SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC SECURITY AUTHENTICATION IN WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20090064283A1
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Po-Fei
• Granted Patent: US 7,991,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• 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 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A system for automatic security authentication in a wireless network includes a server and a terminal. The terminal includes a processor, a first communications unit, and a second communications unit. The server includes a database, a control unit, and a third communications unit. The processor receives an identification code of an access point through the first communications unit, and sends a message to the control unit through the second communications unit. The message includes the identification code of the access point, a user account and a user password. The control unit sends an authentication code corresponding to the identification code according to data stored in the database to the processor through the third communications unit. After receipt of the authentication code, the processor automatically logs in to the access point through the first communications unit to activate a wireless network access function.

Claims

1. A system for automatic security authentication in a wireless network, comprising a server managing at least one access point, and a terminal;

said terminal including;

a processor;

a first communications unit connected electrically to and controlled by said processor, and capable of receiving an identification code issued by the access point and sending the identification code to said processor; and

a second communications unit connected electrically to and controlled by said processor, and capable of transmitting data to and receiving data from said server, said server including;

a database storing a user account and a user password of said terminal, and the identification code and an authentication code of the access point;

a control unit connected electrically to said database; and

a third communications unit connected electrically to and controlled by said control unit, and capable of transmitting data to and receiving data from said second communications unit of said terminal;

wherein, after said processor of said terminal has received the identification code from said first communications unit, said processor sends a message containing the identification code, and the user account and the user password of said terminal to said third communications unit of said server through said second communications unit, said third communications unit sending the message to said control unit, said control unit searching data in said database according to contents of the message and, after confirming the user account and the user password of said terminal, sending the authentication code corresponding to the identification code to said second communications unit of said terminal through said third communications unit, said processor setting the authentication code after receiving the authentication code from said second communications unit, and automatically logging in to the access point through said first communications unit so as to activate a wireless network access function of said first communications unit.

2. The system for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein said terminal further includes a storage unit connected electrically to said processor and capable of storing data such that said processor stores the authentication code into said storage unit upon receipt of the authentication code, and said processor thereafter can directly obtain the authentication code of the access point by searching said storage unit.

3. The system for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein said server further includes a fourth communications unit, said control unit being capable of controlling the access point through said fourth communications unit so as to modify the authentication code of the access point and to concurrently modify the corresponding authentication code in said database.

4. The system for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein said control unit may add, delete or modify the data in said database.

5. The system for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein said second communications unit and said third communications unit transmit data to each other using a cellular network technique, and the message is in the form of a short message.

6. The system for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein said second communications unit and said third communications unit transmit data to each other through a wireless network.

7. The system for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 6, wherein the message is in the form of an electronic mail.

8. The system for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 6, wherein the message is in the form of an instant message.

9. The system for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein said second communications unit and said third communications unit transmit data to each other through a cable network.

10. The system for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 9, wherein the message is in the form of an electronic mail.

11. The system for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 9, wherein the message is in the form of an instant message.

12. A terminal adapted for data transmission with a server that manages at least one access point, the server having a user account and a user password of said terminal and an identification code and an authentication code of the access point stored therein, said terminal comprising:

a processor;

a first communications unit connected electrically to and controlled by said processor, and capable of receiving the identification code issued by the access point and sending the identification code to said processor; and

a second communications unit connected electrically to and controlled by said processor, and capable of transmitting data to the server and receiving data from the server;

said processor generating a message after receiving the identification code from said first communications unit, contents of the message including the identification code, and the user account and the user password of said terminal, said processor sending the message to the server through said second communications unit, and receiving the authentication code sent back by the server through said second communications unit, said processor setting the authentication code after receiving the authentication code and automatically logging in to the access point through said first communications unit so as to activate a wireless network access function of said first communications unit.

13. The terminal according to claim 12, further comprising a storage unit connected electrically to said processor and capable of storing data such that said processor stores the authentication code into said storage unit upon receipt of the authentication code, and thereafter can obtain the authentication code of the access point by searching said storage unit.

14. The terminal according to claim 12, wherein said second communications unit transmits data to and receives data from the server using a cellular network technique, and the message is in the form of a short message.

15. The terminal according to claim 12, wherein said second communications unit transmits data to and receives data from the server using a wireless network.

