Electronic device and wireless network access method in electronic device

• US 10,334,607 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Dong-Hoo, Cho, Sang-Hoon, Kim, Geon-Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Jr., Michael J
• Application Number:
  US14/718,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20150351111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

An electronic device and a wireless network access method in the electronic device. The wireless network access method includes obtaining at least one of wireless network access information associated with a wireless network that is capable of communicating with the electronic device and effectiveness information. The at least one of network access information and effectiveness information is transmitted information to an external device with respect to the electronic device such that the external device determines whether to access the wireless network or to release the access to the wireless network based on the received at least one information.

Claims

1. A wireless network access method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

establishing, by the electronic device, a connection to a first wireless network using a first password associated with the first wireless network;

identifying, by the electronic device, a request associated with the first wireless network from an external device; and

transmitting, by the electronic device, the first password to the external device such that the external device also connects to the first wireless network using the first password and stores the first password;

transmitting, to another external device, a request associated with a second wireless network;

receiving, from the another external device, a second password, wherein the another external device uses the second password to establish a connection to the second wireless network;

connecting to the second wireless network using the received second password, wherein the second password is stored in the electronic device;

after disconnecting from the second wireless network, transmitting a second wireless network re-access request to the second wireless network to reconnect the electronic device to the second wireless network; and

transmitting the stored second password to the second wireless network such that the electronic device reconnects to the second wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first password is included in wireless network access information, and the wireless network access information is transmitted to the external device;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

transmitting, by the electronic device, at least one of expiration information of the wireless network access information and data limit information that identifies a limit regarding an amount of data that is provided through the first wireless network to the external device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting, by the electronic device, storage possibility information associated with the wireless network access information of the first wireless network, the storage possibility information indicating whether the transmitted wireless network access information can be stored or must be deleted by the external device, and

wherein the storage possibility information indicates that the transmitted wireless network access information must be deleted by the external device so that the external device can delete the transmitted wireless network access information after connecting to an access point of the first wireless network.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

selecting a sharing scheme for at least one of the wireless network access information, the expiration information, the data limit information, and the storage possibility information; and

transmitting at least one of the wireless network access information, the expiration information, the data limit information, and the storage possibility information to the external device utilizing the selected sharing scheme.

5. An electronic device comprising:

a communication module configured to access a first wireless network; and

a processor functionally coupled with the communication module,

wherein the processor is configured to;

operate the communication module to establish a connection to the first wireless network using a first password associated with the first wireless network,

identify a request associated with the first wireless network from an external device,

transmit the first password to the external device such that the external device also connects to the first wireless network using the first password and stores the first password,

transmit, to another external device, a request associated with a second wireless network,

receive, from the another external device, a second password, wherein the another external device uses the second password to establish a connection to the second wireless network,

connect to the second wireless network using the received second password, wherein the second password is stored in the electronic device,

after disconnecting from the first wireless network, transmit a second wireless network re-access request to the second wireless network to reconnect the electronic device to the second wireless network, and

transmit the stored second password to the second wireless network such that the electronic device reconnects to the second wireless network.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the first password is included in wireless network access information, and the wireless network access information is transmitted to the external device, and

wherein the wireless network access information comprises at least one of:

bearer information of the wireless network;

an identifier of the wireless network;

an encryption type of the wireless network; and

a code of the wireless network.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit at least one of expiration information of the wireless network access information and data limit information that identifies a limit regarding an amount of data that is provided through the first wireless network to the external device.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit storage possibility information associated with the wireless network access information of the first wireless network, the storage possibility information indicating whether the transmitted wireless network access information can be stored or must be deleted by the external device, and

wherein the storage possibility information indicates that the transmitted wireless network access information must be deleted by the external device so that the external device can delete the transmitted wireless network access information after connecting to an access point of the first wireless network.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to select a sharing scheme and control transmission of at least one of the wireless network access information, the expiration information, the data limit information, and the storage possibility information to the external device utilizing the selected sharing scheme.

10. A wireless network access method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

transmitting, to an external device with respect to the electronic device, a request associated with the wireless network;

receiving, from the external device, a password, wherein the external device uses the password to establish a connection to the wireless network;

connecting to the wireless network using the received password, wherein the password is stored in the electronic device;

after disconnecting from the wireless network, transmitting a wireless network re-access request to the wireless network to reconnect the electronic device to the wireless network; and

transmitting the stored password to the wireless network such that the electronic device reconnects to the wireless network.

