Bluetooth Authentication Using Application-Specific User Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Bluetooth pairing methods require direct user interaction for authentication, which is impractical for field devices without input or display options, leading to delays in data transmission due to the need for additional authentication steps.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses application-specific authentication information for mutual authentication between devices, allowing the Bluetooth connection to authenticate users or roles implicitly, eliminating the need for further application-level authentication and enabling secure data transmission without requiring user interaction on the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional Bluetooth pairing with device-level authentication is used, then cryptographic protection is achieved, but additional application-level authentication is required causing delays in data transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecryptographic protectionVSAvoiddata transmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines device-level authentication and application-level authentication into a single unified authentication process. The authentication information serves dual purposes: establishing the Bluetooth connection and verifying user/application identity, eliminating the need for separate authentication steps and reducing transmission delays while maintaining cryptographic security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If local input or display options are provided for authentication, then user authentication is possible, but device complexity and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser authentication capabilityVSAvoidinput and display options
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the authentication interface (keyboard and display) from the field device and relocates it to the user's personal device. The field device only needs to process authentication data received via Bluetooth, eliminating the need for local input/display hardware while maintaining full authentication capability through the wireless connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If application-specific authentication information is used for Bluetooth pairing, then authentication process is simplified, but security requirements for authentication information management increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication process simplicityVSAvoidauthentication information security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the user's personal device as an intermediary that securely manages authentication information. Instead of storing sensitive authentication data in the field device, the personal device acts as a secure vault that provides authentication information through the Bluetooth connection, simplifying the field device while maintaining security through the intermediary's secure storage and transmission capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3490285B1Wireless communication with user authentication
Publication Date: 2020.08.26 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3490285B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3490285B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3490285B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a method, a first communication device (1), a second communication device (2), and a system for wireless communication between the first and second communication devices, wherein first authentication information valid for a user, role, or application is provided by the first communication device (1). Upon successful mutual authentication of the communication devices by an authentication protocol, a Bluetooth connection is established. Data transmission is established from the first communication device (1) to the second communication device (2) via the Bluetooth connection, wherein the authentication of the Bluetooth connection includes the authentication of the user, role, or application on the second communication device (2).The method enables simple, user-specific authentication of a Bluetooth connection and data transmission based on authentication information.