Device pairing in a local network

• US 10,154,017 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2015
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Inventors: Lancioni, German, Molina, Emiliano Gabriel, Maller, Patricio A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Colin, Carl G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lavelle, Gary E
• Application Number:
  US14/752,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20160321447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,263 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/14 Handling requests for interconnection or transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/56 Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0846 using time-dependent-passwords, e.g. periodically changing passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/14 for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device that can be configured to receive registration data for a local network device, receive registration data for an electronic device, receive a request to pair the local network device and the electronic device, where the request to pair the devices includes a pairing code, and allow the pairing if the registration data for the local network device, the registration data for the electronic device, and the pairing code satisfies predetermined conditions. In an example, the pairing code was to the local network device and the electronic device requested and received the pairing code from the local network device.

Claims

1. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more instructions that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive registration data from a local network device, wherein the registration data of the local network device comprises an SSID or BSSID for the local network of the local network device;

store the registration data from the local network device;

receive registration data from an electronic device, wherein the registration data of the electronic device comprises an SSID or BSSID for the local network of the electronic device;

transmit, to the local network device, a temporal pairing code (TPC);

receive, from the electronic device, a request to pair the local network device and the electronic device, wherein the request includes the TPC, and wherein the local network device exposes itself to the network;

determine whether the local network device and the electronic device are present in the same local network at the same time by determining whether;

(a) the SSID or BSSID of the electronic device matches the SSID or BSSID respectively of the local network device; and

(b) the TPC is not expired; and

based on a determination that the local network device and the electronic device are present in the same local network at the same time because the SSIDs or BSSIDs match and that the TPC is not expired, allow the pairing.

2. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the electronic device requested and received the TPC from the local network device.

3. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the TPC is encrypted before being sent from the local network device.

4. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the TPC is not persistently stored on the local network device or on the electronic device.

5. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the pairing is not allowed based on a determination that the SSIDs or BSSIDs do not match, or based on a determination that the TPC is expired.

6. An apparatus comprising:

memory; and

a hardware processor configured to;

receive registration data from a local network device, wherein the registration data of the local network device comprises an SSID or BSSID for the local network of the local network device;

store the registration data from the local network device;

receive registration data from an electronic device, wherein the registration data of the electronic device comprises an SSID or BSSID for the local network of the local network device;

transmit, to the local network device, a temporal pairing code (TPC);

receive, from the electronic device, a request to pair the local network device and the electronic device, wherein the request includes the TPC and wherein the local network device exposes itself to the network;

determine whether the local network device and the electronic device are present in the same local network at the same time by determining whether;

(a) the SSID or BSSID of the electronic device matches the SSID or BSSID respectively of the local network device; and

(b) the TPC is not expired; and

based on a determination that the local network device and the electronic device are present in the same local network at the same time because the SSIDs or BSSIDs match and that the TPC is not expired, allow the pairing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the electronic device requested and received the TPC from the local network device.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the TPC is not persistently stored on the local network device or on the electronic device.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pairing is not allowed based on a determination that the SSIDs or BSSIDs do not match, or based on a determination that the TPC is expired.

10. A method comprising:

receiving registration data from a local network device, wherein the registration data of the local network device comprises an SSID or BSSID for the local network of the local network device;

store the registration data from the local network device;

receiving registration data from an electronic device, wherein the registration data of the electronic device comprises an SSID or BSSID for the local network of the local network device;

transmit, to the local network device, a temporal pairing code (TPC);

receiving, from the electronic device, a request to pair the local network device and the electronic device, wherein the request includes the TPC and wherein the local network device exposes itself to the network;

determining whether the local network device and the electronic device are present in the same local network at the same time by determining whether;

(a) the SSID or BSSID of the electronic device matches the SSID or BSSID respectively of the local network device; and

(b) the TPC is not expired; and

based on a determination that the local network device and the electronic device are present in the same local network at the same time because the SSIDS or BSSIDs match and that the TPC is not expired, allowing the pairing.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the TPC is encrypted before being sent to the local network device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the TPC is not persistently stored on the local network device or on the electronic device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the pairing is not allowed based on a determination that the SSIDs or BSSIDs do not match, or based on a determination that the TPC is expired.

14. A system for pairing devices in a local network, the system comprising:

memory; and

a hardware processor configured to;

receive registration data from a local network device, wherein the registration data of the local network device comprises an SSID or BSSID for the local network of the local network device;

store the registration data from the local network device;

receive registration data from an electronic device, wherein the registration data of the electronic device comprises an SSID or BSSID for the local network of the local network device;

transmit, to the local network device, a temporal pairing code (TPC);

receive, from the electronic device, a request to pair the local network device and the electronic device, wherein the request includes the TPC and wherein the local network device exposes itself to the network;

determine whether the local network device and the electronic device are present in the same local network at the same time by determining whether;

(a) the SSID or BSSID of the electronic device matches the SSID or BSSID respectively of the local network device; and

(b) the TPC is not expired; and

based on a determination that the local network device and the electronic device are present in the same local network at the same time by determining whether the SSIDs or BSSIDs match and that the TPC is not expired, allow the pairing.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the electronic device requested and received the TPC from the local network device.