Establishing a home relationship between a wireless device and a sever in a wireless network

• US 20050245233A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IoT Innovations LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,972,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method and system for establishing a persistent relationship between a mobile device and a server in a network is provided. Aspects of the invention include detecting the presence of the mobile device, and in response to determining that the device is unrecognized, automatically notifying a network administrator. In response to receiving the administrator'"'"'s authorization to establish a relationship, a user of the mobile device is requested to authorize the establishment of the relationship. If the user then accepts the offer and authorizes the relationship, the relationship is automatically established between the device and the network, such that no additional configuration is required by the user of the device to communicate over the network once the relationship has been established.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a persistent relationship between a mobile device and a server in a network, comprising;

(a) detecting the presence of the mobile device;

(b) in response to determining that the mobile device is unrecognized, automatically notifying a network administrator;

(c) in response to receiving the administrator'"'"'s authorization to establish the relationship, requesting a user of the mobile device to authorize the establishment of the relationship; and

(d) establishing the relationship between the mobile device and the network in response to receiving the device user'"'"'s authorization, such that no additional configuration is required by the user of the mobile device to communicate over the network once the relationship has been established.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) further includes the step of:

defining a home relationship between the mobile device and the network.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein step (d) further includes the step of:

establishing the home relationship by identifying the network as home in the mobile device, and identifying the device as owned to the server.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the step of:

upon the establishment of the home relationship, granting the mobile device access to the network and granting the network access to the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein step (c) further includes the step of:

defining in the administrator'"'"'s authorization what type of relationship the administrator is willing to grant the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein step (b) further includes the step of:

notifying the administrator by at least one of an audible or visual signal played on one or more devices coupled to the network, or an electronic notification sent to a mobile device owned by the administrator.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein step (b) further includes the step of:

displaying on a control center for the network for selection by the administrator, a list of actions to be taken by the network in regard to the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein step (b) further includes the step of:

including the following actions in the list;

defining a known relationship between the device and the network that continues until revoked, denying access, allowing limited access, and allowing full access.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein step (b) further includes the step of:

allowing the administrator to set a default action that defines the relationship for the device in absence of owner intervention.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein step (a) further includes the steps of:

(i) requesting, by the sever, the device identification from the mobile device;

(ii) receiving, by the server, the device identification;

(iii) searching for the device identification among stored device identifications; and

(iv) if the device identification is found, granting the mobile device access to the network.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein step (d) further includes the step of:

storing, by the server, the device identification previously transmitted by the device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein step (d) further includes the steps of:

(i) if the device identification is not found, then storing, by the server, the device identification; and

(ii) transmitting from the server to the device network information to facilitate device recognition of the home network.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein step (d) further includes the steps of:

(i) if the device identification is unavailable, then generating a device identification for the device;

(ii) storing, by the server, the generated device identification; and

(iii) transmitting from the server to the device the generated device identification and network information to facilitate device recognition of the home network.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) further includes the step of:

defining a guest relationship between the mobile device and the network.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein step (d) further includes the step of:

defining a temporary guest access that allows limited use of the network by the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein step (d) further includes the step of:

defining a persistent guest access that provides automatic access to the network by the device, thereby eliminating future notifications when the mobile device is detected on the network.

18. The network configuration of claim 14 wherein a home relationship is defined between the mobile device and the network.

19. The network configuration of claim 18 wherein the home relationship is established by identifying the network as home in the mobile device, and identifying the device as owned to the server.

20. The network configuration of claim 19 wherein when the home relationship is established, granting the mobile device access to the network and granting the network access to the mobile device.

21. The network configuration of claim 20 wherein the administrator'"'"'s authorization defines what type of relationship the administrator is willing to grant the mobile device.

22. The network configuration of claim 21 wherein the administrator is notified by at least one of an audible or visual signal played on one or more devices coupled to the network, or an electronic notification sent to a mobile device owned by the administrator.

23. The network configuration of claim 22 wherein the server displays on a control center for the network for selection by the administrator, a list of actions to be taken by the network in regard to the mobile device.

24. The network configuration of claim 23 wherein the list includes the following actions:

defining a known relationship between the device and the network that continues until revoked, denying access, allowing limited access, and allowing full access.

25. The network configuration of claim 22 wherein the administrator is allowed to set a default action that defines a home relationship for the device in absence of owner intervention.

26. The network configuration of claim 10 wherein the server stores the device identification previously transmitted by the device.

27. The network configuration of claim 19 wherein when detecting the presence of the device, the server

(i) requests the device identification from the mobile device;

(ii) receives the device identification;

(iii) searches for the device identification among stored device identifications; and

(iv) if the device identification is found, grants the mobile device access to the network.

