Patents by Inventor William G. O'Brien
William G. O'Brien has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10726385Abstract: A method which comprises generating a first signature by encoding an identifier with a first additional data set at a first time instant; responding to a first read request from a tag reader by releasing the first signature; generating a second signature by encoding the identifier with a second additional data set at a second time instant, the second additional data set being different from the first additional data set; and responding to a second read request by releasing the second signature. Also, a method which comprises obtaining a signature from a contactlessly readable tag; decrypting the signature with a key to obtain a candidate identifier and a scrambling code associated with the signature; and validating the candidate identifier based on at least one of the scrambling code and the signature.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: BCE INC.Inventors: William G. O'Brien, Tet Hin Yeap, Sean MacLean Murray, Sanro Zlobec
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Patent number: 9971986Abstract: A method that comprises obtaining a currently received signature from a device; obtaining a candidate identifier associated with the device; consulting a database to obtain a set of previously received signatures associated with the candidate identifier; and validating the currently received signature based on a comparison of the currently received signature to the set of previously received signatures associated with the candidate identifier. Also, a method that comprises obtaining a currently received signature from a device; decrypting the currently received signature to obtain a candidate identifier; and a candidate scrambling code; consulting a database to obtain a set of previously received scrambling codes associated with the candidate identifier; and validating the currently received signature based on a comparison of the candidate scrambling code to the set of previously received scrambling codes associated with the candidate identifier.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2013Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: BCE INC.Inventors: Tet Hin Yeap, William G. O'Brien
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Patent number: 9930020Abstract: A method involving a communication device, which comprises sending a request to a communication device; receiving a response from the communication device over a local communication path; deriving a received data set from said response; determining at least one data set that had been previously transmitted to the communication device over a wireless portion of a second communication path different from the local communication path; and validating the response based on the received data set and the at least one previously transmitted data set.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2017Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: BCE INC.Inventors: Tet Hin Yeap, William G O'Brien, Sean MacLean Murray
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Patent number: 9755825Abstract: A method and system for providing secure access to a device initiating communications using a peer-to-peer signaling protocol, such as a SIP or H.323. In a device registration phase, the device contacts a secure access server, and authenticates to the secure access server by providing an identification, such as its factory ID. The secure access server then issues a device ID and private key to the authenticated device. A client can then initiate a further communication session and be authenticated by the secure access server. The secure access server returns the device identification and the device's public key to the client. The client and device can then perform a symmetrical key exchange for their current communication session, and can communicate with appropriate encryption. The device's private key can be set to expire after one or more uses.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: BCE INC.Inventors: William G. O'Brien, Tet Hin Yeap, Dafu Lou
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Publication number: 20170228729Abstract: A method involving a communication device, which comprises sending a request to a communication device; receiving a response from the communication device over a local communication path; deriving a received data set from said response; determining at least one data set that had been previously transmitted to the communication device over a wireless portion of a second communication path different from the local communication path; and validating the response based on the received data set and the at least one previously transmitted data set.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2017Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Tet Hin YEAP, William G. O'Brien, Sean MacLean Murray
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Patent number: 9635002Abstract: A method involving a communication device, which comprises sending a request to a communication device; receiving a response from the communication device over a local communication path; deriving a received data set from said response; determining at least one data set that had been previously transmitted to the communication device over a wireless portion of a second communication path different from the local communication path; and validating the response based on the received data set and the at least one previously transmitted data set.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: BCE INC.Inventors: Tet Hin Yeap, William G O'Brien, Sean MacLean Murray
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Patent number: 9454657Abstract: A security system and method is provided. An embodiment includes a security access device that includes a first transmitter for transmitting authentication to a computer and a second transmitter for transmitting verification information to a computer. The first transmitter is typically active and consumes power from the access device, while the second transmitter is typically passive, and consumes less or nil power from the access device. When the security access device is initially brought proximal to the computer and activated, the authentication information is sent to the computer and the user is logged in. Periodically, the computer will query the passive transmitter for verification information, to ensure that the security access device is still proximal to the computer.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2004Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: BCE Inc.Inventors: Tet Hin Yeap, Lou Dafu, William G. O'Brien
