AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF A WIRELESS DEVICE

• US 20130217359A1
• Filed: 08/20/2012
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cherian, George, Abraham, Santosh Paul, Hawkes, Philip Michael, Iyer, Mahesh D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,831,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• 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: 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: H04L 65/1066 Session management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

A method of automatically configuring a wireless device includes receiving programming credentials from a server at a programming module and authenticating the wireless device based on the programming credentials. The method includes programming the wireless device with access credentials of an access point of a network to enable the wireless device to communicate, via the access point, with one or more devices outside of the network.

Claims

1. A method of automatically configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving programming credentials from a server at a programming module;

authenticating the wireless device based on the programming credentials; and

programming the wireless device with access credentials of an access point of a network to enable the wireless device to communicate, via the access point, with devices outside of the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein authenticating the wireless device based on the programming credentials unlocks the wireless device to enable the programming of the wireless device with the access credentials.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the programming module authenticates the wireless device by exchanging authentication messages with the wireless device via the access point.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the programming credentials include a shared key.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the programming credentials include a digital certificate.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the programming credentials include a user-name and a password.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the programming credentials include information stored within a subscriber identity module (SIM).

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the access credentials include a service set identifier (SSID) of the access point and a passphrase of the access point.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the programming module is configured to receive the access credentials from the access point.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the access credentials are input into programming module.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the programming module and the access point are integrated into a single device that is configured to perform access point functions and programming module functions.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a secure connection between the programming module and the access point prior to authenticating the wireless device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an invitation by the programming module to the wireless device to initiate configuration of the wireless device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the invitation is sent by the programming module using beacon or generic advertisement service (GAS) frames or probe response messages.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising discovering the network by the wireless device before configuration of the wireless device is initiated by the programming module.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless device is adapted to use a probe request message or an access network query protocol (ANQP) message to discover the network.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising performing service discovery to detect a service discovery identifier communicated by an internet protocol (IP) packet carried over one or more beacon frames, generic advertisement service (GAS) frames, or access network query protocol (ANQP) messages.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising sending a re-invitation by the programming module to the wireless device to re-initiate the configuration of the wireless device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing service discovery by the programming module to identify one or more available wireless devices to configure for communication, via the access point, with the devices outside of the network.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point and the wireless device are compliant with one or more Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.

21. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

authenticate the wireless device based on received programming credentials, wherein the programming credentials are received from a server; and

program the wireless device with access credentials of an access point of a network to enable the wireless device to communicate, via the access point, with one or more devices outside of the network.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein authenticating the wireless device based on the programming credentials unlocks the wireless device to enable the programming of the wireless device with the access credentials.

23. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving programming credentials from a server;

means for authenticating the wireless device based on the programming credentials; and

means for programming the wireless device with access credentials of an access point of a network to enable the wireless device to communicate, via the access point, with one or more devices outside of the network.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein authenticating the wireless device based on the programming credentials unlocks the wireless device to enable the programming of the wireless device with the access credentials.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

authenticate the wireless device based on received programming credentials, wherein the programming credentials are received from a server; and

program the wireless device with access credentials of an access point of the network to enable the wireless device to communicate, via the access point, with one or more devices outside of the network.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein authenticating the wireless device based on the programming credentials unlocks the wireless device to enable the programming of the wireless device with the access credentials.

27. A method of automatically configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:

performing service discovery by the wireless device to identify a programming module;

sending to the programming module a probe request including a first device public key; and

receiving from the programming module a probe response including an indication of a match between the first device public key and a second device public key.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the indication of the match between the first device public key and the second device public key includes an invitation from the programming module to the wireless device to initiate configuration of the wireless device by the programming module.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless device is configured to perform the service discovery based on a beacon, a public action frame, a probe request message, or any combination thereof.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless device is configured to be authenticated by the programming module based on programming credentials and wherein the wireless device is configured to be programmed, by the programming module, with access credentials of an access point of a network.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein authentication of the wireless device based on the programming credentials unlocks the wireless device and wherein unlocking the wireless device enables programming of the wireless device with access credentials of the access point of the network.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein programming the wireless device with the access credentials of the access point configures the wireless device to communicate with a device that is outside of the network.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising associating the wireless device with the access point of the network.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the service discovery is performed in response to powering up of the wireless device.

