Granted Patent B2

US 9,934,631 · App. 14/461,934 · Granted Apr 3, 2018

Inventors: Andrew Weiss (San Ramon, CA); Scott Hotes (Berkeley, CA)

Assignee: Location Labs, Inc.

G07C9/00111G06Q20/206G06Q20/3278G06Q20/3829G06Q20/40145G07C9/00119

Abstract

Claims (82)

1. A bio-implantable identification device configured for implantation in a user's body, the bio-implantable identification device comprising a first device and a second device and comprising:

at least one memory configured to store a key;

a receiver configured to receive an identification request;

at least one processor configured to sign the identification request using the key stored in the at least one memory of the identification device; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the signed request;

wherein the first device is configured as a master device and the second device is configured as a slave device subject to control by the master device, the at least one processor further configured to perform a process based on instructions in the at least one memory, the process comprising:

applying a software update to the second device, configured as the slave device;

monitoring by the first device, configured as the master device, the functioning of the second device, configured as the slave device, after applying the software update to the second device;

validating by the first device the functioning of the second device based on the monitoring by the first device;

reconfiguring the second device as the master device;

reconfiguring the first device as the slave device subject to control by the second device, configured as the master device; and

monitoring by the first device, configured as the slave device, the functioning of the second device, configured as the master device.

2. The bio-implantable identification device of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense taps on skin of the body of the user, the identification device configured to be enabled and disabled based on sensed taps.

3. The bio-implantable identification device of claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

4. The bio-implantable identification device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to enable and disable the identification device based on a particular pattern of taps.

5. The bio-implantable identification device of claim 1 , further comprising a light source, the at least one processor configured to illuminate the light source based on whether the identification device is enabled or disabled.

6. The bio-implantable identification device of claim 1 , further comprising execute only storage including instructions which enable signing of the identification request using the key.

7. The bio-implantable identification device of claim 6 , wherein the at least one memory comprises the execute only storage.

8. The bio-implantable identification device of claim 1 , the process, based on instructions in the at least one memory, further comprising:

detecting by the first device unacceptable functioning of the second device configured as the master device; and

disabling the second device responsive to detecting the unacceptable functioning.

9. The bio-implantable identification device of claim 8 , the process, based on instructions in the at least one memory, further comprising reconfiguring the first device as the master device.

10. The bio-implantable identification device of claim 1 , the process, based on instructions in the at least one memory, further comprising:

authenticating a source of the update software; and

downloading the update software using a secure transaction protocol.

11. The bio-implantable identification device of claim 1 , wherein the first device and the second device comprise separate physical devices including separate processors and separate memories.

12. The bio-implantable identification device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first device or the second device comprises a virtual device.

13. A method comprising:

providing a bio-implantable identification device as a first device and a second device, the first device configured as a master device and the second device configured as a slave device subject to control by the master device, the bio-implantable identification device comprising at least one memory and at least one processor;

receiving an identification request with the identification device;

signing by the at least one processor the identification request using a key stored in the at least one memory;

transmitting the signed request;

applying a software update to the second device, configured as the slave device;

monitoring by the first device, configured as the master device, the functioning of the second device, configured as the slave device, after the software update is applied to the second device;

validating by the first device the functioning of the second device based on the monitoring by the first device;

reconfiguring the second device as the master device;

reconfiguring the first device as the slave device subject to control by the second device, configured as the master device; and

monitoring by the first device, configured as the slave device, the functioning of the second device, configured as the master device.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the bio-implantable identification device further comprises a sensor, the method further comprising:

sensing with the sensor taps on skin of a body of a user in which the identification device is implanted; and

enabling the identification device to receive the identification request based on the sensed taps.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

determining by the at least one processor that the sensed taps follow a particular pattern; and

enabling the identification device to receive the identification request responsive to determining that the sensed taps follow the particular pattern.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the bio-implantable identification device further comprises a light source, the method further comprising illuminating the light source by the at least one processor through skin of a body of a user in which the identification device is implanted to provide an operational status of the bio-implantable identification device.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising executing instructions from an execute only storage of the identification device to enable signing of the identification request using the key.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

detecting by the first device unacceptable functioning of the second device configured as the master device; and

disabling the second device responsive to detecting the unacceptable functioning.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving the identification request from a motor vehicle computing system; and

transmitting the signed request to the motor vehicle computing system to enable operation of the motor vehicle.

20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving the identification request from a motor vehicle computing system; and

transmitting the signed request to the motor vehicle computing system to activate pre-programmed environmental settings corresponding to a user of the bio-implantable identification device.

21. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving the identification request from a point of sale computing system; and

transmitting the signed request to the point of sale computing system to authorize charging of an account of a user of the bio-implantable identification device for purchase of at least one of an item or a service.

22. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving the identification request from a building security computing system; and

transmitting the signed request to the building security computing system to enable physical entrance of a user of the bio-implantable identification device into a restricted geographic area.

23. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving the identification request from a motor vehicle computing system; and

transmitting the signed request to the motor vehicle computing system to activate pre-programmed environmental settings corresponding to a user of the bio-implantable identification device.

24. A method comprising:

providing a bio-implantable identification device as a first device and a second device, the first device configured as a master device and the second device configured as a slave device subject to control by the master device, the bio-implantable device comprising at least one memory and at least one processor;

applying a software update to the second device, configured as the slave device;

monitoring by the first device, configured as the master device, the functioning of the second device, configured as the slave device, after the software update is applied to the second device;

validating by the first device the functioning of the second device based on the monitoring by the first device;

reconfiguring the second device as the master device;

reconfiguring the first device as the slave device subject to control by the second device, configured as the master device;

monitoring by the first device, configured as the slave device, the functioning of the second device, configured as the master device;

detecting by the first device unacceptable functioning of the second device configured as the master device; and

disabling the second device by the first device responsive to detecting the unacceptable functioning.

25. The method of claim 24 , the bio-implantable device further comprising a sensor and a light source, the method further comprising:

implanting the bio-implantable identification device under skin of a body of a user;

sensing with the sensor taps on the skin of the body of the user in which the identification device is implanted;

enabling the identification device to receive an identification request based on the sensed taps;

illuminating the light source by the at least one processor to show through the skin of the body of the user to provide an operational status of the identification device based on the sensed taps;

receiving the identification request with the identification device;

signing by the at least one processor the identification request using a key stored in the at least one memory; and

transmitting the signed request by the identification device.

Assignments (8)

Continuity (1)