System and method for self-identifying a portable information device to a computing unit
US5781723A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 3, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2209/80
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system includes a portable information device and a computing unit, and is architected to enable the portable information device to identify its type and properties to the computing unit. The portable information device has a processor and a memory. The memory stores a device class tag which is indicative of a type of the portable information device. When communication is established between the portable information device and the computing unit, the portable information device sends an initial message which includes a result of a mathematical operation involving the device class tag. The mathematical operation renders it computationally difficult or infeasible to deduce the device class tag from the result so that the device class tag is not exposed from the portable information device. The result might be a hash value of the device class tag which is derived using a hashing function, or data that has been signed using the device class tag as a private signing key. The computing unit uses the tag-related portion of the message to identify the type of the portable information device. The computing unit has access to a record which correlates the hash value or complementary device…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.