Facilitating access to protected content by commonly owned devices of a user

• US 10,601,812 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2017
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: j2 Cloud Services, LLC (Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Messaging Technologies, Inc. (J2 Global, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zucker, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Shepperd, Eric W
• Application Number:
  US15/608,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20170324727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• 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 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• 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 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting user credentials to another device. According to some embodiments, a method is described of receiving into a first portable electronic device a set of credentials from a user, the set of credentials to include a WLAN SSID and a network key, the set of credentials to allow the first device to connect to the WLAN. The set of credentials is used to connect the first device to the WLAN. The first device creates a message for wireless transmission, the message includes the set of credentials for accessing the WLAN and is adapted to be delivered to a second device. Finally, the first device transmits the message over the air, wherein the message is addressed to the second device. The second device receives the message and uses the credentials in the message to connect to the WLAN. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving into a first portable electronic device credentials from a user, the credentials to include a password, and the credentials to allow the first device to access protected content;

using the credentials to access the protected content such that at least a portion of the protected content is displayed at the first device;

creating a message, by the first device, for automatic wireless transmission, wherein the message includes the credentials including the password for accessing the protected content and an identification of the protected content accessible with the credentials and further wherein the message is adapted to be delivered to a second electronic device over the air, wherein the first and second devices are commonly owned by the user; and

automatically transmitting the message over the air by the first device, wherein the message is addressed to the second device and is transmitted from the first device after using the credentials to access in the first device the protected content, wherein the message is not used by the second device to access any secure wireless local area network but is used to access the protected content accessed by the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the protected content is one of an application, a web site requiring login, or a web site requiring authentication.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted over the air through one of a cellular network, a wireless local area network (WLAN), or a wireless personal area network (WPAN).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portable electronic device and the second electronic device are in a family of commonly owned devices, wherein the method further comprises displaying a list of devices from which the user can select a device in the family of commonly owned devices to receive the message, wherein the message is transmitted to the second electronic device being the selected device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the list of devices are devices in the family of commonly owned devices that have been previously paired with the first portable electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein using the credentials to access the protected content comprises initiating an authentication mechanism of the protected content for authenticating the user through use of the credentials.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portable electronic device and the second electronic device are in a list of commonly owned devices associated with the user.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

identifying a third device in the list of commonly owned devices for receiving the message from the second electronic device; and

transmitting by the second electronic device the message to the third device, such that upon receipt of the message the third device becomes configured to use the credentials to access the protected content at the third device.

9. A first portable electronic device comprising:

a processor; and

memory having stored therein a user interface that when executed by the processor accepts a credential presented by a user wherein the credential includes a password and allows the first portable device to access protected content, an authentication module that when executed by the processor uses the credential to access the protected content, wherein at least a portion of the protected content is then displayed at the first portable electronic device, a communications module that when executed by the processor creates a message for automatic wireless transmission, wherein the message includes the credential including the password for accessing the protected content and an identification of the protected content that is accessible with the credential, and further wherein the message is adapted to be delivered to a second electronic device over the air, wherein the first and second devices are commonly owned by the user, and a connection module that when executed by the processor is adapted to cause the message to be automatically transmitted over the air by the first portable electronic device, wherein the message is addressed to the second device and is transmitted from the first device after using the credentials to access in the first device the protected content, wherein the message is not used by the second device to access any secure wireless local area network but is used to access the protected content accessed by the first device.

10. The first portable electronic device of claim 9 wherein the protected content is one of an application, a website requiring login, or a website requiring authentication.

11. The first portable electronic device of claim 9 wherein the connection module causes the message to be transmitted over the air through one of a cellular network, a wireless local area network, or a wireless personal area network.

12. The first portable electronic device of claim 9 wherein the first portable electronic device and the second electronic device are in a family of commonly owned devices, and wherein the user interface is to cause a list of devices to be displayed from which the user can select a device in the family of commonly owned devices to receive the message, and wherein the message is transmitted to the second electronic device being the selected device.

13. The first portable electronic device of claim 12 wherein the list of devices are devices in the family of commonly owned devices that have been previously paired with the first portable electronic device.

14. The first portable electronic device of claim 9 wherein the credential to access the protected content is used to initiate an authentication mechanism of the protected content for authenticating the user through use of the credential.

15. The first portable electronic device of claim 9 wherein the first portable electronic device and the second electronic device are in a list of commonly owned devices associated with the user, and wherein the list is stored in the memory of the first portable electronic device.

16. The first portable electronic device of claim 15 wherein the memory has stored therein instructions that when executed by the processor identify a third device in the list of commonly owned devices for receiving the message, and cause the second electronic device to transmit the message to the third device so that upon receipt of the message the third device becomes configured to use the credential to access the protected content at the third device.