Systems and Methods for Obtaining Network Credentials

• US 20110047603A1
• Filed: 06/24/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Channel IP BV
• Original Assignee: Devicescape Software, Inc. (Pareteum Corp.)
• Inventors: Gordon, John, Kimdon, David Whedon
• Granted Patent: US 8,743,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Systems and methods for obtaining network credentials are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method comprises receiving, with a digital device, a network identifier from a network device, providing a first credential request including the network identifier to another digital device on a network, receiving a request for additional network information from the other digital device, providing a second credential request including additional network information to the other digital device, receiving a credential request response including network credentials from the other digital device, and providing the network credentials from the credential request response to a network device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, with a digital device, a network identifier from a network device;

providing a first credential request including the network identifier to another digital device on a network;

receiving a request for additional network information from the other digital device;

providing a second credential request including additional network information to the other digital device;

receiving a credential request response including network credentials from the other digital device; and

providing the network credentials from the credential request response to a network device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first credential request is formatted as a DNS protocol message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first credential request is provided to the other digital device via an open port on the network device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the open port is port 53.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network identifier is an SSID.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional network information is a BSSID.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional network information is a title to a web page received by the digital device from the network device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional network information is a URL of a web page received by the digital device from the network device

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional network information is a hash of any portion associated with a web page received by the digital device from the network device.

10. A system comprising:

a request module configured to receive a network identifier from a network device; and

a response module configured to provide a first credential including the network identifier to another digital device on a network, receive a request for additional network information from the other digital device, provide a second credential request including additional network information to the other digital device, receive a credential request response including network credentials from the other digital device, and provide the network credentials from the credential request response to a network device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first credential request is formatted as a DNS protocol message.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the response module provides the first credential request to the other digital device via an open port on the network device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the open port is port 53.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the network identifier is an SSID.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the additional network information is a BSSID.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the additional network information is a title to a web page received by the digital device from the network device.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the additional network information is a URL of a web page received by the digital device from the network device.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the additional network information is a hash of any portion associated with a web page received by the digital device from the network device.

19. A computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions, the instructions comprising a method, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, with a digital device, a network identifier from a network device;

providing a first credential request including the network identifier to another digital device on a network;

receiving a request for additional network information from the other digital device;

providing a second credential request including additional network information to the other digital device;

receiving a credential request response including network credentials from the other digital device; and

providing the network credentials from the credential request response to a network device.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the first credential request is formatted as a DNS protocol message.