28. The network configuration of claim 27 wherein the server stores the device identification previously transmitted by the device.

29. The network configuration of claim 28 wherein if the device identification is not found, the server stores the device identification, and transmits network information to the mobile device to facilitate device recognition of the home network.

30. The network configuration of claim 28 wherein if the device identification is unavailable, a device identification is generated for the device, the server stores the generated device identification, and the server transmits to the device the generated device identification and network information to facilitate device recognition of the home network.

17. A configuration, comprising:

at least one wireless mobile device, and a wireless home network capable of communicating with the wireless device, the home network including at least one server coupled to at least one access point through a network interface, wherein the server is functional for;

(a) detecting the presence of the mobile device;

(b) in response to determining that the mobile device is unrecognized, automatically notifying a network administrator and requesting authorization to establish a relationship between the network and the mobile device;

(c) in response to receiving the administrator'"'"'s authorization to establish the relationship, requesting a user of the mobile device to authorize the establishment of the relationship; and

(d) establishing the relationship between the mobile device and the network in response to receiving the device user'"'"'s authorization, such that no additional configuration is required by the user of the mobile device to communicate over the network once the relationship has been established.

31. The network configuration of claim 17 wherein step (d) further includes the step of:

defining a guest relationship between the mobile device and the network.

32. The network configuration of claim 31 wherein a temporary guest access is defined that allows limited use of the network by the mobile device.

33. The network configuration of claim 32 wherein a persistent guest access is defined that provides automatic access to the network by the device, thereby eliminating future notifications when the mobile device is detected on the network.

34. A computer-readable medium for establishing a persistent relationship between a mobile device and a server in a network, the computer readable medium including program instructions for:

(a) detecting the presence of the mobile device;

(b) in response to determining that the mobile device is unrecognized, automatically notifying a network administrator and requesting authorization to establish a relationship between the network and the mobile device;

(c) in response to receiving the administrator'"'"'s authorization to establish the relationship, requesting a user of the mobile device to authorize the establishment of the relationship; and

(d) establishing the relationship between the mobile device and the network in response to receiving the mobile device user'"'"'s authorization, such that no additional configuration is required by the user of the mobile device to communicate over the network once the relationship has been established.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein instruction (d) further includes the instruction of:

defining a home relationship between the mobile device and the network.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 35 wherein instruction (d) further includes the instruction of:

establishing the home relationship by identifying the network as home in the wireless device, and identifying the mobile device as owned to the server.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 further including the instruction of:

upon the establishment of the home relationship, granting the mobile device access to the network and granting the network access to the mobile device.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37 wherein instruction (c) further includes the instruction of:

defining in the administrator'"'"'s authorization what type of relationship the administrator is willing to grant the mobile device.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of:

notifying the administrator by at least one of an audible or visual signal played on one or more devices coupled to the network, or an electronic notification sent to a mobile device owned by the administrator.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39 wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of:

displaying on a control center for the network for selection by the administrator, a list of actions to be taken by the network in regard to the mobile device.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 40 wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of:

including the following actions in the list;

defining a known relationship between the device and the network that continues until revoked, denying access, allowing limited access, and allowing full access.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 39 wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of:

allowing the administrator to set a default action that defines a home relationship for the device in absence of owner intervention.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein instruction (a) further includes the instructions of:

(i) requesting, by the sever, the device identification from the mobile device;

(ii) receiving, by the server, the device identification;

(iii) searching for the device identification among stored device identifications; and

(iv) if the device identification is found, granting the mobile device access to the network.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43 wherein instruction (d) further includes the instruction of:

storing, by the server, the device identification previously transmitted by the device.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 44 wherein step (d) further includes the instruction of:

(i) if the device identification is not found, then storing, by the server, the device identification; and

(ii) transmitting from the server to the device network information to facilitate device recognition of the home network.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 44 wherein instruction (d) further includes the instructions of:

(i) if the device identification is unavailable, then generating a device identification for the device;

(ii) storing, by the server, the generated device identification; and

(iii) transmitting from the server to the device the generated device identification and network information to facilitate device recognition of the home network.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein instruction (d) further includes the instruction of:

defining a guest relationship between the mobile device and the network.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 35 wherein instruction (d) further includes the instruction of:

defining a temporary guest access that allows limited use of the network by the mobile device.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein instruction (d) further includes the step of:

defining a persistent guest access that provides automatic access to the network by the device, thereby eliminating future notifications when the mobile device is detected on the network.