NZ620650B2 - An electronic data sharing device and method of use - Google Patents
An electronic data sharing device and method of use Download PDFInfo
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- NZ620650B2 NZ620650B2 NZ620650A NZ62065012A NZ620650B2 NZ 620650 B2 NZ620650 B2 NZ 620650B2 NZ 620650 A NZ620650 A NZ 620650A NZ 62065012 A NZ62065012 A NZ 62065012A NZ 620650 B2 NZ620650 B2 NZ 620650B2
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- data
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- data sharing
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- electronic data
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
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- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
- G06F21/60—Protecting data
- G06F21/62—Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
- G06F21/6218—Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
- G06F21/6245—Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
-
- G—PHYSICS
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- G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
- G06F21/60—Protecting data
- G06F21/62—Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
- G06F21/6218—Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
- G06F21/6272—Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database by registering files or documents with a third party
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
- G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
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- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q30/00—Commerce
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
- H04L63/04—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
- H04L63/0428—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
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- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
- H04L63/06—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for supporting key management in a packet data network
- H04L63/061—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for supporting key management in a packet data network for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks
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- H—ELECTRICITY
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- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
- H04L67/01—Protocols
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- H—ELECTRICITY
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- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
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- H04W12/047—Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA] without using a trusted network node as an anchor
- H04W12/0471—Key exchange
Abstract
Disclosed is a method of sharing data using an electronic data sharing device for sharing user related information with users of other electronic data sharing devices. The method comprises the steps of: (a) Generating a plurality of unique tags associated with the electronic data sharing device to exchange with a plurality of other data sharing devices to facilitate subsequent sharing of user related information with the users of the other electronic data sharing devices. (b) Detecting the initiation of a data exchange request. (c) Exchanging one of the generated unique tags with a unique tag generated by another electronic data sharing device upon detection of the data exchange request. (d) Discarding the generated unique tag from the electronic data sharing device. (e) Receiving the further generated unique tag generated by the other electronic data sharing device upon detection of a data exchange request, and storing the further generated unique tag. The tag is unique to every tag exchange transaction in which the data sharing device exchanges the tag. Each unique tag is generated based on a device key associated with the electronic data sharing device. The device key is based on a further parameter. The exchanged unique tags enable user related information associated with respective users of the electronic data sharing devices to be subsequently accessed via a communication means by users who have previously initiated the data exchange request without requiring, before operation of the device, any user related configuration or data entry associated with the device or service. xchange with a plurality of other data sharing devices to facilitate subsequent sharing of user related information with the users of the other electronic data sharing devices. (b) Detecting the initiation of a data exchange request. (c) Exchanging one of the generated unique tags with a unique tag generated by another electronic data sharing device upon detection of the data exchange request. (d) Discarding the generated unique tag from the electronic data sharing device. (e) Receiving the further generated unique tag generated by the other electronic data sharing device upon detection of a data exchange request, and storing the further generated unique tag. The tag is unique to every tag exchange transaction in which the data sharing device exchanges the tag. Each unique tag is generated based on a device key associated with the electronic data sharing device. The device key is based on a further parameter. The exchanged unique tags enable user related information associated with respective users of the electronic data sharing devices to be subsequently accessed via a communication means by users who have previously initiated the data exchange request without requiring, before operation of the device, any user related configuration or data entry associated with the device or service.
Description
AN ELECTRONIC DATA SHARING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic data sharing device and method of
use. In particular, the present invention relates to an electronic data sharing
device and method that enables tags or portions of data to be exchanged with
other electronic data sharing devices.
BACKGROUND
Personal electronic devices exist that are designed primarily for the purpose of
storing a user's own contact details and ging these contact details with
other users of similar devices. The s is likened to exchanging business
cards.
Typically these devices are battery-powered, very compact and eld. They
usually have a very minimal user interface consisting of just a button, an LED and
a USB port for ting the device to a personal computer.
To exchange contact details, two device users, each with one of these devices,
each bring their own device into proximity or alignment with the other .
Then upon ng their respective buttons on their , each user's contact
information is copied to the other device.
The information exchanged is usually not viewed on the device itself, but the
device is later plugged into a USB port of a personal computer, and the
information viewed on this personal computer.
Usually this e is provided via a dedicated web server, created for the users
of a particular manufacturer's device. When the device is plugged into a personal
computer, the information from each device is moved to the web server, where it
is stored and presented back to the user, through a web page on the al
Additionally, some of these web s may collect and share additional contact
information such as phone numbers or links to a user's social networking profile.
The devices generally exchange telephone numbers, email addresses, personal
information for online social-networking websites, or other forms of contact
information, or at least provide the means to obtain this information indirectly.
However, a problem exists in that known s have several security flaws and
usage limitations caused by the mechanisms by which they exchange data, the
nature of the data exchanged, and the methods of uploading data.
For example, these known devices typically ge data between a sending
device and a receiving device and later transmit both the data received as well as
the data sent to a server, via the user's computer. By not providing a capability to
prevent third parties from accessing this shared data, for example by capturing
the data surreptitiously during the data exchange, or through malware on the
user's computer, it becomes quite clear that the proposed relationship n
the two parties is potentially accessible and compromised.
Further, it is typically a ement that these types of s require users of
the devices to enter their contact details on the device prior to use, or that some
further configuration of the device is necessary. This may be problematic if the
user's contact details have changed between the data entry steps and the
exchange of contact information resulting in incorrect contact details being
exchanged, or simply be enient in the social context in which the device is
used.
Also, the exchange of contact details between these types of devices is typically
transferred to the servers in an unencrypted format enabling third parties to gain
access to the data without permission. This also means that, if the information is
sent to or diverted to an incorrect server, the data may be compromised. Other
vulnerabilities to malicious usage may include the manufacture and sale of
ible s by unauthorised third parties, computer-based malware able
to delete or alter e ts or introduce new non-genuine contacts, and
web server vulnerabilities to distributed-denial-of-service and other attacks
through being d with entic data.
Further, users of these types of devices are not able to determine, without
intervention by the user, if a person they are conversing with, mingling with or
who is in the same general vicinity as themselves has a compatible device for
sharing contact information. Further, there are security and privacy implications,
and power-consumption constraints, to enabling automatic detection.
Typically, devices that are designed for the purpose of storing the user's own
contact details and ging these s with other users of similar devices
lack any facility to detect nearby devices.
Existing devices typically either use electromagnetic coupling employing
induction coils and require the user of one device to hold it in close proximity and
alignment to another user's device, or they use infra-red or l beams and
require the user of one device to deliberately aim that device at another device,
whilst the second user aims their device at the first user's device. No other
communication can occur between these s.
This inability to detect nearby devices and alert the users that there may be a
person nearby with a similar device is seen as a limitation to usefulness of the
device due to the user's lack of awareness that another user, with which they
might want to exchange contact details, also has such a device in their
possession.
Further, users are limited in gaining access to any data exchanged until such
time as they have access to a suitable internet-connected computer. This
ity to synchronise data held within the device without such access is seen
as a tion to the user being able to make immediate use of any data
exchanged.
Further, users are limited in that identical personal data is shared in every data
exchange, without an option to selectively share certain information with some
users and not with others. This inability for the user to select which information is
shared with which party is seen as a limitation of current devices.
Further, users are limited in that personal information must be recorded prior to
use of the . This inability to provide flexibility regarding the registration of
personal information is seen as a limitation regarding the organisation of events
where the device will be used.
r, devices are d to responding to user-initiated behaviour only.
An object of the present invention is to provide a device or method of using such
a device that provides a technical solution to protecting the data against
malicious third parties, along with ed rivacy functionality.
An object of the present invention is to provide a device or method of using such
a device that doesn't require a user to supply user related information or carry out
any other pre-configuration prior to using the device.
An object of the present invention is to provide optional isms for both
user-initiated ss synchronisation of the device, and for automatic wireless
synchronisation of the .
An object of the present invention is to provide the user with options concerning
which parts of their user related information are shared with which parties,
whether to share all information without further user intervention, and options to
privately reconsider what information is shared at a time after use of the device
has occurred.
An object of the present ion is to provide the user with options to supply
personal ation when it is most convenient, before, during or after use of the
device, and similarly to modify this al information and choices about which
parts of this information are shared with which parties.
Each object is to be read disjunctively with the object of at least providing the
public with a useful choice.
The present invention aims to overcome, or at least alleviate, some or all of the
afore-mentioned problems.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the
following portions of the specification, n the detailed description is for the
purpose of fully disclosing the preferred embodiment of the invention without
g limitations thereon.
The background discussion (including any potential prior art) is not to be taken as
an admission of the common general knowledge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is acknowledged that the terms "comprise", "comprises" and "comprising" may,
under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive
meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless ise noted,
these terms are ed to have an inclusive meaning - i.e. they will be taken to
mean an inclusion of the listed components that the use directly references, but
optionally also the inclusion of other ecified components or elements.
According to one aspect, the present invention provides an electronic data
sharing device for sharing user related information with users of other electronic
data sharing devices, the electronic data sharing device comprising:
a hardware processor and a memory;
a data exchange initiation device ed to detect the initiation of a data
exchange request;
a tag generation module comprising instructions stored in the memory and
le to execute on the hardware processor, the tag generation module
being configured to generate a plurality of unique tags to exchange with a
plurality of other data sharing devices to facilitate subsequent sharing of user
related information with the users of the other electronic data sharing s,
n the tag is unique to every tag exchange transaction in which the data
sharing device exchanges the tag; and a communication module,
comprising a transmitter and receiver, configured to exchange a first unique tag
generated on the electronic data sharing device with a second unique tag
generated by another electronic data sharing device;
wherein the ged tags enable user related information ated
with respective users of the electronic data sharing devices to be subsequently
accessed via a communication means by users who have usly initiated the
data exchange request;
wherein the electronic data sharing device is configured to exchange the
unique tags to provide subsequent access to the user related information without
requiring any user related configuration or data entry to be entered into the
electronic sharing ;
wherein:
(a) the electronic data sharing device is ured to receive the second
unique tag upon detection of a data exchange t by the
data exchange initiation device, and store the second unique
tag in the memory;
(b) the user related configuration or data entry includes one or more of:
the entry of any user related data on the device, user
configuration of the device, user registration of the device, and
user registration of the e;
(c) the data exchange initiation device comprises one or more of a button,
touch sensitive pad, optical sensor, near field sensor, Hall
Effect , accelerometer, vibration sensor or other
ity sensor or a combination of these; or
(d) the data exchange initiation device comprises an accelerometer and
the data exchange initiation device is configured to detect the
initiation of a data exchange request upon the accelerometer
generating an accelerometer signal.
According to another aspect, the t invention es a method of sharing
data using an electronic data sharing device for sharing user related information
with users of other electronic data sharing devices, the method comprising the
steps of:
(a) generating a plurality of unique tags associated with the electronic
data sharing device to exchange with a plurality of other data sharing devices to
facilitate subsequent sharing of user related information with the users of the
other electronic data sharing s, wherein the tag is unique to every tag
ge transaction in which the data sharing device exchanges the tag,
wherein each unique tag is generated based on a device key associated with the
electronic data g device, and wherein the device key is based on a further
parameter comprising one or more of date, time, time period, location, sensory
input, analogue , or other sources of entropy, ating internally, or from
an external source;
(b) detecting the tion of a data exchange request;
(c) upon detection of the data exchange request, exchanging one of the
generated unique tags with a unique tag generated by another electronic data
sharing device; and
(d) subsequently discarding the generated unique tag from the electronic
data sharing device;
(e) receiving the further generated unique tag generated by the other
electronic data sharing device upon detection of a data exchange request, and
storing the further generated unique tag; wherein the exchanged unique tags
enable user related ation associated with respective users of the electronic
data sharing devices to be subsequently accessed via a communication means
by users who have previously initiated the data exchange request without
requiring, before operation of the device, any user related configuration or data
entry associated with the device or service.
According to yet another , the present invention provides an electronic
data sharing device comprising:
a hardware processor;
a transmitter and receiver;
a data exchange initiation device;
a memory; and
instructions stored in the memory and operable to execute on the hardware
processor;
wherein the electronic data sharing device is configured to:
ge tags with other electronic data sharing devices;
generate one or more first corresponding portions of data based on an
electronic key that is associated with the electronic data sharing device and a
pre-defined tag ting algorithm for generating a transactionally unique tag
for every device-to-device tag exchange;
exchange one or more generated first corresponding portions of data with
one or more second corresponding portions of data that were generated on one
or more further onic data sharing devices;
store the ed second corresponding portions of data;
transmit the second corresponding portions of data without transmitting the
first corresponding portions of data and further transmit either the electronic key
or related information uniquely identifying the device to a server to enable the
server to match each first and second corresponding portions of data; and
n the electronic data sharing device is configured to receive a
second corresponding portion of data generated by one of the further electronic
data sharing devices upon ion of a data exchange t by the data
exchange initiation device and store the other generated unique tag in the
memory;
wherein the data exchange initiation device comprises one or more of a
button, a touch sensitive pad, an optical sensor, a near field sensor, a Hall Effect
device, a ion sensor, a proximity sensor, or an accelerometer, wherein the
data exchange initiation device is configured to detect the initiation of a data
exchange t upon the accelerometer generating an accelerometer signal.
ing to a r aspect, the present invention provides a server configured
communicate with an electronic data sharing device that is configured to:
generate one or more first corresponding portions of data based on an
electronic key that is ated with the electronic data sharing device and a
pre-defined tag generating thm;
exchange one or more generated first ponding portions of data with
one or more second corresponding portions of data that were generated on one
or more further electronic data sharing devices;
store the received second corresponding portions of data; and
transmit the second corresponding portions of data without itting the
first corresponding portions of data and further transmit either the onic key,
or related information uniquely identifying the device, to a server to enable the
server to match each first and second corresponding portions of data;
receive the second corresponding portions of data received by the
electronic data sharing device,
receive the electronic key, or related information uniquely fying the
device, sent by the electronic data sharing device;
determine a number of data exchanges either based on a number of
received second corresponding portions of data or a tally of first corresponding
portions of data; and
rate the first ponding portions of the data sent by the
electronic data sharing device based on the determined number of data
exchanges, the electronic key, or related information uniquely identifying the
device, and the same pre-defined code generating thm as used by the
electronic data sharing device;
wherein the server is further optionally configured to associate each first
portion of data with its corresponding second n of data based on the
regenerated first portion of data, the electronic key, or related information
uniquely identifying the device, and the received second portions of data.
According to yet a further aspect, the present invention provides a data sharing
system comprising a server arranged to receive i) one or more unique tags
ed by an electronic data sharing device and ii) an electronic key or other
unique identifying information associated with the electronic data sharing ,
wherein the server is configured to:
ate the one or more received unique tags with the electronic data
sharing device based on the electronic key or other unique identifying information
associated with the electronic data g device;
regenerate the unique tags sent by the electronic data sharing device; and
associate the regenerated unique tags with the ed unique tags to:
i) identify which electronic data sharing devices exchanged unique data
tags and
ii) enable users of the identified electronic data sharing devices to share
data;
wherein the electronic sharing device has one or both of the following sets of
features:
(a) the onic sharing device comprises:
a hardware processor and a ;
a data exchange initiation device arranged to detect the initiation of a
data exchange request;
a tag generation module, comprising instructions stored in the
memory and operable to e on the hardware processor,
configured to generate a tag in preparation for the initiation of a data
exchange routine; and
a communication module comprising a transmitter and receiver
configured to ge the tag generated on the electronic data
sharing device with a tag ted by a further electronic data
sharing device;
wherein the exchanged tags enable user related information
associated with respective users of the electronic data sharing
devices to be subsequently accessed via a communication means by
users who have previously initiated the data exchange request;
wherein the electronic data sharing device is configured to exchange
the tags to provide subsequent access to the user related information
without requiring, before use of the , any user related
uration or data entry ated with the device or service; or
(b) the electronic sharing device is configured to:
generate one or more first corresponding portions of data based on an
electronic key that is ated with the electronic data sharing
device and a pre-defined tag generating algorithm;
ge one or more generated first corresponding portions of data
with one or more second corresponding portions of data that were
generated on one or more further electronic data sharing devices;
store the received second corresponding portions of data; and
transmit the second corresponding portions of data without transmitting the first
corresponding portions of data and further transmit either the electronic key, or
d ation ly identifying the device, to a server to enable the
server to match each first and second corresponding portions of data.
According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method of data
sharing using a server arranged to receive i) one or more unique tags ed
by an electronic data sharing device and ii) an electronic key or other unique
identifying information associated with the electronic data sharing device,
wherein the server is configured to:
associate the one or more ed unique tags with the electronic data
sharing device based on the electronic key or other unique identifying information
associated with the electronic data sharing device;
regenerate the unique tags sent by the electronic data sharing device; and
associate the regenerated unique tags with the received unique tags to:
i) fy which electronic data sharing devices exchanged unique data
tags; and
ii) enable users of the identified electronic data sharing devices to share
data;
wherein the electronic sharing device has one or both of the following sets
of features:
(a) the electronic sharing device comprises:
a hardware processor and a memory;
a data exchange initiation device arranged to detect the tion of a data
exchange request;
a tag tion module, comprising instructions stored in the memory and
operable to execute on the hardware processor, configured to
generate a first tag in preparation for the initiation of a data exchange
routine; and
a communication module comprising a transmitter and receiver configured
to exchange the first tag generated on the electronic data sharing
device with a second tag generated by a further electronic data
sharing ;
wherein the exchanged tags enable user related ation associated
with respective users of the electronic data sharing devices to be
uently accessed via a communication means by users who
have previously ted the data exchange request;
wherein the electronic data sharing device is configured to exchange the
tags to provide uent access to the user related information
t requiring, before use of the device, any user related
configuration or data entry associated with the device or service; or
(b) the electronic sharing device is configured to:
generate one or more first ponding portions of data based on an
electronic key that is associated with the electronic data sharing
device and a pre-defined tag generating algorithm;
exchange one or more generated first corresponding portions of data with
one or more second ponding portions of data that were
generated on one or more further electronic data sharing devices;
store the received second corresponding portions of data; and
transmit the second corresponding portions of data without transmitting the
first corresponding portions of data and further transmit either the
electronic key, or d information ly identifying the device,
to a server to enable the server to match each first and second
corresponding portions of data.
Also disclosed herein is an electronic data sharing device for g user related
information with users of other electronic data sharing devices, the electronic
data sharing device comprising: a data exchange initiation device arranged to
detect the initiation of a data exchange request; a tag generation module
configured to generate a tag in preparation for the initiation of a data exchange
routine, a communication module configured to exchange the tag generated on
the onic data g device with a tag generated by a further electronic
data g device, wherein the exchanged tags enable user related information
associated with respective users of the electronic data g devices to be
subsequently ed via a communication means by users who have
previously initiated the data exchange request, wherein the electronic data
sharing device is configured to ge the tags in order to provide uent
access to the user related information without requiring, before use of the device,
any user related configuration or data entry associated with the device or service.
Also disclosed herein is a method of sharing data using an electronic data
sharing device for sharing user related information with users of other electronic
data g devices, the method comprising the steps of: generating a tag in
preparation for the initiation of a data exchange routine, detecting the initiation of
a data exchange request; exchanging the generated tag with a tag generated by
a further electronic data sharing device, wherein the exchanged tags enable user
related information associated with respective users of the electronic data
sharing devices to be uently accessed via a communication means by
users who have previously initiated the data exchange request, and exchanging
the tags in order to provide subsequent access to the user related ation
without requiring, before operation of the device, any user related configuration or
data entry associated with the device or service.
Also disclosed herein is an electronic data sharing device configured to: te
one or more first corresponding portions of data based on an electronic key that
is associated with the electronic data sharing device and a pre-defined tag
generating algorithm, exchange one or more generated first corresponding
portions of data with one or more second ponding portions of data that
were generated on one or more further electronic data sharing devices, store the
received second corresponding portions of data, it the second
corresponding portions of data t transmitting the first corresponding
portions of data and further transmit either the electronic key, or related
information uniquely identifying the device, to a server to enable the server to
match each first and second corresponding portions of data.
Also disclosed herein is a method of data sharing using an electronic data
sharing device, the method comprising the steps of: ting one or more first
corresponding portions of data based on an electronic key that is associated with
the electronic data sharing device and a pre-defined tag generating algorithm,
exchanging one or more ted first ponding portions of data with one
or more second corresponding portions of data that were generated on one or
more further electronic data sharing s, storing the received second
corresponding ns of data, transmitting the second corresponding portions of
data without transmitting the first corresponding portions of data and further
transmit either the electronic key, or related information uniquely identifying the
device, to a server to enable the server to match each first and second
corresponding portions of data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example
only, with nce to the anying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of various components according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2A shows a layout of components in a device according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2B shows a schematic representation of components in a device
according to an ment of the present invention;
Figure 3 shows a representation of device ction according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a flash memory according to an embodiment of the present
ion;
Figure 5 shows an AES or XTEA tag generation process according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 shows a data sharing process according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
Figure 7 shows data stored at a server according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It will be understood that the system herein described includes one or more
elements that are arranged to m the various functions and methods. The
following portion of the description is aimed at providing the reader with an
example of a conceptual view of how various s and/or engines that make
up the elements of the system may be interconnected to enable the functions to
be implemented. r, the following portion of the description explains in
system related detail how the steps of the herein described method may be
med. The conceptual ms are provided to indicate to the reader how
the various data elements are processed at different stages by the various
different modules and/or engines.
It will be understood that the arrangement and construction of the modules or
engines may be adapted accordingly depending on system and user
requirements so that various functions may be performed by ent s or
engines to those described herein, and that n modules or engines may be
combined into single modules or engines.
It will be understood that the modules and/or engines described may be
implemented and provided with instructions using any suitable form of technology.
For example, the modules or engines may be implemented or created using any
suitable software code written in any suitable language, where the code is then
compiled to e an executable program that may be run on any suitable
computing system. Alternatively, or in conjunction with the executable program,
the modules or engines may be implemented using any le mixture of
hardware, re and software. For example, portions of the modules may be
implemented using an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system-ona-chip
(SoC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or any other suitable
adaptable or programmable processing device.
First Embodiment
According to this first embodiment an onic data sharing device is bed.
Users of the device are able to share user related information with other users
who have a similar device.
The user related information may be t information, such as name, address,
e-mail, telephone, web address, social network account address etc. Further,
the user d ation may be other user d information such as age,
sex, nationality, preferences, likes, es, marital status, job status, job position,
company details, employment history etc.
The electronic data sharing device according to this embodiment is a personal
portable device that each user carries around on their person.
As an alternative, the electronic data sharing device may be a device not
associated with any particular user. For example, the device may be accessible
to the public providing a public service (i.e. not being used as a personal device),
to enable users having a al portable device to share user related
information with the publically accessible device. For example, the publically
accessible device may be associated with a particular y, business,
organisation or other entity, and may be used by that entity to share entity related
information with the users, while in return receiving the user's related information.
The device may be a static non-moving device, or alternatively may be a mobile
device that moves around by any suitable means. For example, these sonal
devices may be attached to vehicles, mobile displays or person(s)
acting as a mobile display.
As r alternative this non-personal device may be designed to enable a
user to express a preference, either anonymously or by including the identity of
the user. For example, a user may use a personal device to communicate with a
sign, poster or other display to indicate “like”, “dislike”, “yes” or “no”, by
communicating with one or more non-personal devices embedded in or adjacent
to the display.
Figure 1 shows a system diagram of how the electronic data sharing devices
(non-personal and personal le devices) may be used in conjunction with a
server.
The server 1 includes a processor 11 and a memory in the form of a hard drive
12. The hard drive 12 contains software 121 by which the processor generates
either a pre-shared key, or a public/private key pair according to well known
methods, for example RSA.
Where a public/private key pair is used, the e part of the key always
remains on the . The public part of the key is included in the portable
and/or static electronic data sharing devices.
Where a pre-shared key is used, a key is generated for each device, along with
an associated public unique identification. The server memory may also n
ss related data 124 associated with the entities involved with particular
onic data sharing devices.
Each portable electronic data g device 2 has a USB type-A male connector
21, a momentary action push-switch, button or touch sensor 22, up to 8 LED's of
any type 23, a microcontroller 24, an accelerometer 26, a battery 27 and an
inverted “F” antenna 28.
Each non-personal electronic data g device 3 is essentially the same as
the portable device 2 but does not require the use of a switch or touch-sensor.
Component parts of the non-personal device 3 are designated with nce
numerals r to those of the le device 2 but with the prefix digit 3.
It is assumed that, if other synchronisation mechanisms are not available as
described in alternative embodiments, a general purpose computer such as that
indicated at 4 is available to each user.
The microcontroller in the electronic data sharing device and processor in the
server are arranged to perform the steps of a program stored as program
ctions within a memory device. The program instructions enable the
various methods of performing the invention as described herein to be performed.
The program instructions may be developed or implemented using any suitable
software programming language and toolkit, such as, for example, a C-based
language and compiler.
A computer le medium may be used for ly storing the program
instructions. The computer readable medium may be, for example, solid state
memory, magnetic tape, a compact disc (CD-ROM or CD-R/W), memory card,
flash memory, optical disc, magnetic disc or any other suitable computer
readable medium.
The personal portable device version consists of a package that is approximately
32 mm by 11 mm by 4 mm in size and weighing approximately 20 grams. At one
end it has a male type-A USB connector. The package resembles, in weight and
dimensions, a USB flash drive. It will be understood that, as an alternative, the
device may take on other dimensions, sizes and/or . Further, the USB
connection may be replaced or omitted or used in conjunction with an alternative
computing interface, whether wired or wireless.