11. The method of claim 10,

wherein the password is included in wireless network access information, and the wireless network access information is transmitted to the external device, and

wherein the method further comprises:

receiving from the external device at least one of expiration information of the wireless network access information and data limit information that identifies a limit regarding an amount of data that is provided through the wireless network to the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving from the external device storage possibility information associated with the wireless network access information of the wireless network, the storage possibility information indicating whether the received wireless network access information can be stored or must be deleted by the electronic device, and

wherein the storage possibility information indicates that the received wireless network access information must be deleted by the electronic device so that the electronic device can delete the received wireless network access information after connecting to an access point of the wireless network.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing or deleting at least one of the wireless network access information, the expiration information, the data limit information, and the storage possibility information.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a communication module configured to access a wireless network; and

a processor functionally connected with the communication module,

wherein the processor is configured to;

transmit, to an external device with respect to the electronic device, a request associated with the wireless network;

receive, from the external device, a password, wherein the external device uses the password to establish a connection to the wireless network,

connect to the wireless network using the password,

wherein the password is stored in the electronic device, and

wherein the processor is further configured to;

after disconnecting from the wireless network, transmit a wireless network re-access request to the wireless network to reconnect the electronic device to the wireless network, and

transmit the stored password to the wireless network such that the electronic device reconnects to the wireless network.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the password is included in wireless network access information, and the wireless network access information is transmitted to the external device, and

wherein the wireless network access information comprises at least one of:

bearer information of the wireless network;

an identifier of the wireless network;

an encryption type of the wireless network; and

a code of the wireless network.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive from the external device at least one of expiration information of the wireless network access information and data limit information that identifies a limit regarding an amount of data that is provided through the wireless network to the electronic device.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive from the external device storage possibility information associated with the wireless network access information of the wireless network, the storage possibility information indicating whether the received wireless network access information can be stored or must be deleted by the electronic device, and

wherein the storage possibility information indicates that the received wireless network access information must be deleted by the electronic device so that the electronic device can delete the received wireless network access information after connecting to an access point of the wireless network.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to store or delete at least one of the wireless network access information, the expiration information, the data limit information, and the storage possibility information.

19. A non-transitory storage medium having a wireless network access program stored therein,

wherein when the program executes in an electronic device causes the electronic device to:

establish a connection to a first wireless network using a first password associated with the first wireless network;

identify a request associated with the first wireless network from an external device with respect to the electronic device, and

transmit to the external device the first password such that the external device also connects to the first wireless network using the first password and stores the first password;

transmit, to another external device, a request associated with a second wireless network;

receive, from the another external device, a second password, wherein the another external device uses the second password to establish a connection to the second wireless network;

connect to the second wireless network using the received second password, wherein the second password is stored in the electronic device;

after disconnecting from the wireless network, transmit a second wireless network re-access request to the second wireless network to reconnect the electronic device to the second wireless network; and

transmit the stored second password to the second wireless network such that the electronic device reconnects to the second wireless network.

20. A non-transitory storage medium having a wireless network access program stored therein,

wherein when the program executes in an electronic device causes the electronic device to:

transmit, to an external device with respect to the electronic device, a request associated with the wireless network that is capable of communicating with the electronic device;

receive, from the external device, a password, wherein the external device uses the password to establish a connection to the wireless network and stores the password;

connect to the wireless network using the password, wherein the password is stored in the electronic device;

after disconnecting from the wireless network, transmit a wireless network re-access request to the wireless network to reconnect the electronic device to the wireless network; and

transmit the stored password to the wireless network such that the electronic device reconnects to the wireless network.

21. A wireless network access method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

establishing, by the electronic device, a connection to a first wireless network using a first password associated with the first wireless network;

identifying, by the electronic device, a request associated with the first wireless network from an external device with respect to the electronic device;

transmitting, by the electronic device, the first password to the external device such that the external device also connects to the first wireless network using the transmitted first password and stores the first password;

transmitting, by the electronic device, effectiveness information to the external device, wherein the effectiveness information comprises storage possibility information associated with the first password of the first wireless network, the storage possibility information indicating whether the transmitted first password can be stored or must be deleted by the external device;

transmitting, to another external device, a request associated with a second wireless network;

receiving, from the another external device, a second password, wherein the another external device uses the second password to establish a connection to the second wireless network;

connecting to the second wireless network using the received second password, wherein the second password is stored in the electronic device;

after disconnecting from the wireless network, transmitting the second wireless network re-access request to the second wireless network to reconnect the electronic device to the second wireless network; and

transmitting the stored second password to the second wireless network such that the electronic device reconnects to the second wireless network.