Wireless Mouse Pairing Using Secure Identification Packets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless protocols for peripheral devices lack level four security, which is typically only available with devices that have a display and keys for input, making non-display devices vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks.
Innovation Solution
A wireless peripheral advertises both a wireless protocol packet and a secure identification packet, enabling level four security pairing without the need for end-user input, using a secure identification packet to positively identify devices and thwart man-in-the-middle attacks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If level four security pairing is implemented, then security against man-in-the-middle attacks is improved, but device complexity increases and requires display and key input components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification and verification functions from the traditional display and key input components, implementing them instead through wireless packet exchange. The peripheral device generates and transmits a security identification packet containing verification data, while the host device receives and validates this packet, eliminating the need for physical display and keyboard components while maintaining level four security capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction paradigm (display showing code, user typing code on keyboard) with an automated wireless communication paradigm. The security verification is performed through automated exchange of identification packets between host and peripheral devices, substituting the mechanical user interaction system with an electronic packet-based verification system that achieves the same security objective without requiring display or keyboard hardware
2Reliability
If level four security pairing is implemented, then security against man-in-the-middle attacks is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring end-user input
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where the peripheral device autonomously generates the security identification packet and initiates the verification process with the host device. The system performs security verification automatically without requiring user intervention to enter codes or perform manual verification steps, making level four security as easy to operate as level three while providing superior security protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary generation and transmission of the security identification packet by the peripheral device before the actual pairing process begins. This preliminary action includes generating the verification data and making it available for automated exchange, so that when pairing is initiated, the security verification can proceed automatically without requiring user input during the critical pairing moment
3Reliability
If conventional level four security pairing is used, then security is improved, but pairing time increases due to manual input requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the time-consuming manual interaction process (displaying code, user reading code, user typing code, system verifying code) with an automated wireless packet exchange process. The peripheral device generates and transmits the security identification packet, the host receives and validates it automatically, completing verification in seconds without human intervention, thus dramatically reducing pairing time while maintaining level four security
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous automated exchange of security identification packets between host and peripheral devices without interruption or pause for user input. The pairing process flows continuously from initiation through verification to completion, eliminating the breaks and delays inherent in manual code entry processes, thereby reducing overall pairing time while maintaining secure verification
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system and peripheral mouse establish level four security when a preloaded security identification packet is available to securely identify both devices for the exchange of pairing information in a manner that avoids man-in-the-middle attacks. The peripheral advertises with both a BLE protocol packet that supports a conventional level 3 security pairing and a secure identification packet that supports a level four security pairing. When the secure identification packet advertisement is selected by a host, the BLE profile may be populated without performing pairing so that the profile can be used to subsequently pair without risk of a malicious device imitating the BLE interface.