Efficient And Secure Communication Using Wireless Service Identifiers
Patent No. US11443344 (titled "Efficient And Secure Communication Using Wireless Service Identifiers") was filed by Secure Communication Technologies Llc on Jul 2, 2021.
What is this patent about?
’344 is related to the field of wireless communication , specifically enhancing security and privacy in wireless beacon services. The background involves mobile devices using both cellular (WWAN) and short-range (WPAN/WLAN) wireless technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Existing peer-to-peer networking approaches have limitations in enforcing policy and preventing fraud, as all information is stored locally on peer devices.
The underlying idea behind ’344 is to use a central server to broker information exchange between wireless devices that detect each other via short-range wireless beacons. Instead of direct peer-to-peer communication, devices send detected identifiers to the server, which then manages the exchange of application data flow, enforces policies, and provides security verification. This approach allows for more control over information disclosure and enables features like secure e-commerce transactions.
The claims of ’344 focus on a method, a mobile wireless device, and a computer program product that involve receiving beacon transmissions via a short-range wireless protocol (e.g., Bluetooth). These transmissions include a MAC address, a unique identifier, and a beacon service identifier. The device also receives stored information from a server via a second wireless protocol. The device then selects unique identifiers by filtering beacon transmissions based on the beacon service identifier and takes action based on the stored information if a specific unique identifier is present.
In practice, a mobile device scans for beacon transmissions from nearby devices using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The beacon includes a randomized MAC address , a unique identifier, and a service identifier. The mobile device filters these beacons based on the service identifier and sends the unique identifier to a central server. The server, in turn, provides information related to that identifier, such as the identity of an entity or object, or initiates a secure transaction. The mobile device then takes further action based on the received information, such as displaying content or enabling a payment.
This approach differs from prior solutions by using a central server to manage the information exchange, which allows for policy enforcement, security, and privacy . The unique identifiers can be changed periodically to enhance anonymity. The server can also customize content based on the identity of the requesting device or user. This architecture enables various applications, including secure e-commerce transactions, location-based services, and electronic opinion polling, all while maintaining user privacy and security.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2000s when ’344 was filed, mobile devices commonly supported both cellular wide area network (WWAN) and wireless personal/local area network (WPAN/WLAN) connections, at a time when WWAN was typically implemented using standards like CDMA, GSM, or WiMax, while WPAN/WLAN relied on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for short-range communication. At that time, some systems commonly relied on peer-to-peer networks for communication between wireless devices, but hardware or software constraints made it non-trivial to enforce policies for content delivery and prevent identity spoofing in such networks.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art failed to show a beacon service identifier in beacon transmissions received by a wireless device via a short-range wireless protocol. Specifically, the prior art did not disclose that the beacon service identifier identifies the beacon service itself, as opposed to identifying a communication network or a device accessible using the short-range wireless protocol.
Claims
This patent contains 30 claims, with claims 1, 29, and 30 being independent. The independent claims are directed to a method, a mobile wireless device, and a computer program product, respectively, all generally focused on receiving beacon transmissions via a short-range wireless protocol and taking action based on stored information related to unique identifiers within those transmissions. The dependent claims generally elaborate on and refine the elements and steps recited in the independent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11443344
- Application Number
- US17366826
- Filing Date
- Jul 2, 2021
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Feb 3, 2029
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents