(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0031228 A1
`Karkas et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mar. 14, 2002
`
`US 20020031228A1
`
`(54) DEVICES
`
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`(76) Inventors: Kalle J. Karkas, Oulu (Fl); Matti
`Kantola, Nokia (F1); Jaakko
`Paakkonen, 011111(F1)
`
`(51) Int. c1.7 ..................................................... ..H04K 1/00
`(52) US. Cl. ............................................................ ..3s0/270
`
`Correspondence Address:
`PERMAN & GREEN
`425 POST ROAD
`FAIRFIELD, CT 06430 (US)
`
`(21) Appl' NO‘:
`(22) Filed:
`
`09/893’165
`Jun_ 27’ 2001
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Jun. 27, 2000 (GB) ....................................... .. 00157164
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An access device includes means for receiving, via a Wire
`less communication link, a key and validity information.
`The access device also includes Wireless communication
`means for establishing a connection With another party, and
`for providing the key and validity information to that party.
`If the key and validity information are determined by the
`other party to be valid access is provided.
`
`MS ESTABLISHES
`WAP CONNECTION f S1
`
`‘7
`MS RECEIVES KEY &
`ADDITIONAL w
`INFORMATION
`32
`
`7
`
`MS ESTABLISHES
`BLUETOOTH w
`CONNECTION
`S3
`
`7
`
`MS SENDS KEY To
`BLUETOOTH DEVICE ‘"34
`
`V
`BLUETOOTH DEVICE
`CHECKS KEY w
`VALIDITY
`S5
`
`7
`
`IF KEY VALID -
`BLUETOOTH DEVICE f
`PROVIDES ACCESS
`S6
`
`Page 1 of 9
`
`SPECTRUM EX. 1003
`Spectrum Brands v. Assa Abloy
`US Patent No. 7,706,778
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 14, 2002 Sheet 1 0f 3
`
`US 2002/0031228 A1
`
`FIG. 1
`
`[8
`
`12
`
`14
`
`16
`
`8
`
`> PROCESSOR
`
`3
`
`> DISPLAY
`
`‘
`AL 8
`1O
`_— TRANSRSEIVER
`
`18
`\
`MEMORY
`
`‘
`
`20;‘
`
`____ BLUETOOTH
`TRANSCEIVER 4
`22
`
`[
`‘
`FIG. 2
`
`Page 2 of 9
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 14, 2002 Sheet 2 0f 3
`
`US 2002/0031228 A1
`
`8
`g
`
`24
`S
`
`MOBILE DEVICE
`
`BLUE TOOTH
`<—-—'.?___>
`DEV|CE
`
`M
`
`‘V
`
`36
`
`3
`
`8
`
`NETWORK
`
`‘ GW ‘
`
`V
`
`SERVER
`
`FIG. 3
`
`26
`
`[24
`
`28
`S
`
`up
`CONVERSION
`
`I
`
`32
`9
`
`34,» MEMORY
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`
`‘
`
`PROCESSOR
`DOWN ___[——*
`CONVERSION
`g0
`FIG. 4
`
`Page 3 of 9
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Mar. 14, 2002 Sheet 3 0f 3
`
`US 2002/0031228 A1
`
`MS ESTABLISHES f
`WAP CONNECTION
`81
`
`I
`
`MS RECEIVES KEY &
`ADDITIONAL
`INFORMATION
`
`W82
`
`I
`
`MS ESTABLISHES
`BLUETOOTH w
`S3
`CONNECTION
`
`I
`
`MS SENDS KEY TO
`BLUETOOTH DEVICE
`
`S4
`
`I
`
`BLUETOOTH DEVICE
`CHECKS KEY $85
`VALIDITY
`
`I
`
`IF KEY VALID -
`BLUETOOTH DEVICE $86
`PROVIDES ACCESS
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Page 4 of 9
`
`

`
`US 2002/0031228 A1
`
`Mar. 14, 2002
`
`DEVICES
`
`[0001] The present invention relates to a device and in
`particular but not exclusively to a device Which provides
`access to an entity.
`
`[0002] Wireless cellular networks are known in Which the
`area covered by the netWork is divided into a number of
`cells. Each cell is served by a base transceiver station. The
`base transceiver station is arranged to communicate With
`mobile stations in the cell associated With the base station.
`The mobile stations establish via the base station a connec
`tion With another user, a ?xed line telephone or the Internet.
`[0003] Programmable keys are knoWn. For example, plas
`tic cards With magnetic strips are used as keys to open locks
`to for example doors or the like. The use of such keys is
`disadvantageous in that different keys are provided to access
`different entities and therefore need to be carried by the user.
`
`[0004] It has been proposed to alloW multiple users access
`to the same entity. For example, a front door to an of?ce may
`be accessed by a number of users or a hotel room may be
`accessed by different users at different times. It is necessary
`for the accessed entity to have a database or similar to keep
`a record of the authorised users. It is disadvantageous if a
`database or similar needs to be associated With the accessed
`entity. For example, in a hotel, to have a database associated
`With each lock Would be costly.
`
`[0005] It is an aim of embodiments of the present inven
`tion to address one or more of the problems discussed
`earlier.
`
`[0006] According to a ?rst aspect of the present invention
`there is provided an access device comprising means for
`receiving a key and validity information, Wireless commu
`nication means for establishing a connection With another
`party, said Wireless communication means being arranged to
`provide said key and said validity information to said
`another party, Wherein if said key and said validity infor
`mation are determined by the another party to be valid
`access is provided.
`
`[0007] According to a second aspect of the present inven
`tion there is provided an access method comprising the steps
`of receiving a key and validity information, establishing a
`Wireless connection With another party, providing said key
`and said time related information to said another party, and
`checking at said another party if said key and said time
`related information are valid and if so providing access.
`
`[0008] For a better understanding of the present invention
`and as to hoW the same may be carried into effect, reference
`Will noW be made by Way of example to the accompanying
`draWings in Which:
`
`[0009] FIG. 1 shoWs a schematic diagram of a cellular
`netWork;
`[0010] FIG. 2 shoWs a block diagram of a mobile station
`embodying the present invention;
`[0011] FIG. 3 shoWs a block diagram of the entities With
`Which the mobile station communicates;
`
`[0012] FIG. 4 shoWs the Bluetooth device of FIG. 3 in
`more detail; and
`
`[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates the method embodying the
`present invention.
`
`[0014] Reference is made to FIG. 1 Which shoWs a
`cellular netWork 2. The area covered by the netWork 2 is
`divided into a plurality of cells 4. Three cells 4 are shoWn in
`FIG. 1. HoWever, it should be appreciated that in netWorks
`there Will typically be many more cells.
`
`[0015] Each cell 4 has associated thereWith a base trans
`ceiver station 6. Each base transceiver station 6 is arranged
`to receive signals from and send signals to mobile stations
`8 in the cell associated With the base station 6. Depending on
`the method of communication, the mobile stations may
`communicate With the base stations of adjacent cells. In
`some embodiments of the present invention, a mobile station
`may be able to communicate With tWo or more base stations
`at the same time.
`
`[0016] The mobile stations and base transceiver stations
`typically use radio frequency signals to communicate. The
`base stations and mobile stations may use a frequency
`division multiple access technique. This means that the
`available frequency spectrum is divided up into a number of
`bands and the mobile station Will be allocated a given
`frequency to communicate With the base station With the
`base station being allocated another frequency to commu
`nicate With the mobile station. Generally, the frequencies
`Will be different but this is not essential. The mobile stations
`and the base stations may use a time division multiple access
`technique. With this method, a frequency band is divided up
`into a number of time slots and a mobile station is allocated
`a given one of those time slots to communicate With the base
`station and vice versa. In the GSM (global system for mobile
`communication) standard, a combination of frequency divi
`sion multiple access and time division multiple access is
`used. Spread spectrum techniques such as code division
`multiple access may also be used. In this technique, different
`spreading codes are used by different mobile stations so that
`the signals from the different mobile stations can be distin
`guished. Similarly, the different base stations Will use dif
`ferent spreading codes. In the third generation system, a
`Wideband CDMA system has been proposed. It should be
`appreciated that in embodiments of the present invention,
`any of these techniques may be used either on their oWn or
`together. It is of course possible that any other suitable
`techniques may be used.
`
`[0017] Reference is noW made to FIG. 2 Which shoWs a
`block diagram of a mobile station embodying the present
`invention. The mobile station 8 has a ?rst antenna 10. The
`?rst antenna 10 is arranged to receive signals from the
`respective base transceiver station 6. The ?rst antenna 10 is
`also arranged to transmit signals to the base station 6.
`
`[0018] The signals received by the ?rst antenna 10 are
`forWarded to a radio frequency transceiver 12. The radio
`frequency transceiver 12 Will doWn convert the radio fre
`quency signals to a baseband frequency. The radio frequency
`transceiver may perform other functions such as decoding,
`demodulation or the like. The received information at the
`baseband frequency is forWarded by the radio frequency
`transceiver 12 to a processor 14 Which extracts the necessary
`information from the received signal. The processor 14 may
`be arranged to provide an output Which is connected to a
`speaker Which may provide received voice signals. The
`processor 14 may receive control information from the base
`station Which is used to control the mobile station or the like.
`The processor 14 may also extract information Which is to
`
`Page 5 of 9
`
`

`
`US 2002/0031228 A1
`
`Mar. 14, 2002
`
`be displayed and display that information on a display 16.
`The processor may also receive an input from a user
`interface such as a keyboard or the like.
`
`[0019] The processor 14 is also used to process signals to
`be transmitted by the ?rst antenna 10 and may also receive
`an output from for example a microphone or the like. The
`signals Which are to be transmitted by the ?rst antenna are
`output by the processor 14 at the baseband frequency. The
`radio frequency transceiver 12 upconverts the baseband
`signals to the radio frequency and forWards them to the ?rst
`antenna 10 for transmission. The radio frequency transceiver
`may encode the information, modulate it or carry out any
`other processing of the signal.
`
`[0020] The radio frequency transceiver 12 may be con
`nected to a memory 18. The memory 18 is arranged to store
`some information received by the radio frequency trans
`ceiver. In alternative embodiments of the present invention,
`the memory may be connected to the processor 14 and so
`may receive information via the processor.
`
`[0021] The mobile station 8 has a second antenna 20. The
`second antenna is arranged to receive and transmit signals in
`the Bluetooth range of frequencies. Bluetooth is a standard
`Which has been proposed for short range, loW poWer, high
`frequency signals. Typically, the signals Will be of the order
`of giga HertZ. The second antenna 20 is arranged to receive
`Bluetooth signals from a Bluetooth device. The signals
`received by the second antenna are forWarded to a Bluetooth
`transceiver 22. The Bluetooth transceiver 22 performs simi
`lar functions to the radio frequency transceiver 12. In
`particular, the Bluetooth transceiver 22 doWnconverts the
`received signals to a baseband frequency. If required, the
`Bluetooth transceiver may demodulate and decode the
`received signal. The received signals may be forWarded to
`the processor 14 for further processing.
`
`[0022] The Bluetooth transceiver 22 is also arranged to
`receive information from the processor 14. The received
`information is at the baseband frequency and the Bluetooth
`transceiver upconverts the signals to the Bluetooth fre
`quency so that they can be transmitted by the second
`antenna. If required, the Bluetooth transceiver 22 Will modu
`late, encode and perform any other required function.
`[0023] The Bluetooth transceiver 22 is arranged to have
`access to the memory 18 and can retrieve information stored
`therein. In alternative embodiments of the present invention,
`the information may be retrieved by the processor from the
`memory and forWarded to the Bluetooth transceiver 22.
`
`[0024] Reference Will noW be made to FIG. 3 Which
`schematically illustrates embodiments of the present inven
`tion. The mobile station 8 is arranged to have a Bluetooth
`connection With a Bluetooth device 24. This means that
`signals are exchanged betWeen the mobile device and the
`Bluetooth device in accordance With the Bluetooth standard.
`With the Bluetooth standard, tWo devices are able to com
`municate directly Without going via for example a base
`station.
`
`[0025] In embodiments of the present invention, it is
`proposed that the Bluetooth device be a lock or an access
`device. For example, the Bluetooth device may be provided
`on a hotel door. The Bluetooth device may be part of an
`access device. For example, the access device 24 may permit
`access to a cinema, public transport, a ski lift or the like.
`
`Alternatively, the Bluetooth device may for example be
`incorporated in a rental car or the like. Embodiments of the
`present invention are particularly suitable for alloWing
`access to a given user temporarily. HoWever, embodiments
`of the present invention can be used in other situations.
`
`[0026] The communications betWeen the mobile device
`and the Bluetooth device 24 are via the second antenna 20
`of the mobile station 8.
`
`[0027] Reference is made to FIG. 4 Which shoWs the
`Bluetooth device 24 of FIG. 3 in more detail. The Bluetooth
`device 24 has an antenna 26. This antenna 26 is arranged to
`receive and transmit signals at the Bluetooth frequency.
`More particularly, the antenna 26 is arranged to transmit
`signals to the second antenna of the mobile station and to
`receive signals therefrom. The Bluetooth device has an
`upconverter 28. The upconverter 28 is arranged to upconvert
`signals from a baseband frequency to the Bluetooth fre
`quency for transmission by the antenna 26. The upconverter
`28 may carry out other functions such as modulation,
`encoding or any other suitable function.
`
`[0028] The signals Which are received by the antenna 26
`are processed by a doWnconverter 30 Which reduces the
`frequency of the received signals from the Bluetooth fre
`quency to the baseband frequency. Again, the doWncon
`verter 30 may perform other functions such as demodulation
`or decoding.
`
`[0029] The signals Which are received by the antenna 26
`and doWn converted by the doWnconverter 30 are output to
`a processor 32 Which is able to process the received signals
`further. LikeWise, the processor 32 is arranged to output
`those signals Which are to be transmitted to the upconverter
`28. The Bluetooth device 24 also has a memory 34 Which is
`used to store information. This Will be described in more
`detail hereinafter.
`
`[0030] Referring back to FIG. 3, the mobile station is also
`able to communicate With the base transceiver station 6
`using the ?rst antenna 10. The base transceiver station
`provides a connection to other elements of a netWork 36. The
`netWork 36 is connected to a gateWay element 38 Which,
`usually is part of the netWork 36. The gateWay element 38
`alloWs the netWork to be connected to an external entity,
`such as another netWork, the Internet or a server 40 of a
`service provider.
`
`[0031] Reference Will noW be made to FIG. 5 Which
`shoWs a How diagram of the steps of the method embodying
`the present invention and illustrates hoW embodiments of the
`present invention Work. The mobile station 8 is arranged in
`step S1 to establish a connection With the netWork 36 via the
`base transceiver station 10. In the embodiment described,
`the mobile station is a WAP (Wireless application protocol)
`mobile station. HoWever, it should be appreciated that the
`mobile device may be in accordance With any other protocol
`and may for example be able to use the short message
`servicing SMS feature in embodiments of the invention. The
`netWork is also arranged to establish via the gateWay 38 a
`connection With a server. This server 40 is associated With
`the service provider. For example, if embodiments of the
`present invention are to be used to alloW access to hotel
`rooms, then the server 40 Would be associated With the hotel.
`As an alternative the mobile station 8 could also access the
`server provider via a Bluetooth transceiver connected to the
`
`Page 6 of 9
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`

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`US 2002/0031228 A1
`
`Mar. 14, 2002
`
`server. In this Way the mobile station can get the key over the
`Bluetooth connection Without the need for network connec
`tion. Cost Would also be reduced. If hoWever an order for a
`service(for example a hotel room) Was made in advance the
`key could be obtained remotely via the base transceiver
`station 10 using WAP or SMS.
`
`[0032] In the second step S2, the server 40 provides the
`mobile station With key information and additional infor
`mation. For example, in the context of a hotel, the additional
`information could take the form of the hotel room. In this
`particular embodiment, the key and additional information
`are doWnloaded to the mobile station in the same call Where
`the mobile station establishes the connection.
`
`[0033] HoWever, in alternative embodiments of the
`present invention, it is possible that the mobile station in step
`1 establish a WAP connection and provides an indication to
`the server as to the particular service required. The server
`may then cause the mobile station to be called back With the
`required key and additional information.
`
`[0034] The key information Which is sent to the mobile
`station is usually encrypted. The Whole of the key may be
`encrypted or only part of the key may be encrypted. In
`alternative embodiments of the present invention, the key
`may not be encrypted. If the key is encrypted, the mobile
`station may be able to decrypt all or part of the key
`information. HoWever, in preferred embodiments of the
`present invention, the mobile station is not able to decrypt
`the key information. The additional information Which is
`sent to the mobile station may also be encrypted but this is
`not necessary. Where this additional information is
`encrypted, the mobile station Will usually be able to decrypt
`that information. For example, if the additional information
`relates to a room key, the user Will need to knoW Which hotel
`room the user is alloWed access to. This additional infor
`mation may be communicated to the user. For example, the
`information may be displayed on the display or may take the
`form of a voice message. Once the additional information
`has been received by the mobile station, the connection With
`the server 40 is terminated.
`
`[0035] In the next step, step S3, the mobile station is
`arranged to establish a Bluetooth connection With the Blue
`tooth device 24. The connection With the Bluetooth device
`24 can take place some time after the ?rst tWo steps are being
`completed. As indicated previously, Bluetooth is a standard
`Which has been proposed to permit the direct communica
`tion betWeen tWo devices. One feature of the Bluetooth
`standard is that each packet is transmitted With a different
`frequency.
`[0036] Once the Bluetooth connection has been estab
`lished, in step S4 the mobile station sends the key informa
`tion to the Bluetooth device. This may be in response to a
`request from the Bluetooth device for the key.
`
`[0037] In step S5, the Bluetooth device Will check the
`validity of the key. In particular, the Bluetooth device
`attempts to decrypt the keys and Will compare it With key
`information Which it has stored thereon.
`
`[0038] In step S6, if the key is valid, then the Bluetooth
`device 24 Will provide access for example to the room.
`
`[0039] In embodiments of the present invention, it is
`envisaged that the mobile station could be used to store more
`
`than one key. So that the Bluetooth device 24 is able to
`receive the correct key, it is preferred that each key has an
`identi?cation tag Which identi?es the service provider. The
`Bluetooth device Would in its request sent to the mobile
`station for the key include this information identifying the
`associated service provider. The mobile station Would then
`only send the key(s) Which have the tag associated With the
`given service provider. Where a number of different keys are
`associated With the given service provider, the Bluetooth
`device could try all of the keys to see Which one matches. It
`is of course possible in embodiments of the present inven
`tion that each Bluetooth device has a unique identity tag so
`that the mobile station only sends the key Which matches
`that identity tag provided by the Bluetooth device.
`[0040] In alternative embodiments of the present inven
`tion, the mobile station may provide all of the keys Which it
`has to the Bluetooth device Which Will then test all of them
`in order to determine Which key is the correct key. This may
`be less preferable in those embodiments Where security is of
`importance.
`[0041] The key may have a time limit beyond Which it is
`not valid. For example, a hotel room key may be only valid
`for the time that the user stays in the hotel. Accordingly, in
`some embodiments of the present invention, time informa
`tion may form part of the key. Alternatively, there may be
`separate information provided relating to time information.
`The Bluetooth device, When determining if the key is valid
`or not, Will check to see Whether or not the key is still valid.
`The time information may take any suitable format such as
`a start time and/or an end time or any other suitable format.
`For this, the Bluetooth device Will require access to a clock.
`That may be part of the Bluetooth device itself or the
`information may be provided by the mobile station.
`[0042] In embodiments of the present invention, asym
`metric encryption or symmetric encryption may be used.
`With symmetric encryption, the same key is used for
`encrypting as for decrypting. With asymmetric encryption,
`different keys are used for encryption and decryption. For
`example, public and private keys may be used. Thus, the
`data may be encrypted With a public key Which is Well
`knoWn and decrypted With a private key Which is only
`knoWn to a given user. It should be appreciated that any
`suitable form of encryption and decryption could be used.
`[0043] In order to further increase the security, a hash code
`can be applied to the key data.
`[0044] It should be appreciated that any suitable Way of
`transmitting key data securely betWeen the server, the
`mobile station and the Bluetooth device may be used. In
`many of these forms the BTS and GW Would not be needed.
`[0045] In embodiments of the present invention, the
`mobile device has been described as being a mobile station.
`It should be appreciated that any suitable device can be used.
`For example, items such as Wrist Watches could be modi?ed
`so as to provide the functions of the embodiments of the
`present invention. Indeed, dedicated devices may be pro
`vided in order to perform the functions of embodiments of
`the invention. It has been proposed to provide a credit card
`type device Which has the capability of making radio con
`nections. Embodiments of the present invention may be
`incorporated in such devices.
`[0046] In embodiments of the present invention, the
`mobile station has been described as using the Bluetooth
`
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`US 2002/0031228 A1
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`Mar. 14, 2002
`
`protocol. However, in alternative embodiments of the
`present invention, different radio frequencies can be used.
`For example, infrared, Wireless LAN and HomeRF could be
`used instead of the Bluetooth .
`
`[0047] Embodiments of the present invention may be used
`in a Wide range of situations. For eXample, the mobile station
`8 may receive from the server a ticket for a sporting event,
`theatre or cinema. The mobile station may receive from the
`server a key Which alloWs a rented car to be driven. The
`mobile station may receive tickets Which alloW the user to
`travel on public transport such as aeroplanes, buses or trains.
`Embodiments of the present invention may be arranged to
`provide access to for eXample ski lifts. Embodiments of the
`present invention are particularly applicable to the provision
`of temporary access for eXample to a hotel or access to a
`cinema. HoWever, embodiments of the present invention can
`be used to permit a user to obtain access to more permanent
`services. For eXample, embodiments of the present invention
`can be arranged to alloW a user to access their office or
`home.
`
`[0048] The additional information Will be appropriate for
`a particular service. In the conteXt of a hotel room, the
`additional information Will take the form of the room
`number. In the case of car rental, the additional information
`Will take the form of the registration number of the car
`and/or a reference. In the case of tickets to an event, the
`information may take the form of the seat information. The
`additional information may also provide time information.
`For eXample, the amount of time for Which a hotel room is
`available may be included. In embodiments of the present
`invention, the same technique can be used to obtain more
`user time. For example, in the case of a rental car the user
`may use the same technique in order to obtain a longer rental
`time.
`
`[0049] In embodiments of the present invention, there is
`no need to connect each of the Bluetooth devices together to
`a central control element. This is because of the provision of
`information relating to the time for Which the key is valid.
`In the case of a lock, the key used by the lock does not have
`to be continually changed. For eXample, a hotel room may
`be validly opened by a user one day but if the user has not
`requested the room for an additional day, the user Will not be
`permitted to enter that room on the neXt day. Thus, the need
`for additional infra structure connecting the Bluetooth
`devices can be avoided. The validity time for the key can be
`in the non-encrypted part of the key so that the mobile
`station can remove it automatically. Also this Would alloW
`the Bluetooth device to send a request to the mobile station
`to remove the key. As an alternative rather than a valid time
`information any other validity information indicating the
`validity of a user or validity of use of the item being accessed
`can be transferred. For eXample a maXimum speed for a hire
`car during use could be stipulated.
`
`[0050] The access key is stored in the memory 18 of the
`mobile station. Alternatively, the access key may be stored
`in an integrated part of the device for eXample on a smart
`card. The key information is also stored in the memory 34
`of the Bluetooth device. Again, the information may be
`stored in any other suitable location in the Bluetooth device.
`
`[0051] Mobile stations or devices embodying the present
`invention may store any number of different keys for dif
`ferent purposes.
