RFID network arrangement

• US 20070054616A1
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Culbert, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,570,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.100
• 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 63/18 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 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/10 between terminal device and access point, i.e. wireless air interface

Abstract

A system for automatic configuration and authentication of network devices is disclosed. A network base station, e.g., a wireless router, includes an RFID transceiver. A network device includes an RFID tag. Then the network device is brought into proximity with the base station, an exchange of information takes place between the RFID transceiver in the base station and the RFID tag in the device. When the network device is powered on, it reads the information in its RFID tag and uses this information to establish a limited connection to the base station. Once connected, the base station and network device exchange authentication and encryption parameters over the limited connection and thus establish a fully functional and secure network connection between the network base station and the network device.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a wireless networking device, the method comprising interacting with an RFID tag in the wireless networking device when the networking device is brought into physical proximity with a wireless networking base station, such that the interaction causes information to be exchanged between the RFID tag and an RFID transceiver in the base station that facilitates establishment of a wireless network connection between the networking device and the base station.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the RFID tag comprises writing configuration information to the RFID tag.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the configuration information includes an authentication parameter.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the configuration information includes an encryption key.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the RFID tag comprises reading an identifier from the RFID tag.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifier may be used by the base station to determine default configuration parameters of the network device and establish a wireless network connection between the base station and the networking device using the default configuration parameters.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the identifier may be used by the base station to authenticate the network device when a wireless network connection is established between the base station and the networking device

8. A wireless networking base station comprising:

a radio;

a memory and processor; and

an RFID transceiver, wherein the RFID transceiver is configured to exchange information with an RFID tag located in a wireless network device to facilitate establishing a wireless network connection between the network device and the base station.

9. The base station of claim 8 wherein exchanging information with the RFID tag comprises the RFID transceiver writing configuration information to the RFID tag.

10. The base station of claim 9 wherein the configuration information includes an authentication parameter.

11. The base station of claim 9 wherein the configuration information includes an encryption key.

12. The base station of claim 8 wherein exchanging information with an RFID tag comprises the RFID transceiver reading an identifier from an RFID tag.

13. The base station of claim 12 wherein the identifier may be used by the base station to determine default configuration parameters of the network device and establish a wireless network connection between the base station and the network device using the default configuration parameters.

14. The base station of claim 12 wherein the identifier may be used by the base station to authenticate the network device when a wireless network connection is established between base station and the network device.

15. A wireless networking device comprising:

a radio;

a processor and memory; and

an RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag interacts with an RFID transceiver in a wireless networking base station to enable the networking device to establish a wireless network connection with the base station.

16. The networking device of claim 15 wherein the interaction between the RFID tag and the RFID transceiver comprises the RFID transceiver writing configuration information to the RFID tag.

17. The networking device of claim 16 wherein the configuration information includes an authentication parameter.

18. The networking device of claim 16 wherein the configuration information includes an encryption key.

19. The networking device of claim 16 wherein the interaction between the RFID tag and the RFID transceiver comprises the RFID transceiver reading an identifier from the RFID tag.

20. The networking device of claim 19 wherein the identifier may be used by the base station to determine default configuration parameters of the networking device and establish a wireless network connection between the base station and the networking device using the default configuration parameters.

21. The networking device of claim 19 wherein the identifier may be used by the base station to authenticate the networking device when a wireless network connection is established between base station and the networking device.

22. The networking device of claim 15 wherein the networking device is a primitive device.

23. The networking device of claim 15 wherein the networking device is a remote control.