Method and device for encrypting or decrypting content

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9805214-B2
Application number	US-201514806839-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2015
Priority date	Jul 31, 2014
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A wearable device includes a user information obtainer configured to obtain user information, a controller configured to selectively generate, in response to a user being authenticated based on the user information, an encryption key for encryption of content of an external device; and a communicator configured to transmit the encryption key to the external device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable device comprising:
a user information obtainer comprising a hardware sensor configured to obtain biological information of a user;
a controller configured to selectively generate, in response to the user being authenticated based on the biological information, an encryption key to encrypt content of an external device; and
a communicator configured to transmit the encryption key to the external device,
wherein the controller is further configured to determine, using the biological information, whether the user is currently wearing the wearable device and generate, in response to determining that the user is currently wearing the wearable device, a decryption key to decrypt encrypted content.

2. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to calculate a distance between the wearable device and the external device, and in response to determining that the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, generate the encryption key.

3. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the communicator is further configured to receive, from the external device, a notification indicating that the content is stored in the external device; and
the controller is further configured to generate the encryption key in response to the notification being received.

4. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein:
the communicator is configured to receive, from the external device, a notification indicating that a program for executing the content is executed in the external device; and
the controller is further configured to generate the encryption key in response to the notification being received.

5. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein, in response to the user being authenticated, the controller is configured to determine whether to permit the user to access the external device.

6. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the encryption key comprises an encryption key used in a symmetric-key algorithm, or comprises an encryption key used in an asymmetric-key algorithm.

7. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the biological information comprises information about one of a fingerprint, an iris, a retina, a vein, a skeletal part, or a face of the user.

8. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to obtain account information of the user and to generate the encryption key based on the account information.

9. The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising a memory configured to store the encryption key.

10. A method of generating an encryption key and a decryption key, the method being performed by a wearable device comprising a hardware sensor and comprising:
obtaining biological information of a user by using the hardware sensor;
authenticating the user of the wearable device based on the biological information;
selectively generating, in response to the user being authenticated by the authenticating, the encryption key to encrypt content in an external device;
transmitting the encryption key to the external device;
determining, using the biological information, whether the user is currently wearing the wearable device; and
generating, in response to determining that the user is currently wearing the wearable device, the decryption key to decrypt encrypted content.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
calculating a distance between the wearable device and the external device,
wherein the generating is performed when the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving, from the external device, a notification indicating that the content is stored in the external device, and
performing the generating in response to receiving the notification.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving, from the external device, a notification indicating that a program for executing the content is executed in the external device, and
performing the generating in response to receiving the notification.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, in response to the user being authenticated by the authenticating, determining whether to permit the user to access the external device.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the encryption key comprises an encryption key used in a symmetric-key algorithm, or comprises an encryption key used in an asymmetric-key algorithm.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the biological information comprises information about one of a fingerprint, an iris, a retina, a vein, a skeletal part, or a face of the user.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising obtaining account information of the user and generating the encryption key based on the account information.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 10 , by using a computer.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sahu Samir Kant
• Shin Jae-Sick
• Yeon Hun-Je
• Islam Mohammad Zuberul
• Choi Min-Suk
• Lee Nam-Suk
• Jeong Hak-Su

Classifications

• G06F21/60

  Protecting data · CPC title

• G06F21/31

  User authentication · CPC title

• H04L63/0853

  using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234) · CPC title

• H04W12/06

  Authentication · CPC title

• H04L9/0866

  involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics · CPC title