SECURE COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL AND METHOD THEREFOR

1 . A method for secure communication between a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the transmitter comprises a non-volatile memory for storing a first portion of a count value, wherein the count value is updated after an elapse of a period of time, and wherein the transmitter comprises a volatile memory for storing a second portion of the count value, the method comprising:

in response to receipt of a transmit request, the transmitter setting a use indicator corresponding to the first portion of the count value and reading the count value, wherein updating the count value comprises:

upon elapse of the period of time, updating the second portion of the count value, and

updating the first portion of the count value if the second portion of the count value overflowed and the use indicator corresponding to the first portion of the count value is set; and

based on at least the count value, generating a message authentication code and transmitting a message to the receiver, the message comprising at least the message authentication code.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the message authentication code comprises encrypting a data block comprising a transmitter number, a command for initiating at least one action, and the count value using a key comprising a key segment, the count value, and a learned key segment.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein generating the message authentication code further comprises truncating an encryption result of the encrypting step to generate a truncated portion of the encryption result.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the message authentication code comprises the truncated portion of the encryption result.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmit request is based on at least one of:

a button press by a user of the transmitter;

a request for authorization from a host device; and

a satisfaction of a condition.

6 . The method of claim 2 further comprising clearing the use indicator after updating the first portion of the count value.

7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising;

upon detecting a power on reset event, clearing the second portion of the count value; and

updating the first portion of the count value if the use indicator corresponding to the first portion of the count value is set.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter comprises at least a part of a remote keyless entry transmitter and the receiver comprises at least a part of a remote keyless entry receiver.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter comprises at least a part of a secure-area access key transmitter and the receiver comprises at least a part of a secure-area access key receiver.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter comprises at least a part of a consumable item and the receiver comprises at least a part of an apparatus for receiving the consumable item.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the consumable item is a toner cartridge and the apparatus is configured to receive the toner cartridge.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the consumable item is a battery and the apparatus is configured to receive the battery.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter and the receiver is a wireless receiver, such that the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver can communicate over an air interface using radio frequency waves.

14 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the learned key segment is generated by the transmitter and is stored by the receiver in its memory as part of a learning process, and wherein the learned key segment is different each time the learning process is performed.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion corresponds to higher significant bits of the count value and the second portion corresponds to lower significant bits of the count value.

16 . A method for secure communication between a transmitter and a receiver, the method comprising:

extracting a count value from a message transmitted by the transmitter, wherein the count value has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion of the count value is updated by the transmitter after elapse of a period of time and a first portion of the count value is updated if the second portion of the count value overflows and a use indicator corresponding to the first portion of the count value is set by the transmitter;

retrieving a learned key segment stored in a receiver memory corresponding to the transmitter if the count value is different from previous count values extracted by the receiver;

generating a message authentication code based on at least the count value retrieved from the receiver memory corresponding to the transmitter using a key comprising at least the count value and the learned key segment;

comparing the generated message authentication code to a message authentication code received by the receiver; and

accepting the message as a valid message if the generated message authentication code matches the received message authentication code.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the transmitter comprises at least a part of a remote keyless entry transmitter and the receiver comprises at least a part of a remote keyless entry receiver.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the transmitter comprises at least a part of a secure-area access key transmitter and the receiver comprises at least a part of a secure-area access key receiver.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the transmitter comprises at least a part of a consumable item and the receiver comprises at least a part of an apparatus for receiving the consumable item.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the consumable item is a toner cartridge and the apparatus is configured to receive the toner cartridge.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the consumable item is a battery and the apparatus is configured to receive the battery.

22 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter and the receiver is a wireless receiver, such that the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver can communicate over an air interface using radio frequency waves.

23 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first portion corresponds to higher significant bits of the count value and the second portion corresponds to lower significant bits of the count value.