An outer casing may be slipped over the package for protective and styling
purposes, and to conceal the USB connector. The casing may be made, for
example, from a fabric or plastic material to show an entity's logo associated with
the sponsorship of the devices.
Also visible to the user may be a single button or touch-sensor and up to 8 LED's.
The button or touch-sensor according to this embodiment may be used by the
user to indicate that they wish to share user related information with a further
device (whether non-personal device or a personal le device). The LED's
according to this embodiment are in several different colours to indicate the
status of the device. It will be understood that the device may have any number
of LEDs or no LEDs at all, and that any LEDs may have any desired colouring.
Referring to Figure 2A, the electronic data sharing device includes a printed
circuit board 401, a 3V lithium button-cell y 402, a user-operated
ary action push-switch or touch-sensor 403, 8 LED's 404, an integrated
radio (e.g. 2.4 GHz and with worldwide compliance to all relevant legislation
regarding radio emissions) and micro-controller component ding flash
memory, AES encryption hardware, and USB interface) 405, a l oscillator
406, an ed-F type antenna 407, an accelerometer 409, a type A male USB
connector 410, and firmware in the flash memory of the controller.
Figure 2B shows an alternative schematic view where details of the portable
electronic data sharing device in schematic form. Referring to Fig 2B, the
microcontroller 24, which in this example is a Nordic U1+ processor
incorporates a radio transceiver 241, encryption hardware 242, a counter 243
and a flash memory 244. The flash memory may include at various times one or
more of device id, device key and an encrypted device key. It will be understood
that the device key and pre-shared key are any suitable form of electronic key.
According to a basic operation of the device as ed in Figure 3, two people
each with their own device (Device A and Device B) first press the button or
touch-sensor on their respective devices to indicate their intention to exchange
data. This initiates the data exchange t ce by first waking the
electronic data sharing device up (if not already awake) and ting the
required electronic tags (if not already generated) using electronic keys ready for
exchange.
According to this embodiment, users move their respective devices into contact
with each other and data is exchanged between the devices. The sful
outcome of this is that both devices record the data exchange event, as will be
explained in more detail below.
All devices (whether non-personal devices or al le devices) contain
similar electronic components, with no requirement for devices to be
differentiated into masters and slaves, as the firmware uses a suitable algorithm
to ensure that any device can communicate with any other.
The non-personal device version of the electronic data sharing device is intended
for nded use. It is possible for the user of a personal portable (or handheld)
device to approach the non-personal device to enable data to be exchanged with
it. The non-personal device may include mains power or battery power. Further,
it may have a connection to a personal computer, tablet device or other
computing device. The PC, tablet device or other computing device may have a
connection to the internet, or it may not. Custom software may be placed on the
personal computer, tablet device or other computing device to enhance the user's
experience of interacting with the rsonal , to synchronise data with a
, or for any other suitable purposes.
For example, the non-personal device may be placed at shop premises, next to
stands at trade shows or any other prominent position where a user may wish to
interact with an entity.
According to one use, the electronic device, r in the form of a al
portable device or non-personal device, may be provided by an issuing entity to
various organisations in order to encourage data sharing. For reasons of price or
ience, many users will accept a data sharing device that is linked with a
business, marketing company or similar organisation, seeking business,
marketing or similar information.
Each device may have an association with a business, marketing company or
r organisation, or other organisations of their choosing, either permanently
embedded in the device, embedded but removable, or added during the course
of use of the device, or later by the use of associated software systems.
onally, the design of the device and ated software systems may allow
the business, marketing company or similar organisation to access the ary
information to contact some or all of the users of similar devices that the user has
connected to, with the device, in real-life.
It will be understood that this information may then be used to construct statistical
information, individual or group profiles, time-lines, maps, social graphs, other
graphs, or other visual or similar information or other views of such information
useful for business, marketing or r purposes that may be of value to them.
Operation of the proposed device is linked with a business model that wholly or
partly subsidises the cost of the device to the end user. It is proposed that the
device be used in marketing campaigns, brand and product ions and
similar activities by businesses. Typically it would be provided free of charge to
each visitor to an event such as a concert, nightclub, bar, reception, exhibition,
sporting event, conference or other place where visitors congregate and mix
socially.
According to this model, if a sufficient number of devices are provided free of
charge, the necessary critical mass of users will be achieved to ensure rapid
take-up and usage. Where this is d with sponsorship of an event, little or
no reluctance is expected on the part of users to accept the business data-
collection role of the device.
Other distribution models include subsidised retail sales, as a promotional item
given to customers, suppliers or business contacts in relation to other commercial
activity, or including the device in with other product sales.
Basic operation
The following description describes how the electronic data sharing device
The electronic data sharing device is configured to enable users to share user
d information by exchanging one or more nces to that information.
Each reference will be in the form of a tag that is used to identify a device-to-
device data-exchange with one or more onally similar devices. This
exchange of tags provides a record that each user wishes to exchange their user
related ation. The actual exchange of user related information is
performed at a later time by r means, as will be explained in more detail
below.
The tag may be a tag ting of numbers, letters, symbols or any combination
thereof that is able to be reproduced by an electronic device.
Tags will be generated on the device by a tag generation module (which may
form part of the processor, for example) and be sufficiently-large to be
considered unique or at least near-unique.
The tags may be: cryptographic hashes; block ciphers; random numbers, alphanumerics
or symbols; cryptographically-secure pseudo-random numbers, alpha-
numerics or symbols; pseudo-random numbers, alpha-numerics or symbols; or
other numbers, alpha-numerics or symbols with similar mathematical properties.
Methods of generating these tags include either or both hardware or re
systems capable of ming these mathematical operations.
If a sufficiently large range of numerical values are used for these tags, it will be
understood that is becomes extremely unlikely that any two or more tags would
match unintentionally, thus providing a substantially unique tag for each device.
The device generates the tag locally on the device in preparation for the initiation
of a data exchange routine, and so the near-unique tag enables such devices to
be used with no pre-registration by the user. Further, there is no ement for
the device to contain any other information apart from the unique tag.
In normal use, these tags are shared or exchanged between two or more users
of such devices ng to exchange user related information. The tags are
ged by a communication module configured within the device to wirelessly
ge the generated tags between two devices using 2.4 GHz.
Each device generates its own tag and exchanges it with a tag that has been
generated by another device. Each device then stores all the received tags in
memory located on the device.
The tags are then transferred to the server by any suitable electronic
communication means. There may be several different ways of ing this for
the user depending on the availability of equipment, as explained in more detail
below.
For example, the onic data sharing devices may be connected to a
computer server at a later time via any le onic communication method.
For example, the user may connect the electronic data sharing device to an
internet-connected personal computing device (such as a laptop, notebook, tablet
or PC) and use that ing device to upload the data on the electronic data
sharing device initially to the computing device, which then transfers it to the
server via the Internet. The data may then be ed using an Internet based
service.
Located on the server is software or data to enable a user registration sequence
to initiate, or for an ng user registration to be re-used. Each user enters their
user related information onto that server, where it will be stored, along with tags
uploaded from the electronic data sharing device to the server. Alternatively user
interaction with the data synchronised on the server may happen via a
smartphone application, for e.
The server is configured to match up the tags presented to it for the purposes of
exchanging the user related information using any suitable matching algorithm.
Where the server determines that a match is found, as explained in more detail
below, user related information for each user who agreed to exchange tags may
be presented to the other user with whom they exchanged the tag with. It will be
understood that a user of the device may share one or more tags with other
users.
Therefore, tags may be exchanged to enable users to subsequently access user
related information without requiring, before use of the device, any user related
configuration or data entry associated with the device or e.
Security
The following description describes how the electronic data sharing device may
operate in a mode able to provide a comprehensive on to possible security
vulnerabilities.
The secure mode may be permanently enabled. Alternatively, the secure mode
may be d in response to a ial threat. When the secure mode is
generally enabled, some or all of the specific features may be disabled. For
example, for engineering development purposes, or in order to investigate
operational problems, it may be considered useful to temporarily disable
encryption. Alternatively, for export to certain legal jurisdictions it may be
necessary to permanently disable encryption.
When considering a subsidised electronic data g device, certain extra
safeguards may be required to protect this y. For example, these
safeguards may include that a) only authorised devices will be accepted by the
authorised server, b) ised devices will not work with another server, c)
authorised devices cannot be used for an unauthorised purpose, d) data in the
authorised devices cannot be used for an unauthorised purpose, and e) it is not
possible to generate data that would appear genuine to the authorised server.