16. The terminal according to claim 15, wherein the message is in the form of an electronic mail.

17. The terminal according to claim 15, wherein the message is in the form of an instant message.

18. The terminal according to claim 12, wherein said second communications unit transmits data to and receives data from the server using a cable network.

19. The terminal according to claim 18, wherein the message is in the form of an electronic mail.

20. The terminal according to claim 18, wherein the message is in the form of an instant message.

21. A server that manages at least one access point and that is adapted for data transmission with a terminal, said server comprising:

a database storing a user account and a user password of the terminal, and an identification code and an authentication code of the access point;

a control unit connected electrically to said database; and

a third communications unit connected electrically to and controlled by said control unit, and capable of transmitting data to the terminal and receiving a message from the terminal, contents of the message including the identification code, and the user account and the user password of the terminal;

said control unit searching data in said database after receipt of the message received by said third communications unit and, after confirming the user account and the user password of the terminal in the contents of the message to be correct, commanding said third communications unit to transmit the authentication code corresponding to the identification code of the access point to the terminal.

22. The server according to claim 21, further comprising a fourth communications unit, said control unit being capable of controlling the access point through said fourth communications unit so as to modify the authentication code of the access point and to concurrently modify the corresponding authentication code in said database.

23. The server according to claim 21, wherein said control unit may add, delete or modify the data in said database.

24. The server according to claim 21, wherein said third communications unit transmits data to and receives data from the terminal using a cellular network technique, and the message is in the form of a short message.

25. The server according to claim 21, wherein said third communications unit transmits data to and receives data from the terminal through a wireless network.

26. The server according to claim 25, wherein the message is in the form of an electronic mail.

27. The server according to claim 25, wherein the message is in the form of an instant message.

28. The server according to claim 21, wherein said third communications unit transmits data to and receives data from the terminal through a cable network.

29. The server according to claim 28, wherein the message is in the form of an electronic mail.

30. The server according to claim 28, wherein the message is in the form of an instant message.

31. A method for automatic security authentication in a wireless network, said method being adapted for use in association with a terminal and a server, the terminal including a processor, a first communications unit, and a second communications unit, the server including a database, a control unit, and a third communications unit, the database storing an identification code and an authentication code of at least one access point, and a user account and a user password of the terminal, said method comprising the following steps:

enabling the processor of the terminal to receive the identification code issued by the access point through the first communications unit;

enabling the processor to send a message through the second communications unit and enabling the third communications unit of the server to send the message to the control unit of the server, contents of the message including the identification code of the access point, and the user account and the user password of the terminal;

enabling the control unit of the server to confirm whether the user account and the user password of the terminal as contained in the message are correct according to data stored in the database;

if the user account and the user password are correct, enabling the control unit to send the authentication code corresponding to the identification code to the processor of the terminal through the third communications unit and the second communications unit; and

enabling the processor to set the authentication code and to automatically log in to the access point through the first communications unit so as to activate a wireless network access function of the first communications unit.

32. The method for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 31, further comprising a step of enabling the control unit to issue a new message to the terminal through the third communications unit upon determining that the user account and the user password in the message are incorrect so as to notify that the user account and the user password are incorrect.

33. The method for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 31, wherein the server further includes a fourth communications unit, said method further comprising a step of enabling the server to be connected to the access point through the fourth communications unit so as to modify the authentication code of the access point and to concurrently modify the corresponding authentication code in the database.

34. The method for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 31, wherein the terminal further includes a storage unit for storing data, said method further comprising a step of enabling the processor to store the authentication code in the storage unit.

35. The method for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 34, further comprising a step of enabling the processor to search data in the storage unit upon receipt of the identification code of the access point so as to inspect whether the authentication code corresponding to the identification code has been stored in the storage unit and, in the affirmative, to set the authentication code and to automatically log in to the access point through the first communications unit so as to activate the wireless network access function of the first communications unit.

36. The method for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 31, wherein the second communications unit and the third communications unit transmit data to each other using a cellular network technique, and the message is in the form of a short message.

37. The method for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 31, wherein the second communications unit and the third communications unit transmit data to each other through a wireless network.

38. The method for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 37, wherein the message is in the form of an electronic mail.

39. The method for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 37, wherein the message is in the form of an instant message.

40. The method for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 31, wherein the second communications unit and the third communications unit transmit data to each other through a cable network.

41. The method for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 40, wherein the message is in the form of an electronic mail.

42. The method for automatic security authentication in a wireless network according to claim 40, wherein the message is in the form of an instant message.