Method and system for enhanced wireless communications

• US 20060209773A1
• Filed: 12/27/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hundal, Sukhdeep S., Kwong, Peter Wai-Tong, Wong, Che Hung
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• 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 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• 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 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system and method for enhancing communications between a WiFi terminal and other devices coupled to a wireless network. A wireless Access Point is configured to receive data from a data network through a wired link and to transmit and receive data over an 802.11 wireless link to one or more wireless devices. The wireless Access Point also includes a preset communications profile. A set of IP addresses and capability set information associated with devices of the wireless network is provided. Accordingly, a WiFi terminal WiFi terminal can automatically establish a link capable of data exchange with the wireless Access Point by simply powering up the WiFi terminal. In one embodiment, IP address and capability set information is automatically exchanged between the WiFi terminal and other compatible devices of the wireless network.

Claims

1. A system for enhanced wireless access of a WiFi terminal to a wireless network, comprising:

a wireless access point (AP) configured to receive data from a data network through a wired link;

a WiFi terminal configured to communicate with the wireless AP over a wireless communications link;

one or more network communications profiles stored locally in the WiFi terminal; and

one or terminal communications profiles stored in the wireless AP, wherein the WiFi terminal is configured to automatically associate with the wireless access point using information stored in the preset communications profile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications link is an 802.11 communications link.

3. The system of claim 1, the WiFi terminal comprising:

a data display;

a user interface for sending, receiving, and displaying information; and

a memory to store the one or more terminal communications profiles.

4. The system of claim 1, the one or more network communications profiles and the one or more terminal communications profiles comprising a core network communications profile that includes:

a predetermined SSID that identifies the wireless network;

an encryption algorithm; and

a preset authentication routine.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a MAC address that identifies the WiFi terminal and is stored in the terminal and network communications profiles, wherein a second WiFi terminal sending the core network communications profile without the MAC address is prevented from associating with the wireless AP.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a web page corresponding to an IP address of the WiFi terminal and stored in the wireless AP, the web page including a plurality of tables configured to receive and display core network communications profiles, wherein the WiFi terminal can be wirelessly updated with new network communications information.

7. A method for associating a WiFi terminal with a wireless access point (AP), comprising:

powering on the WiFi terminal;

automatically authenticating the WiFi terminal with the AP based on information in a first communications profile;

requesting association with the access point; and

completing association and authentication between the WiFi terminal and the access point.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first communications profile is a factory-installed default network profile that identifies a first wireless network containing the wireless AP.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining that the default network profile is active;

searching for the first wireless network.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining that the default network profile is not active;

displaying a list of network profiles;

receiving a network profile selection; and

searching for a designated communications network based on the network profile selection.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

failing to detect the designated communications network;

requesting an alternative network profile;

receiving an additional network profile selection; and

searching for a designated communications network based on the additional network profile selection.

12. A method for updating network communications profile settings in a wireless network, comprising;

creating a new network communications profile;

establishing a connection to a wireless AP of the wireless network;

updating the wireless AP with the new network communications profile;

accessing a WiFi terminal over a wireless link using an old network communications profile;

sending the new network communications profile to the WiFi terminal over the wireless link; and

resetting the WiFi terminal to store the new network profile information.

13. The method of claim 12, the creating a new network communications profile comprising;

connecting to a web page corresponding to the wireless AP; and

entering the new network communications using the web page.

14. A method for enhancing communications in a wireless network, comprising:

associating a WiFi terminal to a wireless access point (AP);

determining an IP address for the WiFi terminal;

sending IP address information that identifies the WiFi terminal to one or more devices coupled to the wireless AP;

receiving an IP address from one or more compatible devices linked to the wireless AP;

broadcasting a capability set of the first WiFi terminal; and

receiving a message including capability set information from the compatible devices linked to the wireless AP.

15. The method of claim 14, the associating the WiFi terminal comprising:

installing a first communications profile in a memory of the WiFi terminal;

powering on the WiFi terminal;

automatically authenticating the WiFi terminal with the wireless AP based on information in the first communications profile;

requesting association with the access point; and

completing association and authentication between the WiFi terminal and the wireless AP.

16. The method of claim 14, the determining the IP address of the WiFi terminal comprising:

sending a broadcast request for an IP address; and

receiving an IP address from a server linked to the wireless network.

17. The method of claim 14, the sending the IP address information comprising broadcasting IP address information that identifies the first WiFi device in a proprietary message, wherein the proprietary message is forwarded to devices coupled to the wireless AP.

18. The method of claim 14, the sending the IP address information comprising entering IP address information displayed by the WiFi device through a user interface in a device coupled to the wireless AP, wherein the IP address information is forwarded to any additional devices coupled to the wireless AP.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising recording in memory the IP address from the one or more devices linked to the wireless AP.

20. The method of claim 14, the one or more compatible devices comprising one of:

WiFi devices coupled to the wireless AP; and

IP devices coupled to the wireless AP over an IP network.

21. The method of claim 14, the capability set comprising a set of services that are supported by a given device linked to the wireless AP.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising;

selecting from the first WiFi terminal one or more compatible devices for a communications session;

receiving an indication of services supported by the one or more devices; and

selecting a service to be employed in the communications session.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication of services supported by the one or more devices comprises an indication of services supported by both the first WiFi device and a designated device.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication of services supported by the one or more devices comprises a depiction on a display of the first WiFi device of only services that are supported by the one or more selected compatible devices.

26. The system of claim 24, the memory residing locally in each of the plurality of devices.

27. The system of claim 24, the wireless network comprising an 802.11 communications link.

28. The system of claim 24, further comprising a DHCP server for assigning an IP address to devices linked to the wireless network.

25. A system for enhanced communications between a plurality of devices linked to a wireless network, comprising:

a wireless access point (AP) configured to receive data from a data network through a wired link;

a first WiFi terminal having a first IP address and configured to communicate with the wireless AP over a wireless communications link;

one or more additional devices each having a unique IP address and each coupled to the wireless AP; and

a memory for storing a list of respective capability sets and IP addresses characteristic of respective devices of the plurality of devices.