All five of these requirements can be met by the use of encryption. The herein
bed system ensures that each device uses a unique or near-unique
encryption and that this tion is known only to the server and the device.
According to this embodiment, the security model used is either a pre-shared key,
or a public-private key-pair, which is used to encrypt a symmetrical device key
(session key). However, it will be understood that other suitable alternative
encryption techniques may be used.
The security model protects the device issuing 's (e.g. a sponsor)
investment in the device. Additionally, it is important that a device cannot be used
with a server other than the one specified by the issuing entity, and that user
references originating from data-exchanges are useless unless passed to the
intended server.
The ared key or public-private key pairs are generated on a remote server.
According to a first example, the pre-shared key is unique to each device and
known to both device and server, The pre-shared key is ated with a unique
device identification and this identification is used by the device to fy itself to
the server.
According to a second example, the private key is retained at the server, and the
public key is included with the firmware of every device. The public key is
subsequently used to encrypt the device key on the device in order to er the
device key from the device to the server.
According to the second example, an RSA public-private key-pair is generated,
with the private key being stored on the server and never leaving the server. This
is only done once, and many devices may share the same public key. It will be
understood that there may be further ions in the system for finer granularity
of the public key encryption scheme.
Along with the firmware, either the pre-shared key or 2048 bit RSA public key is
stored in the device's flash memory during cture, as shown in Figure 4.
That is, the flash memory includes business related data associated with the
entity issuing the devices, a public key (RSA), the device key (used as a session
key), a public-key encrypted copy of the device key and a number of tags
depending on how many tag exchanges have occurred. Alternatively a pre-
shared key and a unique device identification are stored instead of the public key,
device key (encrypted and unencrypted).
All data ers are from device to device, or device to server. The system does
not allow data transfers from the server to any device and so there is no
requirement for the device to hold a private key corresponding to a public key on
the server.
The device may also contain a 128 bit AES hardware encryption block. This
block is configured in re to function as a cryptographically-secure pseudorandom
number generator (CSPRNG) (see Figure 5), by operating it in counter
mode (CTR). Alternatively this may be implemented in software and an
ative algorithm used such as XTEA.
At first boot, the counter is initialised, and the device key, used as an XTEA or
128 bit AES encryption key, if not supplied by the server, is prepared. The
lifetime of the device key may be the lifetime of the device. This lifetime may be
precisely controlled from within the firmware. Therefore the device on start-up
generates the device key if necessary, but never allows this key to become
exposed outside the device.
The device key may be generated using any suitable source of entropy that is
available to the device. For example, the device key may be generated using
one or more parameter including date, time, time period, location, sensory input,
electrical noise, ue source or any other le source of y or
combination thereof. For example, the device key may be generated from
parameters generated by an internal source, or by an external source, such as a
server.
Alternatively, each device may have a device key loaded into the memory of the
device at manufacture.
If necessary, in the device's firmware, the RSA -key encryption algorithm
prepares an ted copy of the device key.
According to one embodiment, the device is configured to use the device key in
the cryptographically-secure pseudo-random numbers generator (CSPRNG) in
order to generate the tag. Each device has its own generated tag which is then
exchanged. Each 128 bit tag is generated by the CSPRNG.
That is, a first device generates its tag and sends this generated tag to a recipient
device. Likewise, the recipient device generates its tag and sends this to the first
device.
After each tag is generated and sent, the counter in the CSPRNG is incremented,
but the generated tag is discarded. The received tag is committed to flash
memory (see Figure 6). Usage continues in this fashion for as long as the user
desires, or until the flash memory is full (e.g. 1024 tags), or until limits set in the
firmware are reached.
According to this embodiment, neither device records the tag that it generates.
That is, locally ted tags are not stored. Only tags that are ed from
other devices are stored.
It will be understood that, as an alternative, each device may store its own
generated tags. For e, this may be required legally in certain jurisdictions,
or atively the stored tags may provide an engineer with tools to enable the
debugging of the device.
The users of the device may then repeat this process to enable the device to
m multiple user-initiated data-exchanges.
After the electronic data sharing device has been used to exchange one or more
tags, it may be connected to the server via an internet connected computing
device. The electronic data sharing device transfers the unique device
identification or public-key-encrypted version of the device key to the server by
uploading it, via the computing device, along with all the received tags.
The server uses either the received unique device identification to find its copy of
the pre-shared key, or the private key to decrypt the received public-keyencrypted
version of the device key. It also inspects the transmitted tag tally or
number of tags received by the device and determines the total number of userinitiated
data-exchanges.
The server then regenerates the total number of tags sent by the device by
running an identical CSPRNG with a key identical to the one used on the device.
As the server has the same algorithm and same key, the tags that were
generated by the device are regenerated at the server, without ing each
device to send both sent and generated tags to the . The server now has
a complete set of tags both received and sent by this device (see Figure 7).
The regenerated tags are entered into a database and associated with this
device (and its associated user) as the . Alternatively, where these tags
pre-exist in the database, the association with the device and/or user is added.
The received tags are also entered into the database and associated with this
device (and its associated user) as the receiver. Alternatively, where these tags
pre-exist in the database, the association with the device and/or user is added.
The entries associated with this device as sender are then scanned by the server
to determine matching associations with a receiver. Where matches occur, both
users of the tive devices are notified by the server in order for them to view
their tive user related information.
The very large numerical range of tags ensures that attempts at third party tag
generation are extremely unlikely to be successful.
An additional consequence of the proposed security model is the absolute
privacy of users, and ation of the data in these s will be of no value.
It will be understood that certain restrictions of the device may be incorporated
into the firmware. For example, these restrictions may include limiting the number
of data-exchanges, a time limit after which data-exchanges are disabled, and a
time limit after which the device is wholly disabled.
The time of each data-exchange may also be ed in the flash memory, in
terms of elapsed time since boot. The device also incorporates flash memory
space ted to the sponsor of the device. The purpose of this memory space
is not fixed, and may be used for multiple purposes according to the sponsor's
need.
All such extra data may be encrypted with the device key before the data is
ed from the device to the server.
The device has 2 basic modes of operation, a first when it is physically connected
to a computer by the device's USB port and d through that port, and a
second when it is unconnected and powered by the device's own internal battery.
When connected to a computer, the device functions as a mass e device
and radio communications are usually disabled. The connected mode is similar in
implementation to that widely used in USB flash drives, making the data storage
area of the flash memory accessible to the host computer. The device restricts
the ability of the host computer to write to or erase the flash memory.
s may initially be supplied with the battery disabled by a pull-out tab
blocking one of the y contacts. After this tab has been removed the
initialisation code in the firmware is run. Part of this initialisation may prepare and
store the device key as bed above. This will bring the device to a state
where it is ready to operate and, in the absence of any triggering events, it will
then enter a power saving state.
A data exchange initiation device is used to detect the initiation of a data
exchange request. According to this embodiment, the data exchange initiation
device includes a button or touch sensor, as well as an accelerometer. Through
a combination of activation of these components, the electronic data sharing
device is activated, a tag may be generated (if not y generated) upon a tag
generation module receiving instructions from the data exchange initiation ,
and a signal may be sent to a communications device to transfer the tag to
another functionally similar device,
It will be understood that the generation of the tag may be carried out at any point
prior to the exchange of tags, but preferably before the user activates the
accelerometer. It is advantageous to have a tag ready for ge prior to the
accelerometer being activated to assist in the efficient exchange of tags within a
defined time period.
Upon the exchange of tags, the tag just used is marked as used in the memory
and a new tag is generated in readiness for a further exchange.
According to a particular example, upon the electronic data sharing device first
being booted up (e.g. by activation of the button or touch sensor), a tag is
generated and stored in the device's memory in ation for the initiation of a
data exchange routine. If no e is instigated by the user, the electronic data
sharing device returns to a sleep mode.
To wake the electronic data sharing device from the sleep mode, the user may
press the button (or touch sensor). For e, if the user decides to share
their user information with another user of a functionally similar device.
Therefore, the device will wake from its power saving state for a defined time
period. If during this time period the accelerometer is activated by for instance
tapping one device against another, the firmware within the electronic data
sharing device will detect this event (via a signal generated by the accelerometer)
and d by enabling the device's communication module ding a
transmitter and receiver) to transmit the generated tag and, according to some
embodiments, receive a corresponding tag from the functionally similar device.
