Wireless Device Pairing via Server Cryptographic Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless device pairing often results in accidental connections, compromising privacy and functionality, as users cannot visually verify the correct pairing between devices, leading to potential unauthorized access or device malfunction.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a server-based verification system where devices exchange cryptographic strings through a Diffie-Hellman exchange, eliminating the need for user interaction and ensuring secure pairing by comparing generated strings to confirm user account association.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wireless device pairing uses traditional methods with user selection from displayed lists, then users can visually verify device connections, but the process is complex and prone to accidental pairings with incorrect devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing accuracyVSAvoidpairing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the verification process from the user and relocates it to the device level. Devices automatically generate and compare verification codes (derived from cryptographic shared secrets) without requiring user intervention, thereby eliminating the complex user interaction step while maintaining pairing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The pairing system performs self-verification through automatic generation and comparison of verification codes by the devices themselves. The mobile device and apparatus autonomously complete the pairing verification process without external user assistance, simplifying the overall process while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If wireless pairing allows automatic connection without verification, then pairing speed increases, but privacy and security are compromised due to potential accidental connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing speedVSAvoidprivacy compromise
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary verification through automatic generation and comparison of cryptographic verification codes before establishing the wireless connection. This preliminary security check ensures that only authorized devices can pair, preventing privacy compromise while maintaining fast pairing speed through automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates automatic feedback mechanisms where devices exchange verification codes and immediately confirm or reject pairing based on code matching. This automated feedback loop ensures security verification is performed rapidly without user intervention, maintaining both speed and security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If devices display verification codes for user comparison, then pairing security is ensured, but user interaction time and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing securityVSAvoiduser interaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The verification process is fully automated with devices performing self-verification through automatic generation and comparison of cryptographic codes. This eliminates the need for user interaction entirely, reducing user interaction time to zero while maintaining pairing security through automated cryptographic verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of user code comparison with an automated electronic cryptographic verification system. Devices automatically generate, exchange, and compare verification codes through wireless communication, substituting the manual user action with an automated electronic process that maintains security while eliminating time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3117576B1Pairing of devices
Publication Date: 2022.02.09 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3117576B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3117576B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3117576B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core configured to determine a pairing opportunity with a second apparatus and to cause a message to be transmitted to a server, the message comprising a generated number, a receiver configured to receive from the server an indication, and the at least one processing core being further configured to, at least in part based on the indication, cause the apparatus to participate in pairing with the second apparatus.