data.
6 more elements
A key distribution system comprising:
- a key generator for generating authentication keys;
- a transport network coupled between said key generator and a plurality of spectral source access points, wherein said plurality of spectral source access points are distributed in a number of enclosures that are spectrally opaque to radiation emitted by said spectral source access points and further wherein each of said plurality of spectral source access points includes a modulation block configured to modulate emitted radiation using at least a sub-carrier pulse position modulation (SC-PPM), wherein the enclosures include spectrally selective films that inhibit passage of said radiation;
- and
- a processor block configured to determine that an authorized communication device has arrived in a particular enclosure, wherein said processor block is further configured to instruct said key generator to generate an authentication key for transmission via said transport network to a spectral source access point disposed in said particular enclosure and further wherein said authentication key is modulated on the radiation emitted by said spectral source access point disposed in said particular enclosure for transmitting said authentication key to said authorized communication device using a non-line of-sight link, and transmission of said authentication data is inactivated when said particular enclosure is no longer spectrally opaque with respect to the radiation from said spectral source access point.
1 more element
A secure communication method operating at a mobile communication device, said method comprising:
- receiving authentication data via an optical wireless transmission medium using a non-line-of-sight link, wherein said authentication data is modulated over said optical wireless transmission medium generated by a source that is spectrally enclosed within an enclosure containing said mobile communication device using at least a sub-carrier pulse position modulation (SC-PPM), wherein the enclosure includes spectrally selective films, and transmission of said authentication data is inactivated when said enclosure is no longer spectrally opaque with respect to radiation from said source;
- receiving encrypted information via a radio frequency transmission medium;
- decrypting said encrypted information using said authentication data received via said optical wireless transmission medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.