The device randomly selects to transmit or waits to receive a communications
packet. ed attempts at communication are made at fixed intervals, each
with a random assignment to transmit or receive mode. Therefore, the device
repeatedly operates in either transmit or receive mode within a defined period of
time in order to attempt communication with a similar device. This action may be
indicated to the user by the activation of an LED. Further, the electronic data
sharing device may include visual and/or audio and/or e feedback s
configured to e an indication of a successful or failed exchange of tags, the
number of tags exchanged or to indicate that an exchange of tags has previously
been performed between the two devices.
A successful data exchange results in the data d created by the
transmitting device being copied into the receiving device, and an
acknowledgement returned, completing the transaction. The data payload as
explained above contains a t cryptographically-secure pseudo-random
number, one exchanged in each direction. Both devices commit the received
data payload to their respective flash memories.
Data exchange may include extra transactions to provide immunity from
interference, ncy agility, synchronisation, differentiation between other
nearby devices, and to overcome ions when two devices switch to transmit
simultaneously.
The device will continue to accumulate these tags, one for each time the device
successfully completes a data-exchange with another device, each being a
record of an event where two or more users have completed the ary
actions to record their desire to exchange user related information via the
associated software systems.
When the device is ted to a computer, via the device's USB connector, the
stored tags are passed from the device to a remote server, and the computer's
web browser is also directed to the server. The user is able to create an account,
or re-use an existing account on the server, which is then accessible by way of a
web browser. The tags are stored on the server, along with the user's personal
s, or may be cached for immediate or later association with a user.
The server will also search for matches between the tags uploaded by the user,
and any other tags on the server. Where matches are found, the identity of the
other ng party may be displayed in the web browser. If both parties to a
match give, or have given, authorisation such personal details as they authorise
are shared with the other party, either through a web browser or directly to a
mobile phone via a messaging service or smartphone application. That is, the
user is able to select options about which parts of their user related information
are shared with which s. Further, each user is able to select an option to
share all ation without further user intervention. Further, each user is able
to privately reconsider what information is shared at some time after use of the
device by not enabling automatic sharing of data, and then selecting which data
is to be shared after the tags have been exchanged.
The exchange of unique (or near unique) tags enables a user of the electronic
data sharing device to share user related data with a further user of a onally
similar electronic data sharing device t requiring the user or the further
user to a) configure either the electronic data sharing device or further electronic
data sharing , b) input data into either the electronic data sharing device or
the further electronic data sharing device or c) provide data to either the
electronic data sharing device or the further onic data sharing device prior
to activation of the data exchange initiation device or the r electronic data
sharing device.
Second Embodiment
According to this second embodiment, an alternative system of erring data
from an electronic data sharing device to a server is provided.
As an alternative to transferring data from an electronic data sharing device via
an internet-connected personal computing device, a wireless synchronisation
device may be used. The wireless synchronisation device may transfer the tags
to the server automatically when the wireless synchronisation device and
electronic data sharing device are able to communicate with each other. This
enables data to be transferred to the server without requiring any additional
action on the part of the electronic data sharing device users.
Electronic data sharing devices are used in the same way as described above to
initiate an exchange of tags. For example, by g one device against another
an exchange of tags by radio is triggered.
After an electronic data sharing device has received a new tag, it then has
unsynchronised data in its flash memory.
As a consequence of having this unsynchronised data, the electronic data
sharing device switches to a communications receive mode, and starts listening
for issions from an instant-sync point. The electronic data sharing device
does this for a limited time duration and on a low duty cycle for power-
conservation reasons.
The instant-sync point transmits a designated special-purpose tag indicating that
the instant-sync point wishes to receive unsynchronised tags from any electronic
data g device ready to transmit them.
An electronic data g device receiving this special purpose tag responds
with an indication that it has unsynchronised data, and the instant-sync point then
initiates the transfer of this data from the onic data g device to the
instant-sync point.
As data is transferred to the instant-sync point from the electronic data sharing
device, the instant-sync point also transfers this data to a ted PC by a
serial communication means over USB. The connected PC on completion of the
er of all data to be synchronised, then uploads this data to the server.
After data has been transferred, the instant-sync point sends a special-purpose
tag to the electronic data g device indicating that the data has been
sfully synchronised with the server. The electronic data sharing device
then marks its data as synchronised, turns off its receiver, and moves to a power
conserving state.
The data on the server may then be matched as described in the first
embodiment to enable users to share user related information. The server may
automatically send the user related information to a user's personal computing
device or mobile one to enable them to immediately access the user
related information and obtain contact details etc of the person they have just
exchanged tags with.
This therefore provides a capability to allow users to immediately access
exchanged contact information through other devices, such as their tablets and
mobile telephones for example.
Where a user lacks immediate access to a PC, they often still have access to
their mobile phone. If the registration procedure of users includes their mobile
phone number, then contact information collected may immediately be pushed to
almost any suitable device, for example in the vCard format. This ch
therefore avoids common difficulties of compatibility associated with the wide
variety of phone manufacturers and models.
r, in certain circumstances it will be understood that sers of an event
where the electronic data sharing devices are being used may provide a wireless
synchronisation point in a specific area to enable users to automatically transfer
their collected tags. For example, one or more wireless synchronisation points
may be provided at an exit point to ensure that all tags are transferred
tically as users leave the area.
Third Embodiment
According to this third embodiment, a further alternative system of transferring
data from an electronic data sharing device to a server is provided.
ing to the first embodiment above, electronic data sharing devices are
able to communicate with their peers in order to exchange tags. The onic
data g devices then record these tags to flash memory. The tags are then
uploaded from flash memory via a USB interface to a server.
In order to make this uploading to the server more frequent and easier for the
user, a special-purpose tap-point may be provided to enable the user to send
their collected tags without requiring the need to t their electronic data
sharing device to a personal ing device.
This tap point always tes a data exchange with the electronic data sharing
using a designated special-purpose tag indicating that the exchange will be a
download of stored tags from the electronic data sharing device, rather than the
normal exchange of tags.
The tap point incorporates standard device electronics as described above in the
first embodiment, but with the outer appearance of a public terminal. That is, the
tap point will be clearly marked in an area to enable users to identify the tap point
device.
The tap point contains a version of the device firmware that supports serial over
USB communication protocols so that the received stream of tags transferred
from the electronic data sharing device is immediately itted over a wired
interface to a connected PC. The PC then transmits the received tags to the
server, in the same manner as if the electronic data sharing device providing the
download had been directly connected to the PC.
As described above in the second embodiment, this therefore provides a
capability to allow users to ately access exchanged contact information
through other devices, such as their tablets and mobile telephones for example.
Further Embodiments
It will be understood that the embodiments of the t invention described
herein are by way of example only, and that various changes and modifications
may be made without departing from the scope of ion.
It will be tood that, where the users of the herein bed electronic data
sharing device are also users of smart , specially written smartphone
applications or programs may enable users to configure their own personal
account details, associate computing devices with this account and view the
personal contacts that they have made using the electronic data sharing device.
Unlike PC's where a USB port is ubiquitous, some phone models have USB and
some do not. Of those that do, some are USB master and slave, and some are
slave only.
However, all the herein described operations may be med through a
specially written application or program without a requirement for a USB
connection, ed that data from the electronic data sharing device has been
synchronised by a route not requiring a USB connection to the electronic data
sharing device.
Association of electronic data sharing devices with a particular personal account
can be done through any of manually entering a code printed on the electronic
data sharing device, reading an optical barcode with a phone's built-in camera, or
where ble the device's communications ol can be switched from the
propriety protocol used to exchange tags to a Bluetooth protocol (e.g. Bluetooth
LE) in order for the electronic data sharing device to icate wirelessly
directly to the phone.
Further, it will be understood that the electronic data sharing device may
incorporate functionality to provide visual effects, for example with application to
large assembled groups of device users.
The electronic data sharing device may possess a short-range radio, with a
range of approximately 10 m, such that several other users are extremely likely to
be within range of any particular electronic data sharing device in the sion
of a member of an audience at a social event.
This capability, combined with the automated s of ication already
described, provides a suitable environment for s to act autonomously yet
provide visual effects that appear to require l external control.
An algorithm is stored within the memory of the electronic data sharing device to
configure the electronic data sharing device to operate in a specific way and
e visual effects.
For example, the algorithms may be based on simple behavioural rules as
follows to switch the LEDs on or off the electronic data sharing devices. One
such example is:
i) Any nated device with fewer than two illuminated neighbours turns off.
ii) Any illuminated device with 2 or 3 illuminated neighbours continues in that
state.
iii) Any illuminated device with more than 3 illuminated ours turns off.
iv) Any non-illuminated cell with exactly 3 illuminated neighbours becomes an
illuminated device.
The electronic data sharing devices may modify their our in regular time
steps (for example, in one second intervals) such that evolving patterns are
observed by an observer.
