Ownership sharing method and apparatus using secret key in home network remote controller

Abstract

An ownership sharing method and apparatus using a secret key in a home network remote controller are provided. A user who owns a home device generates an ownership authentication key using the secret key shared with the home device through the user's terminal device, and transmits the ownership authentication key to a terminal device of a particular user who wishes to share the ownership. The particular user can use the home device using the shared ownership authentication key, allowing for ownership of a device in home network environments based on a secret key that can be easily shared, obviating complicated calculation procedures that are no needed to share the ownership between an owner of a device and his family or customers, and achieving high security that is guaranteed based on the secret key.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above aspect, other features and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a home network to describe an ownership sharing method using a secret key in a home network remote controller according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a remote controller according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart describing an ownership sharing method that uses a secret key in a home network remote controller according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ownership sharing method of a home network remote controller comprising: requesting sharing of the ownership to the main remote controller;receiving an ownership authentication key generated using a secret key from the main remote controller; andtransmitting the ownership authentication key to the first device and receiving a service from the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of requesting sharing of the ownership to the main remote controller comprises transmitting request data including an identification (ID) of the remote controller and a name of the first device to the main remote controller.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in the operation of receiving an ownership authentication key generated using a secret key from the main remote controller, the main remote controller generates the ownership authentication key using the secret key, the ID of the remote controller and the name of the first device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the secret key is shared by the main remote controller and the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of transmitting the ownership authentication key to the first device comprises receiving a random number from the first device to challenge a qualified user, and transmitting a first confirmation key, acquired by putting the ownership authentication key and the random number into a hash function, to the first device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first device generates the ownership authentication key using the ID of the remote controller, the secret key shared with the main remote controller and other information, acquires a second confirmation key by putting the ownership authentication key and the random number into the hash function, and executes the service if the first confirmation key and the second confirmation key are the same.

7. A home network remote controller to use a first device by receiving and sharing an ownership from a main remote controller having the ownership of a first device, comprising: a memory for storing personal information on a user, information on each home device which the user is accessible to, and an ownership authentication key received from the main remote controller;a location limited channel (LLC) interface for supporting wireless communications with the first device and the main remote controller;an authentication requester for transmitting an authentication request, the information on itself and a confirmation key, acquired by putting a random number received from the first device and the ownership authentication key into a hash function, to the first device; anda controller for controlling the operation of each component according to commands.

8. The home network remote controller of claim 7, wherein the information on home device comprises a device type, a vender, a model name, a serial number and a private IP address allocated in a home network.

9. A home network remote controller which has an ownership of a first device and provides an ownership authentication key to a sub remote controller requesting sharing of the ownership, comprising: a memory for storing a secret key shared with the first device;a location limited channel (LLC) interface for supporting wireless communications with the first device and the sub remote controller;an authenticator for generating the ownership authentication key using the secret key and transmits the ownership authentication key to the sub remote controller; anda controller for controlling the operation of each component according to commands.

10. The home network remote controller of claim 9, wherein the authenticator generates the ownership authentication key using the secret key, an ID of the sub remote controller and a name of the first device.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the secret key is shared by the main remote controller and the first device.

12. The home network remote controller of claim 9, further comprising a controller for controlling to generate the ownership authentication key using the secret key.