BLE Mouse Pairing via Host-Displayed Passkey Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices like mice lack the necessary hardware (display units, numeric keyboards, or NFC units) for secure pairing modes, leading to vulnerabilities against man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks and pairing errors in the Just Works mode.
Innovation Solution
A method for BLE devices to pair with a dongle in a passkey entry mode by generating random numbers, converting them into passkey values, and displaying operating images on the host screen for user input, enabling secure pairing without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the Just Works pairing mode is used for BLE devices without display or input capabilities, then the hardware cost is reduced and pairing is simplified, but the device cannot perform identity authentication and is vulnerable to MITM attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dongle as an intermediary device between the BLE device and the host. The dongle possesses display capabilities and can participate in the passkey entry pairing mode, while the BLE device itself remains simple without display or keyboard. This intermediary approach allows the security benefits of passkey entry to be achieved without adding complex hardware to the BLE device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the BLE device to autonomously generate random numbers and perform cryptographic operations for pairing authentication. The device uses its existing processor and memory to generate random values and compute authentication data, eliminating the need for external random number generators or dedicated security hardware.
2Reliability
If the passkey entry pairing mode is used for BLE devices, then the security against MITM attacks is improved, but additional hardware such as numeric keyboard is required
Solution Approach 1:
The dongle serves as a mediator that provides the display interface for the passkey, allowing the BLE device to participate in passkey entry pairing without having its own display or keyboard. The dongle's display shows the passkey, and the host receives the passkey input from the user via the BLE device's buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The BLE device's buttons, originally designed for pointer control, are made multi-functional to also serve as a numeric keyboard for passkey entry. The same physical buttons can input both pointer coordinates and passkey digits, eliminating the need for dedicated keyboard hardware.
3Reliability
If the numerical comparison pairing mode is used, then the authentication security is improved, but both parties must be equipped with screens or display units
Solution Approach 1:
The dongle acts as an intermediary that provides the display capability needed for numerical comparison pairing. Instead of requiring the BLE device to have its own screen, the dongle's display shows the 6-digit values for comparison, allowing secure pairing while keeping the BLE device simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A Bluetooth pointing device pairing method is provided. Firstly, a pairing command is issued from a Bluetooth dongle to a Bluetooth pointing device in response to a request command from the Bluetooth pointing device, and thus the Bluetooth pointing device is operated in a designated pairing mode. Then, the Bluetooth dongle generates and sends a random number set to a host. Then, a conversion process is performed to convert the random number set into a passkey value by the host, and an operating image corresponding to the passkey value is displayed. Then, an input operation is performed on the Bluetooth pointing device by a user according to the operating image, so that an operating result is generated. After the operating result is transmitted to the Bluetooth dongle, a comparison process is performed on the operating result to determine whether the pairing is completed.