`
`[0052] In alternative embodiments of the present inven
`tion, the mobile station may be arranged to provide the
`Bluetooth device With user identi?cation information. This
`may be part of the key or separate therefrom. This informa
`tion can be used to provide additional security. For eXample,
`in the car rental situation, the user may be required to
`identify himself by entering a personal identi?cation number
`code to prevent misuse or crime. Additionally the key may
`be stored in the part of the memory Which requires the user
`to enter their personal identity number (PIN). Without the
`PIN the mobile station Will not send the key. Additionally
`each key can be provided With its oWn PIN. The user needs
`to knoW the PIN in order to use the key. The mobile station
`sends the key together With the PIN (the PIN could be, for
`eXample, part of the key for decryption). Furthermore no
`PIN might be required.
`[0053] It is preferred that the validity time for the key be
`encrypted. This means that the mobile station can automati
`cally delete those keys Which are out of date.
`
`[0054] The keys are preferably stored in a tamper proof
`memory Which may be an ASIC, smart card or the like.
`
`[0055] In alternative embodiments of the present inven
`tion, a single antenna may be provided in the mobile station
`and the key information and the like may be provided to the
`mobile station using the same antenna Which is used to send
`the key information to the accessed entity. That single
`antenna may be arranged to use the Bluetooth standard or the
`usual mobile station frequencies.
`
`1. An access device comprising.
`
`means for receiving, via a Wireless communication link, a
`key and validity information,
`Wireless communication means for establishing a connec
`tion With another party, said Wireless communication
`means being arranged to provide said key and said
`validity information to said another party, Wherein if
`said key and said validity information are determined
`by the another party to be valid access is provided.
`2 A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said receiving
`means is arranged to receive additional information relating
`to the another party
`3. Adevice as claimed in claim 2, Wherein said additional
`information is available to a user of said access device
`4 A device as claimed in claim 3, Wherein said device
`comprises a display and said display is arranged to display
`said additional information.
`5. A device as claimed in claim 3, Wherein said device
`comprises a speaker and said speaker is arranged to provide
`said additional information audibly.
`6. Adevice as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said means for
`receiving said key and validity information comprises a
`Wireless communication means.
`7. A device as claimed in claim 6, Wherein said Wireless
`communication means for receiving said key and validity
`information operate at different frequencies to the Wireless
`communication means for establishing a connection
`8. A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said Wireless
`communication means for establishing a connection uses
`high frequency signals of the order of giga HertZ.
`9. A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said Wireless
`communication means for establishing a connection uses
`loW poWer signals
`
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`US 2002/0031228 A1
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`Mar. 14, 2002
`
`10. A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said Wireless
`communication means for establishing a connection uses
`Bluetooth signals
`11 A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said Wireless
`communication means for establishing a connection uses
`infra red signals.
`12 A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said device is
`arranged to have more than one key at the same time
`13 A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein each key has
`an identi?er associated thereWith, said another party being
`arranged to provide identi?cation information, said device
`being arranged to provide the or each key Which has the
`identi?er associated With the received identi?cation infor
`mation to said another party.
`14 Adevice as claimed in claim 13, Wherein said identi?er
`identi?es a service provider
`15 A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said device
`provides access to one or more of the folloWing.
`
`hotel room, theatre; cinema, hire car; ski lift; public
`transport or of?ce.
`16 A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said device
`comprises a memory for storing said key
`17 A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein at least part of
`said key and/or said validity information are at least partly
`encrypted.
`18 A device as claimed in claim 17, Wherein at least part
`of said key is not decryptable by said device
`
`19 A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said device is
`arranged to provide to said another party information iden
`tifying the user of said device.
`20. A device as claimed in claimed in claim 1, Wherein
`said validity information comprises time related information
`21 An access system comprising a device as claimed in
`claim 1, in combination With said another party.
`22. Asystem as claimed in claim 21, Wherein said another
`party comprises means for determining if the key and
`validity information received from said access device are
`valid
`23 An access method comprising the steps of
`
`receiving, via a Wireless communication link, a key and
`validity information;
`establishing a Wireless connection With another party;
`
`providing said key and said time related information to
`said another party; and
`
`checking at said another party if said key and said time
`related information are valid and if so providing access
`24 Amethod as claimed in claim 23 Wherein said validity
`information comprises time related information
`25 A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said device is
`a mobile station
`
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