35. A wireless device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

perform service discovery to identify a programming module;

initiate sending to the programming module a probe request including a first device public key; and

detect receipt of a probe response including an indication of a match between the first device public key and a second device public key.

36. The wireless device of claim 35, wherein the wireless device is configured to perform the service discovery based on a beacon, a public action frame, a probe request message, or any combination thereof.

37. The wireless device of claim 35, wherein the processor is integrated in a home appliance, a meter configured to take measurements, a mobile device, a camera, a multimedia player, an entertainment unit, a navigation device, or any combination thereof.

38. A wireless device comprising:

means for performing service discovery by the wireless device to identify a programming module;

means for sending to the programming module a probe request including a first device public key; and

means for receiving from the programming module a probe response including an indication of a match between the first device public key and a second device public key.

39. The wireless device of claim 38, wherein the wireless device is configured to perform the service discovery based on a beacon, a public action frame, a probe request message, or any combination thereof.

40. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

perform service discovery at a wireless device to identify a programming module;

initiate sending to the programming module a probe request including a first device public key; and

detect receipt of a probe response including an indication of a match between the first device public key and a second device public key.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the wireless device is configured to be authenticated by the programming module based on programming credentials and wherein the wireless device is configured to be programmed, by the programming module, with access credentials of an access point of a network.

42. A method comprising:

receiving, at a server, device information of a wireless device and subscription information of a subscriber; and

providing programming credentials to a programming module based on both the device information and the subscription information, wherein the programming credentials are used to authenticate the wireless device to enable programming of the wireless device with access credentials of an access point of a network.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the server receives the device information and the subscription information from a transaction terminal.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising providing an application to the programming module to enable the programming module to perform the authentication and the programming of the wireless device.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising controlling an operation of the wireless device via the access point of the network after the programming of the wireless device with the access credentials of the access point.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the server is a smart energy server.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the smart energy server supports a ZigBee Smart Energy standard.

48. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

detect receipt of device information of a wireless device and subscription information of a subscriber; and

provide programming credentials to a programming module based on both the device information and the subscription information, wherein the programming credentials are used to authenticate the wireless device to enable programming of the wireless device with access credentials of an access point.

49. A method of automatically configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a programming module, a programming request message including a request for programming of the wireless device;

sending to the wireless device one or more authentication messages including programming credentials; and

sending to the wireless device one or more programming messages including access credentials of an access point of a network.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the programming module is configured to:

perform authentication of the wireless device based on the programming credentials, wherein the authentication of the wireless device based on the programming credentials unlocks the wireless device for programming with the access credentials; and

program the wireless device with the access credentials of the access point.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising:

receiving, at the programming module, at least one authentication message from the wireless device; and

sending, to the wireless device, an authentication success message indicating the authentication of the wireless device by the programming module.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the programming request message and the one or more programming messages are Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) protocol messages.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the one or more programming messages are sent within one or more data packets.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein the programming request message further includes device specific information of the wireless device.

55. The method of claim 49, further comprising sending to the wireless device a service discovery message including device programming capability information.

56. The method of claim 49, wherein the one or more authentication messages and the one or more programming messages are sent to the wireless device via the access point and wherein the programming request message is received from the wireless device via the access point.

57. The method of claim 49, wherein the one or more authentication messages and the one or more programming messages are sent to the wireless device via a direct wireless connection between the programming module and the wireless device and wherein the programming request message is received from the wireless device via the direct wireless connection between the programming module and the wireless device.

58. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

detect receipt of a programming request message including a request for programming of the wireless device;

initiate sending to the wireless device of one or more authentication messages including programming credentials; and

initiate sending to the wireless device of one or more programming messages including access credentials of an access point of a network.

59. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a programming request message including a request for programming of the wireless device;

means for sending to the wireless device one or more authentication messages including programming credentials; and

means for sending to the wireless device one or more programming messages including access credentials of an access point of a network.

60. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

detect receipt of a programming request message including a request for programming of the wireless device;

initiate sending to the wireless device of one or more authentication messages including programming credentials; and

initiate sending to the wireless device of one or more programming messages including access credentials of an access point of a network.