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Publication number: 20160110720Abstract: A method involving a communication device, which comprises sending a request to a communication device; receiving a response from the communication device over a local communication path; deriving a received data set from said response; determining at least one data set that had been previously transmitted to the communication device over a wireless portion of a second communication path different from the local communication path; and validating the response based on the received data set and the at least one previously transmitted data set.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Tet Hin YEAP, William G. O'BRIEN, Sean MacLean MURRAY
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Patent number: 9305282Abstract: An arrangement of goods, comprising: a plurality of units of an article, the units equipped with respective contactlessly readable tags; each of said tags comprising a respective memory configured to store a respective signature; the signatures stored in the memories of said tags appearing scrambled relative to one another when read by a reader. Also, a method, comprising: contactlessly reading a first signature from a first tag affixed to a first unit of an article; contactlessly reading a second signature from a second tag affixed to a second unit of the same article, the second signature appearing scrambled relative to the first signature; decrypting the first signature with a key to reveal (I) an identifier associated with the article and (II) a first scrambling code; and decrypting the second signature with the same key to reveal the same identifier and a second scrambling code different from the first scrambling code.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: BCE INC.Inventors: William G. O'Brien, Tet Hin Yeap, Sean MacLean Murray
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Patent number: 9231928Abstract: A method involving a communication device, which comprises sending a request to a communication device; receiving a response from the communication device over a local communication path; deriving a received data set from said response; determining at least one data set that had been previously transmitted to the communication device over a wireless portion of a second communication path different from the local communication path; and validating the response based on the received data set and the at least one previously transmitted data set.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2008Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: BCE Inc.Inventors: Tet Hin Yeap, William G. O'Brien, Sean MacLean Murray
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Patent number: 9037859Abstract: A method for execution in a communication device, which comprises receiving a first data set and a second data set over a first communication path; receiving a series of requests over local communication path different from the first communication path; responding to a first one of the requests by releasing a first response including the first data set over the local communication path; and responding to a second one of the requests by releasing a second response including the second data set over the second communication path.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: BCE INC.Inventors: William G. O'Brien, Sean MacLean Murray, Tet Hin Yeap
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Publication number: 20150069137Abstract: A method which comprises generating a first signature by encoding an identifier with a first additional data set at a first time instant; responding to a first read request from a tag reader by releasing the first signature; generating a second signature by encoding the identifier with a second additional data set at a second time instant, the second additional data set being different from the first additional data set; and responding to a second read request by releasing the second signature. Also, a method which comprises obtaining a signature from a contactlessly readable tag; decrypting the signature with a key to obtain a candidate identifier and a scrambling code associated with the signature; and validating the candidate identifier based on at least one of the scrambling code and the signature.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventors: William G. O'BRIEN, Tet Hin YEAP, Sean MacLean MURRAY, Sanro ZLOBEC
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Patent number: 8812859Abstract: A method, comprising: acquiring candidate data in association with a request for accessing a resource, the candidate data comprising first data and second data; processing the first data with a first key in an attempt to effect decryption of the first data, thereby to obtain first processed data; processing the second data with a second key in an attempt to effect decryption of the second data, thereby to obtain second processed data; and granting the request if a pre-determined portion of the first processed data is derivable from the second processed data. The method may further comprise extracting from the first processed data a group identifier and the pre-determined portion of the first processed data, and effecting a comparison of the group identifier to a reference group identifier in order to conclude whether the first data has been successfully decrypted based on an outcome of the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2008Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: BCE Inc.Inventors: Tet Hin Yeap, William G. O'Brien
