Afero, Inc.

Reliance Communications, Inc.

West Corporation

Kerry Quinn

Benjamin Paul Hencke

Howard Allen Wood

Alf Martin Wolter Arnberg

Scott Bartlett

Clif Liu

Robey Pointer

Joe Britt

Houman Forood

Chris Aiuto

Justin Lee

Nickolas Heckman

Erhard Riedl

Eduardo Del Rio

Cliff Liu

Dave Roberts

System and method for activation and deactivation of devices to prevent unauthorized acquisition and use. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an internet of things (IoT) service to receive a first message from a point of sale (POS) system, the first message including a device identifier (ID) to uniquely identify a device purchased by a user via the POS system; device management logic of the IoT service to identify an entry in a device database using the device ID, the entry including a field to indicate whether the corresponding device has been purchased; the device management logic to update the field responsive to the first message to indicate that the device has been purchased; and the IoT service to transmit a second message to the POS system or to a mobile device of the user in response to a request from the POS system or the mobile device, respectively, the second message authorizing unlocking of the device if the field indicates that the device has been purchased, wherein a short-range wireless connection is established between the mobile device or the POS system and the device the short-range wireless connection to be used to transmit an unlock command from the mobile device or the POS system, wherein a lock module of the device is to transition from a locked state to an unlocked state responsive to receipt of the unlock command.

Apparatus and method for activation and deactivation of devices to prevent unauthorized acquisition and use

A system and method are described for identifying an IoT device model from a key broadcast in an advertising channel. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: a target Internet of Things (IoT) device to transmit a key over a Bluetooth (BT) advertising channel, the key associated with a model of the target IoT device; mobile application program code which, when installed on a mobile device, is to cause the mobile device to listen to the BT advertising channel to extract the key; and a key dictionary to be installed on the mobile device, the key dictionary mapping each of a plurality of keys with an IoT device model and associated data, the mobile application program code to perform a lookup using the key extracted from the BT advertising channel to identify the target IoT device model and/or associated data, and to use the target IoT device model and/or associated data for onboarding the target IoT device.

System and method for IoT device identification and initialization using Bluetooth advertising channels

A system and method are described for sharing IoT devices. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises an Internet of Things (IoT) service in communication with a plurality of IoT devices over a network; a device sharing module to receive an indication from a first user of one or more IoT devices associated with an account of the first user to be shared with a second user; the device sharing module to responsively associate the one or more IoT devices with an account of the second user and to subsequently allow the second user to access the one or more IoT devices.

System and method for sharing internet of things (IOT) devices

A system and method are described for validating an IoT device. For example, a method in accordance with one embodiment comprises: generating a first random value to be used as a first offset into a first block of program code of an Internet of Things (IoT) device; transmitting a challenge request message to the IoT device, the challenge request including the first offset or data based on the first offset; receiving a challenge response message transmitted by the IoT device, the challenge response message comprising first authentication data for the first block of IoT device program code; and using the first authentication data to attempt to validate the first block of program code.

System and method for internet of things (IoT) device validation

A system, apparatus, and method are described for a secure IoT wireless network configuration. For example, one embodiment of an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprises: a local wireless communication interface to establish local wireless connections with one or more IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs; a network router to establish network connections over the Internet on behalf of the IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs; an authentication module pre-configured with a passphrase and a hidden service set identifier (SSID), the authentication module to receive a connection requests from the IoT devices and/or an IoT extender hubs and to grant the connection requests when the IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs use the pre-configured passphrase and hidden SSID; and a firewall of the IoT hub to block all outgoing and incoming connection requests other than those directed to designated servers of an IoT service with known host names.

System and method for automatic wireless network authentication in an internet of things (IOT) system

A system and method are described for generating an interactive preview for an IoT device. For example, one embodiment of a method comprises: in response to initiating a preview of a new IoT device, determining whether a corresponding IoT device exists and, if not, then generating a virtual IoT device; associating the virtual or real IoT device with a set of device attributes and presentation definitions; establishing a communication channel with a mobile app; in response to detecting changes to the attributes and/or presentation definitions, transmitting updates to the mobile app, the mobile app dynamically updating the attributes and presentation definitions in real time.

Integrated development tool with preview functionality for an internet of things (IoT) system

Private anonymous electronic messaging between a message originator and a message recipient within an organization encourages open communication which can provide information to the organization that might otherwise be secreted from the organization, and can allow the message originator to obtain desired help (e.g., counseling). By profiling of the message originator based on current and previous electronic messaging within the system as well as external organizational information (e.g., behavioral or financial information), the system can assess concerns yet act as a gateway to protect the message originator's true identity through escalating levels of concern unless a genuine concern about the health, well-being, and/or safety of the message originator, others, or the organization is indicated, in which case the system can reveal the true identity of the message originator as appropriate.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America

Kerry Quinn