System and method for automatic setup of a network device with secure network transmission of setup parameters using a standard remote control

• US 20070050615A1
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Xu, Shugong, Bennett, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,916,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/151
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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

Abstract

A system and method allows a user to automatically configure a new device on a local area network (LAN) by pressing a sequence of buttons on a conventional remote control (RC) while pointing the infrared (IR) transmitter of the RC at the new device. The button-sequence includes an arbitrary button-sequence selected by the user, or a pre-established button-sequence stored in an existing network member device, such as the network controller, and displayed to the user. The button-sequence represents a cipher key for an encryption/decryption algorithm. The network member device uses the cipher key to encrypt a configuration message that includes a shared network security key and transmit it over the network. The encrypted configuration message is received by the new device and decrypted using the same cipher key. The decrypted network configuration parameters, including the shared network security key, enable the new device to automatically associate with the network and communicate in a secure manner using the shared network security key.

Claims

1. A local area network (LAN) comprising:

a network member device comprising a processor, memory coupled to the processor, and a computer program for encrypting, using a cipher key, a network configuration message transmitted via non-secure communication on the network; and

a nonmember device associated with the LAN for non-secure communication prior to transmission of the encrypted configuration message by the member device, the nonmember device comprising a processor, memory coupled to the processor for storing a cipher key input to the nonmember device via out-of-band communication, and a computer program responsive to the cipher key for decrypting the encrypted network configuration message transmitted via non-secure communication on the network by the member device.

2. The LAN of claim 1 further comprising a first remote control having an infrared (IR) transmitter for transmitting a digital code representing the cipher key, and wherein the nonmember device includes an IR receiver for receiving the cipher key via out-of-band communication.

3. The LAN of claim 2 wherein the first remote control includes a button-pad for enabling a user to cause a button-sequence to be transmitted via IR, the button-sequence representing the cipher key used by the member device.

4. The LAN of claim 3 wherein the button-sequence representing the cipher key used by the nonmember device is stored in the memory of the member device, and further comprising a display coupled to the member device for displaying the stored button-sequence.

5. The LAN of claim 3 wherein the button-sequence is a user-generated arbitrary sequence of buttons, and further comprising a data input device coupled to the member device for inputting the user-generated button-sequence.

6. The LAN of claim 5 wherein the data input device coupled to the member device includes an IR receiver, and further comprising a second remote control comprising an infrared (IR) transmitter and a button-pad for enabling a user to cause the user-generated button-sequence to be transmitted via IR to the member device.

7. The LAN of claim 3 wherein the button pad on the first remote control includes a button for causing a start-setup command to be transmitted via IR to the nonmember device.

8. The LAN of claim 1 wherein the member device is a network controller and wherein the encrypted network configuration message transmitted by the network controller includes a shared network security key for future secure communication by the nonmember device.

9. The LAN of claim 1 wherein the LAN is a powerline communications (PLC) network.

10. The LAN of claim 1 wherein the LAN is a wireless local area network (WLAN), wherein the member device and the nonmember device each includes a wireless transceiver, wherein the encrypted network configuration message is broadcast on the WLAN by the member device, and wherein the encrypted network configuration message transmitted by the member device includes a shared network security key for future secure communication by the nonmember device.

11. The LAN of claim 1 wherein the cipher key is stored in the memory of the member device and wherein the member device computer program includes instructions for deleting the cipher key from memory after the network configuration message has been encrypted.

12. The LAN of claim 1 wherein the cipher key is stored in the memory of the nonmember device and wherein the nonmember device computer program includes instructions for deleting the cipher key from memory after the network configuration message has been decrypted.

13. A system for configuring a device on a local area network (LAN) comprising:

a remote control comprising an infrared (IR) transmitter and a button-pad for enabling a user to cause a button-sequence representing a cipher key to be transmitted via IR; and

a device for configuration on the network comprising an IR receiver, a processor, memory coupled to the processor, and a computer program responsive to the button-sequence transmitted by the remote control via IR for decrypting a network configuration message transmitted on the network.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the network configuration message for decryption includes a shared network security key.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the processor generates the cipher key from the transmitted button-sequence.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the LAN is a powerline communications (PLC) network.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the LAN is a wireless LAN.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the device includes a configuration button for readying the device for receipt of the network configuration message.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the remote-control button-pad includes a designated button for causing a start-setup command to be transmitted via IR to the device to ready the device for receipt of the network configuration message.

20. A method for setting up an electronic device on a local area network (LAN) comprising:

readying the electronic device for receipt of encrypted network setup parameters via non-secure network transmission;

inputting a digital code to the electronic device via out-of-band communication, the digital code representing a cipher key;

storing the cipher key in the electronic device;

receiving in the electronic device the encrypted network setup parameters via non-secure network transmission; and

decrypting the encrypted network setup parameters in the electronic device using the stored cipher key as the decryption key.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the LAN is a wireless local area network (WLAN), and wherein the network configuration parameters include a shared network security key.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein inputting a digital code comprises pressing a sequence of buttons on a first remote control to thereby transmit a digital code to the electronic device via infrared (IR) transmission.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein readying the electronic device comprises transmitting a start-setup command from the first remote control to the electronic device via infrared (IR) transmission.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the LAN includes a network member device containing the cipher key and the network setup parameters, the method further comprising:

displaying the button-sequence from the network member device, the displayed button-sequence representing the cipher key in the network member device;

encrypting the network setup parameters in the network member device using the cipher key as the encryption key; and

after the cipher key has been stored in the electronic device, transmitting from the network member device the encrypted network setup parameters.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the LAN includes a network member device containing the network setup parameters and further comprising:

inputting the cipher key to the network member device via a data input device associated with the network member device;

encrypting the network setup parameters in the network member device using the cipher key as the encryption key; and

transmitting from the network member device the encrypted network setup parameters.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein inputting the cipher key to the network member device comprises pressing said sequence of buttons on a second remote control to thereby transmit a digital code to the network member device, the digital code representing said cipher key.