System and method for configuring an electronic device to access to a wireless local area network

• US 20070192833A1
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arcadyan Technology Corporation (Compal Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Arcadyan Technology Corporation (Compal Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chen, Jeng-Chun, Ho, Chi-Fan
• Application Number:
  US11/340,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20070192833A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• 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 12/73 Access point logical identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A system and method for configuring an electronic device to access a wireless local area network. The system includes a wireless access point device and an electronic device. The wireless access point device includes a control circuit and a first media port. The control circuit is used for controlling the wireless access point device and generating security data, and the first media port is for outputting the security data. The electronic device includes a second media port and a data processing circuit. When the second media port is electrically connected to the first media port, the electronic device, through the second media port, receives the security data. The data processing circuit configures the electronic device according to the security data in order to wirelessly access the wireless local area network via the wireless access point device.

Claims

1. An electronic device to access a wireless local area network via a wireless access point device, the electronic device comprising:

a media port selectively operable in a normal mode for media data and in a set-up mode, wherein in the set-up mode, when the media port is electrically connected to the wireless access point device, the electronic device, through the media port, receives security data from the wireless access point device, wherein the security data include an identifier for authentication between the electronic device and the wireless access point device; and

a data processing circuit for configuring the electronic device according to the security data to wirelessly access the wireless local area network via the wireless access point device.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises a memory for storing a setup program, the data processing circuit executes the setup program to configure the electronic device according to the security data in order to access the wireless local area network via the wireless access point device.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the setup program is a wireless local area network client setup program.

4. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the data processing circuit executes the setup program to give an indication to a user to connect the media port electrically to the wireless access point device in order to receive the security data from the wireless access point device.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the data processing circuit executes the setup program to further give an indication to the user, after the media port is electrically connected to the wireless access point device, to trigger the wireless access point device to transmit the security data so that the electronic device receives the security data from the wireless access point device.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is a service set identifier (SSID).

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the security data include a key for encrypted data transmission between the wireless access point device and the electronic device.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the key is a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key.

9. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the key is a Wi-Fi protected access (WPA) key.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the media port is electrically connected to the wireless access point device via a transmission line for receiving the security data.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the media port is disconnected from the transmission line after the security data are received.

12. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the media port is an audio port and the transmission line is an audio cable.

13. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the media port is an audio port.

14. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an audio-video device.

15. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a media adapter.

16. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an information appliance.

17. A wireless access point device for facilitating an electronic device to access a wireless local area network, the wireless access point device comprising:

a control circuit for controlling the wireless access point device and generating security data for authentication between the electronic device and the wireless access point device; and

a media port, wherein after the media port is electrically connected to the electronic device, the wireless access point device, in response to a triggering event, transmits the security data to the electronic device through the media port in order to enable the electronic device to configure the electronic device according to the security data to wirelessly access the wireless local area network via the wireless access point device.

18. The wireless access point device according to claim 17, further comprising a triggering device, in response to the triggering event, for triggering the wireless access point device to transmit the security data via the media port to the electronic device in order to enable the electronic device to configure the electronic device according to the security data to wirelessly access the wireless local area network via the wireless access point device.

19. The wireless access point device according to claim 18, wherein wireless access point device further includes a device for a user to touch in order to generate the triggering event.

20. The wireless access point device according to claim 17, wherein security data include a service set identifier (SSID).

21. The wireless access point device according to claim 17, wherein the security data include a key for encrypted data transmission between the wireless access point device and the electronic device.

22. The wireless access point device according to claim 21, wherein the key is a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key.

23. The wireless access point device according to claim 21, wherein the key is a Wi-Fi protected access (WPA) key.

24. The wireless access point device according to claim 17, wherein the media port is electrically connected to the electronic device via a transmission line for transmitting the security data to the electronic device.

25. The wireless access point device according to claim 24, wherein the media port is disconnected from the transmission line after the security data are received.

26. The wireless access point device according to claim 24, wherein the transmission line is an audio cable.

27. The wireless access point device according to claim 17, wherein the media port is an audio port.

28. A method for configuring an electronic device to communicate with a wireless local area network via a wireless access point device, the method comprising:

connecting a media port of the wireless access point device to a media port of the electronic device by making a wired connection;

making a triggering event for requesting data to set up the electronic device to communicate with the wireless local area network;

generating security data by the wireless access point device, the security data being used for authentication between the wireless access point device and the electronic device;

in response to the triggering event, transmitting the security data via the media port of the wireless access point device;

receiving the security data via the media port of the electronic device; and

configuring the electronic device according to the security data in order to wirelessly access the wireless local area network via the wireless access point device.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising:

disconnecting the wired connection after the security data are received.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the media port of the wireless access point device and the media port of the electronic device are respective audio ports thereof.

31. The method according to claim 28, wherein the security data include a service set identifier (SSID).

32. The method according to claim 28, wherein the security data include a key for encrypted data transmission between the wireless access point device and the electronic device.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the key is a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the key is a Wi-Fi protected access (WPA) key.

35. A system for configuring a wireless local area network, comprising:

a wireless access point device comprising;

a control circuit for controlling the wireless access point device and generating security data; and

a first media port for outputting the security data;

an electronic device comprising;

a second media port selectively operable in a normal mode for media data and in a set-up mode, wherein in the set-up mode, when the second media port is electrically connected to the first media port, the electronic device, through the second media port, receives the security data generated by the wireless access point device; and

a data processing circuit for configuring the electronic device according to the security data in order for the electronic device to wirelessly access the wireless local area network via the wireless access point device;

wherein after the second media port is electrically connected to the first media port in the set-up mode, the wireless access point device, in response to a triggering event, outputs the security data to the electronic device through the first media port;

wherein the security data include an identifier for authentication between the wireless access point device and the electronic device.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein the wireless access point device further comprises a triggering device, in response to the triggering event, for triggering the wireless access point device to transmit the security data via the first media port to the electronic device in order to enable the electronic device to configure the electronic device according to the security data to wirelessly access the wireless local area network via the wireless access point device.

37. The system according to claim 35, wherein the identifier is a service set identifier (SSID).

38. The system according to claim 35, wherein the security data include a key for encrypted data transmission between the wireless access point device and the electronic device.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the key is a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key.

40. The system according to claim 38, wherein the key is a Wi-Fi protected access (WPA) key.

41. The system according to claim 35, wherein the second media port of the electronic device is an audio port thereof.