Low power transmission provisioning for wireless network devices

• US 20060239217A1
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Huitema, Christian, Hassan, Amer A., Abhishek, Abhishek, Roberts, David A., Corbett, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• 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 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/28 using user profile, e.g. mobile speed, priority or network state, e.g. standby, idle or non transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/281 taking into account user or data type priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A process for secure, safe, and easy provisioning of a wireless device with credentials to connect to a wireless network. A connecting wireless device and an established wireless device both utilize low power transmission at close proximity to exchange wireless connection setting information and/or a password. The connecting wireless device is moved into proximity with the established wireless device and a low power setting is discovered at which the wireless devices may communicate with a sufficiently low error rate. The connecting wireless device is then passed the secret information by the established network device.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

discovering a low transmit power setting for a first device that is sufficient for a wireless exchange of messages between the first device and a second device, the first device being within a first distance from a second device, the second device having access to secret information;

setting the transmit power of the first device to the low transmit power setting; and

receiving the secret information from the second device via wireless media while at the low transmit power setting.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein discovering comprises:

exchanging a schema in a first schema exchange, and;

if the first schema exchange is successful, decrementing transmit power of the first device and exchanging schema in an further schema exchange until a further schema exchange is unsuccessful;

once a schema exchange is unsuccessful, incrementing transmit power and exchanging schema again until a schema exchange is successful at a first transmit power level; and

setting the first transmit power level as the low transmit power setting.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 2, further comprising, if the first schema exchange is not successful, providing feedback to a user that the first device needs to be placed in closer proximity to the second device.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein a transmit power of the first device at the first schema exchange comprises a normal transmit power setting of the first device.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein a transmit power of the first device at the first schema exchange comprises a safe transmit power setting of the first device, the safe transmit power setting being lower than a normal transmit power setting of the first device.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, further comprising, if the first schema exchange is not successful, providing feedback to a user that the first device needs to be placed in closer proximity to the second device.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein discovering comprises:

exchanging a schema in a first schema exchange, and;

if the first schema exchange is unsuccessful, incrementing transmit power of the first device and exchanging schema in a further schema exchange until a further schema exchange is successful at a first transmit power level; and

setting the first transmit power level as the low transmit power setting.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein a transmit power of the first device at the first schema exchange comprises a lowest transmit power setting of the first device.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising, if the transmit power of the first device is incremented above a safe power transmit level without a successful schema exchange, providing feedback to a user that the first device needs to be placed in closer proximity to the second device.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the secret information comprises at least one of connection settings and a password for connecting to a wireless network.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising, utilizing said at least one of connection settings and a password for connecting to a wireless network, automatically configuring the first device to connect to the wireless network.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second device is an intermediary device that receives the secret information from a third device.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first device is an intermediary device, and further comprising supplying the secret information to a third device from the first device.

14. A computer-readable medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

discovering a low transmit power setting for a first device that is sufficient for a wireless exchange of messages between the first device and a second device, the first device being within a first distance from a second device, the second device having access to credentials and other settings for connecting to a wireless network;

setting the transmit power of the first device to the low transmit power setting;

receiving the credentials at the first device from the second device via wireless media while at the low transmit power setting; and

utilizing the credentials at the first device to configure the first device to connect to the wireless network.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein discovering comprises:

exchanging a schema in a first schema exchange, and;

if the first schema exchange is successful, decrementing transmit power of the first device and exchanging schema in an further schema exchange until a further schema exchange is unsuccessful;

once a schema exchange is unsuccessful, incrementing transmit power and exchanging schema again until a schema exchange is successful at a first transmit power level; and

setting the first transmit power level as the low transmit power setting.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising, if the first schema exchange is not successful, providing feedback to a user that the first device needs to be placed in closer proximity to the second device.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein a transmit power of the first device at the first schema exchange comprises one of a normal transmit power setting of the first device or a safe transmit power setting of the first device, the safe transmit power setting being lower than the normal transmit power setting of the first device.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein discovering comprises:

exchanging a schema in a first schema exchange, and;

if the first schema exchange is unsuccessful, incrementing transmit power of the first device and exchanging schema in a further schema exchange until a further schema exchange is successful at a first transmit power level; and

setting the first transmit power level as the low transmit power setting.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein a transmit power of the first device at the first schema exchange comprises a lowest transmit power setting of the first device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising, if the transmit power of the first device is incremented above a safe power transmit level without a successful schema exchange, providing feedback to a user that the first device needs to be placed in closer proximity to the second device.