METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING ACCESS OF A FIRST MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE TO AT LEAST ONE NETWORK ACCESSIBLE BY A SECOND MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20120079123A1
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: LITTLE, Herbert Anthony, BROWN, David Andrew, CELAYA, Marcel Luis
• Granted Patent: US 9,021,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/43 using shared identity modules, e.g. SIM sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for or automatically enabling access of a first mobile electronic device to at least one network accessible by a second mobile electronic device, the second mobile electronic device storing configuration data for accessing the at least one network. A communication session is automatically established between the first mobile electronic device and the second mobile electronic device via a local link. The configuration data is automatically received at the first mobile electronic device from the second mobile electronic device via the local link in response to establishing the communication session. The configuration data is automatically installed at the first mobile electronic device such that the at least one network is accessible by the first mobile electronic device using the configuration data.

Claims

1. A method for automatically enabling access of a first mobile electronic device to at least one network accessible by a second mobile electronic device, said second mobile electronic device storing configuration data for accessing said at least one network, said method comprising:

automatically establishing a communication session between said first mobile electronic device and said second mobile electronic device via a local link;

automatically receiving said configuration data at said first mobile electronic device from said second mobile electronic device via said local link in response to establishing said communication session; and

automatically installing said configuration data at said first mobile electronic device such that said at least one network is accessible by said first mobile electronic device using said configuration data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration data is received at said first mobile electronic device in response to automatically transmitting a request for said configuration data from said first mobile electronic device to said second mobile electronic device, said request transmitted when said communication session is established.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration data is received at said first mobile electronic device in an automatic push of said configuration data from said second mobile electronic device to said first mobile electronic device, said push occurring when said communication session is established.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said local link comprises a cable connecting said first mobile electronic device and said second mobile electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said local link comprises a near field communication network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said near field communication network comprises a Bluetooth®

link between said first mobile electronic device and said second mobile electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration data comprises data for connecting to said at least one network via at least one WiFi access point.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said configuration data comprises at least one WiFi profile.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration data comprises at least one of a WiFi profile, a WiMax profile, an identifier of a network access point, a network identifier, SSID (Service Set Identifier) data, wireless type data, passwords, access data, encryption data, encryption keys, decryption keys, WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) keys, certification data, certificates, address information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising said first wireless electronic device connecting to said at least one network using said configuration data.

11. A mobile electronic device for automatically providing access of the mobile electronic device to at least one network accessible by a second mobile electronic device, said second mobile electronic device storing configuration data for accessing said at least one network, comprising:

a processing unit interconnected with a communication interface, said processing unit enabled to;

automatically establish a communication session between said mobile electronic device and said second mobile electronic device via a local link through said communication interface;

automatically receive said configuration data from said second mobile electronic device via said local link in response to establishing said communication session; and

automatically install said configuration data at said mobile electronic device such that said at least one network is accessible by said mobile electronic device using said configuration data.

12. The mobile electronic device of claim 11, wherein said configuration data is received at said mobile electronic device in response to automatically transmitting a request for said configuration data from said mobile electronic device to said second mobile electronic device, said request transmitted when said communication session is established.

13. The mobile electronic device of claim 11, wherein said configuration data is received at said mobile electronic device in an automatic push of said configuration data from said second mobile electronic device to said mobile electronic device, said push occurring when said communication session is established.

14. The mobile electronic device of claim 11, wherein said local link comprises a cable connecting said mobile electronic device and said second mobile electronic device.

15. The mobile electronic device of claim 11, wherein said local link comprises a near field communication network.

16. The mobile electronic device of claim 15, wherein said near field communication network comprises a Bluetooth®

link between said mobile electronic device and said second mobile electronic device.

17. The mobile electronic device of claim 11, wherein said configuration data comprises data for connecting to said at least one network via at least one WiFi access point.

18. The mobile electronic device of claim 17, wherein said configuration data comprises at least one WiFi profile.

19. The mobile electronic device of claim 11, wherein said configuration data comprises at least one of a WiFi profile, a WiMax profile, an identifier of a network access point, a network identifier, SSID (Service Set Identifier) data, wireless type data, passwords, access data, encryption data, encryption keys, decryption keys, WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) keys, certification data, certificates, address information.

20. A method for automatically enabling access of a first mobile electronic device to at least one network accessible to a second mobile electronic device, said second mobile electronic device storing configuration data for accessing said at least one network, said method comprising:

automatically establishing a communication session between said first mobile electronic device and said second mobile electronic device via a local link;

automatically transmitting said configuration data to said first mobile electronic device via said local link in response to establishing said communication session, said configuration data for automatic installation at said first mobile electronic device such that said at least one network is accessible by said first mobile electronic device using said configuration data.

21. A mobile electronic device for automatically providing access of a second mobile electronic device to at least one network accessible by the mobile electronic device, comprising:

a processing unit interconnected with a communication interface and a memory storing configuration data for accessing said at least one network, said processing unit enabled to;

automatically establish a communication session between said mobile electronic device and said second mobile electronic device via a local link through said communication interface;

automatically transmit said configuration data to said second mobile electronic device via said local link in response to establishing said communication session, said configuration data for automatic installation at said second mobile electronic device such that said at least one network is accessible by said second mobile electronic device using said configuration data.

22. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for automatically enabling access of a first mobile electronic device to at least one network accessible by a second mobile electronic device, said second mobile electronic device storing configuration data for accessing said at least one network, said method comprising:

automatically establishing a communication session between said first mobile electronic device and said second mobile electronic device via a local link;

automatically receiving said configuration data at said first mobile electronic device from said second mobile electronic device via said local link in response to establishing said communication session; and

automatically installing said configuration data at said first mobile electronic device such that said at least one network is accessible by said first mobile electronic device using said configuration data.

23. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for automatically enabling access of a first mobile electronic device to at least one network accessible to a second mobile electronic device, said second mobile electronic device storing configuration data for accessing said at least one network, said method comprising:

automatically establishing a communication session between said first mobile electronic device and said second mobile electronic device via a local link;

automatically transmitting said configuration data to said first mobile electronic device via said local link in response to establishing said communication session, said configuration data for automatic installation at said first mobile electronic device such that said at least one network is accessible by said first mobile electronic device using said configuration data.