It will be understood that sounds may also be generated using any suitable audio
device on the electronic data sharing device.
It will be understood that this is one specific example of an autonomous-device
rule-based behaviour, and that many variations are possible by changing one or
more of the steps above, or by including or removing steps.
Other cellular behaviours suited to the herein described electronic data sharing
device may be enabled through the use of fractal mathematics such as
Mandlebrot sets and Julia sets to provide visually pleasing effects in large
assembled groups of individuals in possession of these electronic data g
Further, a small number of electronic data sharing devices may be under the
active l of event organisers to initiate the above described visual behaviour.
These “seed” devices may be under the personal l of individual event staff,
or automatically triggered through audio or stage-lighting control systems, for
e. Therefore, the electronic data sharing devices may respond
automatically and as a group simultaneously to a timed event, an external radio
stimulus or other trigger, to provide visual and/or audible effects for entertainment
purposes.
Further, It will be understood that the electronic data sharing device may include
video, audio, ambient light, temperature, air re, acceleration, global
positioning, base-station ulation and similar sensors.
Further, it will be understood that the electronic data sharing device may further
e video, audio, haptic and similar transducers.
Further, it will be understood that alternative embodiments of the device enable
the s to share tags and/or data by use of physical electrical contacts, such
that the electronic data sharing devices must physically come into contact with
each other to exchange a tag.
Further, it will be understood that the data exchange initiation device suitable to
detect the initiation of a data exchange request may be a button, touch sensitive
pad, optical sensor, near field sensor, Hall Effect device, accelerometer, vibration
sensor or other proximity sensor or a combination of these.
Further, it will be understood that any other suitable wireless communication
protocol other than 2.4 GHz radio may be used to transmit tags, such as
oth, Infra Red etc. Further, it will be understood that any suitable l
transmission protocol may be used.
r, it will be understood that the tag generation module may include one or
more of an incremental counter, random number generator; pseudo-random
number generator, cryptographic hash generator, block cipher unit, or
cryptographically-secure pseudo-random number generator to generate the tags.
Further, it will be understood that the user related configuration or data entry may
include one or more of: the entry of any user related data on the device; user
configuration of the ; user registration of the device; user registration of the
service.
Further, it will be tood that the electronic data sharing device may have
one or more user input devices, and the data exchange initiation device may be
activated by an input signal ed from the one or more input s. For
example, the one or more input devices may be one or more of a user operated
button, switch or touch sensor. Further, the tag tion module may be
configured to associate the generated unique tags with a predetermined property
based on the activation of the one or more user input devices. For example, the
ermined property may be one or more of: a level of importance, a level of
significance, a level of security, a level of friendship, a hierarchical level of
business ation.
Various embodiments described herein therefore provide a data synchronisation
method using an electronic data sharing device, where some or all of the stored
tags are transmitted in response to either a user ted interaction with a fixed
or mobile terminal, or some or all stored tags are transmitted in response to being
polled by a fixed or mobile system providing onisation without a
requirement for user initiation.
Claims (21)
1. An electronic data g device for sharing user d information with users of other electronic data sharing devices, the electronic data g device sing: 5 a hardware processor and a memory; a data exchange initiation device arranged to detect the initiation of a data exchange request; a tag generation module comprising instructions stored in the memory and operable to execute on the hardware processor, the tag generation module being 10 configured to generate a plurality of unique tags to exchange with a plurality of other data g devices to facilitate subsequent sharing of user related information with the users of the other onic data sharing devices, wherein the tag is unique to every tag exchange transaction in which the data sharing device exchanges the tag; and 15 a communication module, comprising a transmitter and receiver, configured to exchange a first unique tag generated on the electronic data sharing device with a second unique tag generated by another electronic data g device; wherein the exchanged tags enable user related information associated with respective users of the electronic data g devices to be subsequently 20 accessed via a ication means by users who have previously initiated the data exchange request; wherein the electronic data sharing device is configured to exchange the unique tags to provide subsequent access to the user related information without requiring any user related configuration or data entry to be entered into the 25 electronic sharing device; wherein: (e) the electronic data sharing device is configured to e the second unique tag upon detection of a data exchange request by the data exchange initiation device, and store the second unique tag in the 30 memory; (f) the user related configuration or data entry includes one or more of: the entry of any user related data on the device, user configuration of the , user registration of the device, and user registration of the service; 35 (g) the data ge initiation device comprises one or more of a button, touch sensitive pad, optical sensor, near field sensor, Hall Effect device, rometer, vibration sensor or other ity sensor or a combination of these; or (h) the data exchange initiation device comprises an accelerometer and the data exchange tion device is configured to detect the 5 initiation of a data exchange request upon the accelerometer ting an accelerometer signal.
2. The electronic data sharing device of claim 1, n either the electronic data sharing device and/or the other electronic data sharing device is a personal 10 portable electronic device or a static or mobile electronic device offering a public service or used for a purpose other than as a personal device.
3. The electronic data sharing device of claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to exchange the unique tag using a wireless communication 15 protocol; or one or more physical electrical contacts.
4. The electronic data sharing device of claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to send the first unique tag to the other electronic data sharing device upon detection of a data exchange request by the data exchange 20 initiation device, and subsequently discard the first unique tag from the electronic data sharing device.
5. The electronic data sharing device of claim 1, n the tag generation module: 25 (a) is configured to generate a unique tag associated with the electronic data sharing device in preparation for a data exchange request by the data exchange initiation device (b) is configured to generate the unique tag based on a device key associated with the electronic data g device, wherein the device key is 30 based on a further parameter, n the further parameter can be one or more of date, time, time period, location, sensory input, analogue source, or other sources of entropy, originating internally, or from an external source; and (c) includes an ental counter, random number tor; random number generator, cryptographic hash generator, block cipher unit, or 35 cryptographically secure pseudo-random number generator.
6. A method of sharing data using an electronic data sharing device for sharing user related information with users of other electronic data sharing devices, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a plurality of unique tags associated with the electronic 5 data sharing device to exchange with a ity of other data sharing s to tate uent sharing of user related information with the users of the other onic data sharing devices, wherein the tag is unique to every tag ge ction in which the data sharing device exchanges the tag, wherein each unique tag is generated based on a device key associated with the 10 electronic data sharing device, and wherein the device key is based on a further parameter sing one or more of date, time, time period, location, sensory input, analogue source, or other sources of entropy, originating internally, or from an external source; (b) detecting the initiation of a data exchange request; 15 (c) upon detection of the data exchange request, exchanging one of the generated unique tags with a unique tag generated by another electronic data sharing device; and (d) uently discarding the generated unique tag from the electronic data sharing device; 20 (e) receiving the further generated unique tag generated by the other electronic data sharing device upon detection of a data exchange request, and storing the further generated unique tag; wherein the exchanged unique tags enable user related information ated with respective users of the electronic data sharing devices to be 25 subsequently accessed via a communication means by users who have previously initiated the data exchange request without requiring, before operation of the device, any user related configuration or data entry associated with the device or service. 30
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the electronic data sharing device or the other electronic data sharing device is a personal le electronic device or a static or mobile onic device offering a public service or used for a purpose other than as a personal device. 35
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the exchange of unique tags uses a wireless communication protocol or one or more physical electrical contacts.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the user related configuration or data entry includes one or more of: the entry of any user related data on the device; user configuration of the device; user registration of the ; and user registration 5 of the service.
10. An electronic data sharing device comprising: a re processor; a transmitter and receiver; 10 a data exchange tion device; a memory; and instructions stored in the memory and le to execute on the hardware processor; wherein the electronic data sharing device is configured to: 15 exchange tags with other electronic data g devices; generate one or more first corresponding portions of data based on an electronic key that is associated with the electronic data g device and a pre-defined tag generating algorithm for generating a transactionally unique tag for every device-to-device tag exchange; 20 exchange one or more generated first corresponding portions of data with one or more second corresponding portions of data that were generated on one or more further electronic data sharing devices; store the received second corresponding ns of data; transmit the second corresponding portions of data without transmitting the 25 first corresponding portions of data and r transmit either the electronic key or related information uniquely identifying the device to a server to enable the server to match each first and second corresponding ns of data; and wherein the electronic data sharing device is configured to receive a second corresponding portion of data generated by one of the further electronic 30 data sharing devices upon detection of a data exchange request by the data exchange initiation device and store the other generated unique tag in the memory; wherein the data exchange initiation device comprises one or more of a button, a touch sensitive pad, an optical , a near field sensor, a Hall Effect 35 device, a vibration sensor, a proximity sensor, or an accelerometer, n the data exchange initiation device is configured to detect the initiation of a data ge request upon the accelerometer generating an accelerometer signal.