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Patent number: 8762726Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for secure access to computer equipment. An embodiment includes a secure access controller connected to a link between a transceiver (such as a modem) and the computer equipment. Public and private keys are used by the secure access controller and a remote user. The keys are provided to the secure access controller by an authentication server. Once the transceiver establishes a communication link with the user, the access controller uses these keys to authenticate packets issued by the user to the computer equipment. If the packet is authenticated, the access controller passes the packet to the computer equipment. Otherwise, the packet is discarded.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: BCE Inc.Inventors: Tet Hin Yeap, Dafu Lou, William G. O'Brien
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Publication number: 20130318349Abstract: A method for execution in a communication device, which comprises receiving a first data set and a second data set over a first communication path; receiving a series of requests over local communication path different from the first communication path; responding to a first one of the requests by releasing a first response including the first data set over the local communication path; and responding to a second one of the requests by releasing a second response including the second data set over the second communication path.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: BCE INC.Inventors: William G. O'BRIEN, Sean MacLean MURRAY, Tet Hin YEAP
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Patent number: 8553888Abstract: A method for execution in a communication device, which comprises accessing an identifier stored in a memory; receiving a first data set and a second data set over a first communication path; generating a first signature from the identifier and the first data set; generating a second signature from the identifier and the second data set; responding to a first request by releasing a first response including the first signature over a local communication path different from the first communication path; and responding to a subsequent request by releasing a second response including the second signature over the local communication path.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: BCE Inc.Inventors: Tet Hin Yeap, William G. O'Brien, Sean Maclean Murray
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Patent number: 8412638Abstract: A method that comprises obtaining a currently received signature from a device; obtaining a candidate identifier associated with the device; consulting a database to obtain a set of previously received signatures associated with the candidate identifier; and validating the currently received signature based on a comparison of the currently received signature to the set of previously received signatures associated with the candidate identifier. Also, a method that comprises obtaining a currently received signature from a device; decrypting the currently received signature to obtain a candidate identifier; and a candidate scrambling code; consulting a database to obtain a set of previously received scrambling codes associated with the candidate identifier; and validating the currently received signature based on a comparison of the candidate scrambling code to the set of previously received scrambling codes associated with the candidate identifier.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: BCE Inc.Inventors: Tet Hin Yeap, William G. O'Brien
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Patent number: 8312279Abstract: A method and system for secure access to computer equipment. An embodiment includes a secure access controller connected to a link between a transceiver (such as a modem) and the computer equipment. Public and private keys are used by the secure access controller and a remote user. The keys are provided to the secure access controller by an authentication server. Once the transceiver establishes a communication link with the user, the access controller uses these keys to authenticate packets issued by the user to the computer equipment. If the packet is authenticated, the access controller passes the packet to the computer equipment. Otherwise, the packet is discarded. Another embodiment includes a secure access controller having a plurality of ports for connection to a plurality of different pieces of computer equipment. The secure access controller thus intermediates communications between the modem and the plurality of different pieces of computer equipment.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: BCE Inc.Inventors: William G. O'Brien, Tef Hin Yeap, Dafu Lou
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Publication number: 20120102322Abstract: A method for execution in a communication device, which comprises receiving a first data set and a second data set over a first communication path; receiving a series of requests over local communication path different from the first communication path; responding to a first one of the requests by releasing a first response including the first data set over the local communication path; and responding to a second one of the requests by releasing a second response including the second data set over the second communication path.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2008Publication date: April 26, 2012Inventors: William G. O'Brien, Sean Maclean Murray, Tet Hin Yeap
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Patent number: 8103872Abstract: A method, comprising: receiving an encrypted signature from a tag associated with an item; determining a dynamic parameter; obtaining a key based at least in part on the dynamic parameter; decrypting the signature with the key to obtain an identifier; and performing an action related to identification of the item, based on the identifier. Also, a system, comprising: a tag reader configured to receive an encrypted signature from a tag associated with an item; and a processing entity configured to (i) determine a dynamic parameter; (ii) obtain a key based at least in part on the dynamic parameter; (iii) decrypt the signature with the key to obtain an identifier; and (iv) perform an action related to identification of the item, based on the identifier.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: BCE Inc.Inventors: William G. O'Brien, Tet Hin Yeap, Sanro Zlobec