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Physical device bondingRelated Patent Categories: Information Security, Access Control Or Authentication, Network, Credential, Tokens (e.g., Smartcards Or Dongles, Etc.)Physical device bonding description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080016558, Physical device bonding. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/645,008, filed Aug. 21, 2003, entitled "PHYSICAL DEVICE BONDING". The entirety of the aforementioned application is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates generally to a wireless device and a network entity (e.g., a host computer). More particularly, this invention relates to the installation and/or authentication of a non-physical connection between a wireless device and a network entity. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Computer products and other networking equipment have emerged as one of the largest and fastest growing industries. With the rapid improvements made within the industry, electronic manufacturers continuously strive to satisfy the on-going demand for products providing functionality without restrictions such as, for example, size, power consumption, compatibility, ergonomics, software capability, lifetime, range, productivity, usable-interface, security, speed, portability, . . . . [0004] One restriction the electronic industries have vastly improved upon is providing a range or degree of freedom associated with employment of wireless networks and/or devices. Wireless networks and/or devices such as, but not limited to, wireless local area networks (WLAN), Bluetooth, local area network (LAN), sub-networks (e.g., wireless mouse and personal computer), PDA's, mice, keyboards, speakers, monitors, routers, access points, hubs, . . . facilitate functionality with mitigation of wires and accompanied restrictions. In addition to providing degree(s) of freedom, wireless devices and/or networks are advantageous to hard-wired networks and/or devices for numerous reasons. Wireless systems are pleasing to the eye since the clutter of unwanted hard-wires is eliminated. For example, plasma flat-screen televisions involve mounting on a wall similar to that of a painting mounted to a wall. By utilizing a wireless method and/or system, the wires for the television would not be seen hanging from the wall, and the result is a more pleasant looking, wall-mounted television. Furthermore, a hard-wire is a physical restriction by limiting the range of the device and/or network with the actual length of the wire. For example, a hard-wired Ethernet connection for a laptop can only be utilized within physical constraints of length of the Ethernet cable. Additionally, hard-wires have to be connected, which can involve matching an endless amount of plugs and connectors. [0005] Not only are wireless networks and/or devices employed within the personal computer realm (e.g., wireless keyboards, mice, speakers, . . . ), but common households are increasing use of wireless home networks and/or devices. For example, broad-band connections are becoming more affordable for home users in which multiple personal computers anticipate connectivity. Dependant upon location of the personal computers, a network can be employed in order to distribute and utilize the broad-band connection. However, common problems of using hard-wires for the network can arise (e.g., cost, degree of freedom, eye-pleasing, . . . ). Thus, wireless networks and/or devices can be utilized in order to cure the foregoing problems. [0006] Although benefits are apparent for wireless networks and/or devices, many problems arise involving installation of such products. With the increasing number of wireless networks, a difficulty arises to install a wireless device with a particular network entity (e.g., wireless mouse with a personal computer, wireless speakers with a receiver, wireless access point with a router, . . . ). Additionally, the network entity does not know when to install a wireless device and/or what wireless device to install. Moreover, a wireless device usually needs to be within range of the network entity in order to be detected and installed. [0007] Another complex problem involving wireless networks and/or devices involves security and authentication. Although wireless networks and/or devices provide a vast amount of benefits, a hard-wire network and/or device is typically more secure based at least upon the physical connection assumed to be authenticated. On the contrary, wireless networks and/or devices are prone to "sniffing" (e.g., the act of eavesdropping on messages such as, but not limited to, confidential business data or passwords in transit) and other hack techniques (e.g., port scanning, transfer communication protocol (TCP) spoofing, user datagram protocol (UDP) spoofing, TCP session spoofing, . . . ) which are utilized in order to intrude and exploit the network security. [0008] In view of the above, there is a need to improve upon and/or provide systems and/or methods for facilitating wireless device installation and/or authentication with a network entity to establish a non-physical connection. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basis understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. [0010] The subject invention provides for a physical device and host interface that facilitates device installation and authentication. As noted above, conventional host computer device installation and authentication schemes can be highly deficient as applied to wireless and/or remote devices. The subject invention provides a framework for installing and/or authenticating remote and wireless device(s) through a common physical interface. [0011] One particular aspect of the invention provides for an physical interface (e.g., cord, cable, cradle, dock, connector, coupler, touch pad, biological interface, biological materials, wand, universal serial bus (USB), . . . ) that, when engaged, prompts a host computing system to search for and install the interface. It is to be appreciated that the host computing system need not search for the wireless device to install and/or authenticate but rather the physical connection can initiate the information transfer of what and where the wireless device is to be installed and/or authenticated. Another aspect of the invention provides for a security component that facilitates transmission of authentication information without requiring user interaction. By connecting device(s) to the host via the electrical interface, a user indicates to the host a desire to install the device(s). While the device(s) and host are connected, they can exchange security information securely without the risk of others accessing "sniffing," the data exchange over the air or network. [0012] In addition, security information such as personal identification numbers (PINs) are not very secure when a user is required to enter PIN numbers etc. since they are limited by what a user is willing to type in or remember, and they are limited by the values that both sides (client and host) allow to be entered. In addition, the transfer of security information can be subject to line-of-sight breaches of security when the information is displayed on the display screen. The subject invention mitigates this undesirable security aspects of conventional schemes. By allowing the data exchange to occur via the electrical interface without user interaction, a more secure PIN can be generated. Once the information is exchanged, the device can be electrically disconnected, allowing it to communicate remotely through standard mechanism(s). [0013] The present invention generally relates to a physical device bonding system between a wireless device and a network entity to establish a non-physical connection. In one aspect in accordance with the present invention, the physical device bonding system comprises a physical interface component to provide a physical connection and an invocation component to invoke installation and/or authentication of the wireless device physically connected to the network entity. The installation and/or authentication can be invoked either during physical connection or at a later time. The physical interface component can be, but not limited to, a cord, cradle, human, touch-pad, dock, wand, wire, conductive materials, . . . . By utilizing advantages of a physical connection (e.g., definitiveness of device to install and when to install, authentication and security, . . . ) to establish a non-physical connection, the complications of conventional installation and/or authentication techniques and/or systems for wireless devices between network entities can be mitigated. [0014] The invocation component can utilize installation protocols and/or authentication protocols to facilitate the installation and/or authentication of a wireless device to a network entity. Upon physically connecting the wireless device and the network entity via the physical interface component, the installation of the wireless device for the non-physical connection is invoked via employment of the appropriate installation protocols. The installation protocols can be employed during the actual physical connection (e.g., synchronized) or delayed (e.g., reserved for a later time). Furthermore, the installation protocols can be transport specific (e.g., the non-physical connection transport--not the physical bonding interface transport). Additionally, the installation protocols can be propagated to the appropriate software for the specific transport in order to initiate device enumeration and bonding. [0015] Moreover, the invocation component can utilize a security component which can employ authentication protocols to facilitate authentication between a wireless device and a network entity on a non-physical connection, which in turn, provides heightened security. By utilizing the physical connection, the physical interface can provide a secure connection to exchange authentication protocols (e.g., security information) such as, for example, a more secure unique personal identification number (PIN) through the physical connection between the wireless device and the network entity. The removal/mitigation of user interaction(s) facilitates such security. [0016] The physical device bonding system can employ artificial intelligence techniques to facilitate the installation and/or authentication of the wireless device for a non-physical connection. Thus, the system can infer proper installation and/or authentication for a wireless device based upon, but not limited to, historical data. [0017] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the invention. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed and the present invention is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of physical device bonding system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of physical device bonding system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. Continue reading about Physical device bonding... Full patent description for Physical device bonding Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Physical device bonding patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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