METHOD OF DEPLOYING AN ACCESS POINT FOR AN IP-BASED WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20080095086A1
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Grimes, Amy, Linkola, Janne, Senour, Jelena
• Application Number:
  US11/552,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20080095086A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/005 Data network PoA devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method of deploying a wireless router as an access point for an IP-based wireless telecommunications network. The wireless router is packaged with a tutorial on a compact disc in such a way that a user unpacking the wireless router is clearly instructed to insert the compact disc into a computer prior to continuing with any set-up. Once the compact disc is inserted into a computer, a set-up facility guides the user in a step-by-step fashion on how to install and appropriately configure the wireless router for use with a mobile communication device. Security between the wireless router and the communication device may be automatically enabled by depressing a button on the wireless router.

Claims

1. A method of bundling a wireless router with other components to facilitate the deployment of the wireless router as an access point to an IP-based wireless telecommunications network for a user of a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

providing a mobile communication device that is capable of transmitting and receiving communications via an Internet Protocol wireless network;

providing a storage medium containing an installation tutorial that, when inserted into a computer that has a broadband data connection through a modem, provides instructions on how to connect a wireless router to the modem;

providing a wireless router that may be connected to the modem and that is capable of transmitting and receiving communications with the mobile device; and

providing messaging on at least one of the mobile device, the storage medium, or the wireless router, wherein the messaging indicates that the installation program on the storage medium is to be executed before additional installation steps are performed.

2. The method of bundling a wireless router of claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a compact disc.

3. The method of bundling a wireless router of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is a mobile phone.

4. The method of bundling a wireless router of claim 1, wherein the Internet Protocol wireless network is a wi-fi network.

5. The method of bundling a wireless router of claim 1, wherein the messaging is provided on a removable sticker.

6. The method of bundling a wireless router of claim 5, wherein the sticker is placed over cable connection points on the wireless router.

7. The method of bundling a wireless router of claim 1, wherein the messaging is on the mobile device, the storage medium, and the wireless router.

8. The method of bundling a wireless router of claim 1, wherein the messaging is further provided on product packaging that contains all of the mobile device, the storage medium, and the wireless router.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a dual-mode device that is also capable of transmitting and receiving communications via a licensed-frequency cellular network.

10. A wireless router that is suitable for use as an access point to an IP-based wireless telecommunications network by a user of a mobile communication device, the wireless router comprising:

a communication component for wirelessly communicating Internet Protocol (IP) formatted data with a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device being capable of transmitting and receiving communications via an IP wireless network;

a security component coupled to the communication component for encrypting the IP-formatted data in accordance with a security parameter; and

a switch that when enabled, causes the security parameter to be transmitted to the mobile communication device so that the mobile communication device may communicate with the wireless router in a secure fashion.

11. The wireless router of claim 10, wherein the switch is a push-button.

12. The wireless router of claim 10, wherein the security component disables the encryption before transmitting the security parameter to the mobile communication device.

13. The wireless router of claim 12, wherein the security component re-enables the encryption after transmitting the security parameter to the mobile communication device.

14. The wireless router of claim 10, further comprising a display that displays when the security parameter has been successfully transmitted to the mobile communication device.

15. The wireless router of claim 14, wherein the display is an LED.

16. The wireless router of claim 10, wherein the security parameter is a WEP security key.

17. The wireless router of claim 10, wherein the security parameter is a WPA passphrase.

18. The wireless router of claim 10, wherein the mobile communication device is also capable of transmitting and receiving communications via a licensed-frequency cellular network.

19. A method of securely pairing a wireless router with a mobile communication device, the wireless router being suitable for use as an access point to an IP-based wireless telecommunications network and the communication device being capable of transmitting and receiving communications via an Internet Protocol (IP) wireless telecommunications network, the method comprising:

detecting the selection of a security switch at the wireless router by a user;

disabling encryption applied by the wireless router to the transmission of IP-formatted data;

transmitting a security parameter to the mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device may communicate with the wireless router in a secure fashion after receipt of the security parameter; and

re-enabling encryption applied by the wireless router to the transmission of IP-formatted data.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of receiving confirmation from the mobile communication device that is received the security parameter.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising displaying a visual indication to the user that the mobile communication device has received the security parameter.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the security parameter is a WEP security key.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the security parameter is a WPA passphrase.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the mobile device is a dual-mode device that is capable of transmitting and receiving communications via a licensed-frequency cellular network.