61. A method of automatically configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the wireless device, a service discovery message including device programming capability information;

sending to a programming module a programming request message including a request for programming of the wireless device;

receiving, at the wireless device, one or more authentication messages including programming credentials; and

receiving, at the wireless device, one or more programming messages including access credentials of an access point of a network.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the wireless device is configured to be authenticated by the programming module based on the programming credentials, wherein authentication of the wireless device based on the programming credentials unlocks the wireless device for programming with the access credentials, and wherein the wireless device is configured to be programmed by the programming module with the access credentials of the access point.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

sending, by the wireless device, at least one authentication message to the programming module; and

receiving, at the wireless device, an authentication success message from the programming module, wherein the authentication success message indicates the authentication of the wireless device by the programming module.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the programming request message is sent within at least one authentication frame.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein the one or more programming messages are received within one or more authentication frames.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein the one or more programming messages are received within one or more data frames.

67. The method of claim 61, wherein the service discovery message is received using a beacon, a public action frame, a probe request message, or any combination thereof.

68. A wireless device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

detect receipt of a service discovery message including device programming capability information;

initiate sending to a programming module of a programming request message including a request for programming;

detect receipt of one or more authentication messages including programming credentials; and

detect receipt of one or more programming messages including access credentials of an access point of a network.

69. A method of automatically configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:

performing service discovery by a programming device to identify the wireless device, wherein the programming device includes a programming module;

establishing a wireless connection by the programming device between the programming device and the wireless device;

authenticating the wireless device based on programming credentials; and

programming the wireless device with access credentials of an access point of a network to enable the wireless device to communicate, via the access point, with one or more devices outside of the network.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein authenticating the wireless device based on the programming credentials unlocks the wireless device to enable the programming of the wireless device with the access credentials.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the wireless device is configured to operate as an access point to enable the programming module to establish the wireless connection between the programming device and the wireless device.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein the wireless connection is a peer-to-peer wireless connection.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the programming device is configured to obtain the programming credentials.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the programming device is configured to obtain the programming credentials based on an application that is executable to obtain the programming credentials.

75. The method of claim 69, wherein the programming credentials include a device identifier, a passphrase of the wireless device, a digital certificate, or a combination thereof.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the access credentials include one or more of a service set identifier (SSID) of the access point and a passphrase of the access point.

77. The method of claim 69, wherein the wireless device is a home appliance, a meter configured to take measurements, a mobile device, a camera, a multimedia player, an entertainment unit, a navigation device, or any combination thereof.

78. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

perform service discovery to identify the wireless device;

establish a wireless connection with the wireless device;

authenticate the wireless device based on programming credentials; and

program the wireless device with access credentials of an access point of a network to enable the wireless device to communicate, via the access point, with one or more devices outside of the network.

79. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

means for performing service discovery to identify the wireless device;

means for establishing a wireless connection between a programming device including a programming module and the wireless device;

means for authenticating the wireless device based on programming credentials; and

means for programming the wireless device with access credentials of an access point of a network to enable the wireless device to communicate, via the access point, with one or more devices outside of the network.

80. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

perform service discovery to identify a wireless device;

establish a wireless connection with the wireless device;

authenticate the wireless device based on programming credentials; and

program the wireless device with access credentials of an access point of a network to enable the wireless device to communicate, via the access point, with devices outside of the network.

81. A method of automatically configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:

performing service discovery by the wireless device to identify a programming device;

establishing a wireless connection with the programming device;

sending to the programming device a probe request including a first device public key; and

receiving from the programming device a probe response including an indication of a match between the first device public key and a second device public key.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the programming device includes a programming module, wherein the wireless device is configured to be authenticated by the programming module based on programming credentials, wherein the wireless device is configured to be programmed, by the programming module, with access credentials of an access point of a network, and wherein authentication of the wireless device based on the programming credentials unlocks the wireless device to enable programming of the wireless device with access credentials of the access point of the network.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the wireless device is configured to operate as an access point to enable the programming device to establish the wireless connection.

84. The method of claim 82, wherein the wireless connection is a peer-to-peer wireless connection.

85. A wireless device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

perform service discovery by the wireless device to identify a programming device including a programming module;

establish a wireless connection with the programming device;

initiate sending to the programming device of a probe request including a first device public key; and

detect receipt from the programming device of a probe response including an indication of a match between the first device public key and a second device public key.