Apparatus and method for temporarily loaning internet of things (iot) devices

Abstract

A system and method are described for loaning IoT devices. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises an Internet of Things (IoT) service on which a plurality of IoT devices are to be provisioned, wherein upon being provisioned, the IoT service securely communicates with each of the IoT devices; an account management module to associate the plurality of IoT devices with a first user account of a first user, the first user accessing the IoT devices through the IoT service from a first IoT app on a first mobile device; the IoT service receiving a command submitted by the first user to loan the plurality of IoT devices to a second user; the account management module to associate the plurality of IoT devices with an anonymous user account on the IoT service accessible by the second IoT app; the IoT service to establish a secure communication channel with a second IoT app on a second IoT device used by the second user; and the second IoT app to transmit an identification code to the IoT service to provide the second IoT app access to the IoT devices over the secure communication channel, the IoT service to use the identification code to identify the plurality of IoT devices, wherein the IoT service prevents access to the IoT devices by the first user while the second user has access to the IoT devices.