11. The electronic data sharing device of claim 10, wherein the electronic data sharing device or the further electronic data sharing device is a personal portable 5 electronic device or a static or mobile electronic device offering a public service or used for a purpose other than as a personal device, and the electronic data sharing device or further electronic data sharing device is configured to either retain or discard the first corresponding portions of data after exchanging the electronic key.
12. The onic data sharing device of claim 10, wherein the electronic key is in the form of either i) a pre-shared key originating from the server or ii) a device key encrypted by a public key encryption module on the onic data sharing device, wherein the electronic key is used to te the corresponding portions 15 of data.
13. A server configured to: communicate with an electronic data sharing device that is ured to: te one or more first ponding portions of data based on an 20 electronic key that is associated with the electronic data sharing device and a pre-defined tag generating algorithm; exchange one or more generated first corresponding portions of data with one or more second corresponding portions of data that were generated on one or more further electronic data sharing devices; 25 store the received second corresponding portions of data; and transmit the second corresponding portions of data without transmitting the first corresponding portions of data and further transmit either the electronic key, or related information ly identifying the device, to a server to enable the server to match each first and second corresponding portions of data; 30 receive the second corresponding portions of data received by the onic data sharing device, receive the electronic key, or related ation uniquely fying the device, sent by the electronic data sharing ; determine a number of data exchanges either based on a number of 35 received second corresponding portions of data or a tally of first corresponding portions of data; and regenerate the first corresponding portions of the data sent by the electronic data sharing device based on the determined number of data exchanges, the electronic key, or related information uniquely identifying the device, and the same fined code generating algorithm as used by the 5 electronic data sharing device; wherein the server is further optionally configured to associate each first portion of data with its corresponding second portion of data based on the regenerated first portion of data, the electronic key, or related information uniquely identifying the device, and the ed second portions of data.
14. A data sharing system comprising a server arranged to receive i) one or more unique tags received by an electronic data g device and ii) an electronic key or other unique identifying information associated with the electronic data sharing device, n the server is configured to: 15 associate the one or more received unique tags with the electronic data sharing device based on the electronic key or other unique identifying ation associated with the electronic data sharing device; rate the unique tags sent by the electronic data sharing device; and associate the regenerated unique tags with the received unique tags to: 20 iii) identify which onic data sharing devices exchanged unique data tags; and iv) enable users of the identified onic data sharing devices to share data; wherein the electronic sharing device has one or both of the following sets of 25 features: (c) the electronic g device comprises: a hardware processor and a memory; a data ge initiation device arranged to detect the initiation of a data exchange request; 30 a tag generation module, comprising instructions stored in the memory and operable to execute on the hardware processor, ured to generate a tag in preparation for the initiation of a data exchange routine; and a communication module comprising a transmitter and receiver 35 configured to exchange the tag generated on the electronic data sharing device with a tag generated by a further electronic data g device; wherein the exchanged tags enable user related information associated with respective users of the electronic data sharing devices to be subsequently accessed via a communication means by 5 users who have usly initiated the data exchange request; wherein the electronic data sharing device is configured to exchange the tags to provide subsequent access to the user related ation without ing, before use of the device, any user related configuration or data entry associated with the device or service; or 10 (d) the electronic sharing device is configured to: generate one or more first corresponding portions of data based on an electronic key that is associated with the electronic data sharing device and a fined tag generating algorithm; exchange one or more generated first corresponding portions of data 15 with one or more second corresponding portions of data that were generated on one or more further electronic data sharing devices; store the ed second corresponding portions of data; and transmit the second corresponding portions of data without transmitting the first ponding portions of data and further transmit either the electronic key, or 20 related information uniquely identifying the device, to a server to enable the server to match each first and second corresponding portions of data.
15. The data sharing system of claim 14, wherein: (a) the electronic key is received by the server in an encrypted format 25 using a public encryption key and the server is further configured to decrypt the electronic key using a corresponding e encryption key; (b) the other unique fying information associated with the onic data sharing device is received by the server and the server is further configured to use this unique identifying information to access a unique key pre-shared with 30 the electronic data sharing device; (c) the server is ured to regenerate the sent unique tags by: i) determining the number of tags generated based on either the number of received unique tags or the number of transmitted tags; ii) regenerating the sent unique tags using the determined number of tags 35 generated, the electronic key or other unique identifying information associated with the onic data sharing device and a tag generation sequence that matches a sequence used on the electronic data sharing device to generate the sent unique tags; and/or (d) the server is further configured to associate the regenerated sent unique tags with the received unique tags to enable users of the electronic data 5 sharing devices associated with the ged unique tags to share their data.
16. A method of data g using a server arranged to receive i) one or more unique tags received by an electronic data sharing device and ii) an electronic key or other unique identifying information associated with the electronic data 10 sharing device, wherein the server is configured to: associate the one or more received unique tags with the electronic data sharing device based on the electronic key or other unique identifying information associated with the electronic data sharing device; regenerate the unique tags sent by the electronic data sharing device; and 15 associate the regenerated unique tags with the received unique tags to: iii) identify which electronic data sharing devices exchanged unique data tags; and iv) enable users of the fied electronic data sharing devices to share data; 20 wherein the electronic sharing device has one or both of the following sets of features: (c) the electronic sharing device comprises: a hardware processor and a memory; a data exchange initiation device arranged to detect the initiation of a 25 data exchange request; a tag generation module, comprising instructions stored in the memory and operable to execute on the hardware processor, configured to generate a first tag in preparation for the tion of a data ge e; and 30 a communication module comprising a transmitter and receiver configured to exchange the first tag generated on the electronic data sharing device with a second tag generated by a further onic data sharing device; wherein the exchanged tags enable user d information 35 associated with tive users of the electronic data g devices to be subsequently accessed via a communication means by users who have previously ted the data exchange request; wherein the electronic data sharing device is configured to exchange the tags to provide subsequent access to the user related ation without requiring, before use of the device, any user related 5 configuration or data entry associated with the device or service; or (d) the electronic sharing device is configured to: generate one or more first corresponding portions of data based on an electronic key that is associated with the electronic data sharing device and a pre-defined tag ting algorithm; 10 exchange one or more generated first corresponding portions of data with one or more second corresponding portions of data that were generated on one or more further electronic data sharing devices; store the received second corresponding portions of data; and it the second corresponding portions of data without transmitting 15 the first corresponding portions of data and further transmit either the electronic key, or related information uniquely identifying the device, to a server to enable the server to match each first and second corresponding portions of data. 20
17. The method of claim 16, wherein: (a) the electronic key is received in an encrypted format using a public encryption key and the server is further configured to decrypt the electronic key using a ponding private encryption key; (b) the other unique identifying information associated with the electronic 25 data sharing device is ed by the server and this unique identifying information is used by the server to access a unique key pre-shared with the electronic data sharing device; (c) the server is further ured to regenerate the sent unique tags by: i) determining the number of tags generated based on either a number of 30 received unique tags or a number of generated tags; ii) regenerating the sent unique tags using the determined number of tags generated, the electronic key or other unique fying information ated with the electronic data sharing device and a tag generation sequence that s a sequence used on the electronic data sharing device to generate the 35 sent unique tags; (d) the server is r configured to associate the regenerated sent unique tags with the received unique tags to enable users of the electronic data sharing devices ated with the exchanged unique tags to share their data.
18. An electronic data sharing device according to claim 1 or 10 and 5 ntially as herein described with reference to any one or more embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
19. A method of sharing data ing to claim 6 or 16 and substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more embodiments shown in the 10 accompanying drawings.
20. A server according to claim 13 and substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
21. A data sharing system according to claim 14 and substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. :: a: am: 2&3 A: ANN: N_m_._.Z_ cm: we <29 0 mm>mmm mommmooma m.>_ma zOEEmzmo 9% om<_._ a_\>m_v_ mm<>>EOm mo_>m_a mo_>m_o mmmzaam 4<mmzmo mmOamaa mmkaazoo Avv meDmVE Cmv Awmv ANV 6a 88 :8 $8 m0_>m_m_ as mmfizommdog >mmt<m zooomoi 8V 88 A3 :NV mo_>m_a mEmzommdoo< 88 >mm_._.._.<m
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US201161506106P | 2011-07-10 | 2011-07-10 | |
| US61/506,106 | 2011-07-10 | ||
| PCT/EP2012/063369 WO2013007677A2 (en) | 2011-07-10 | 2012-07-09 | An electronic data sharing device and method of use |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| NZ620650A NZ620650A (en) | 2016-02-26 |
| NZ620650B2 true NZ620650B2 (en) | 2016-05-27 |
Family
ID=
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