FACILITATING NETWORK LOGIN

• US 20140007209A1
• Filed: 06/27/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: j2 Cloud Services, LLC (Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: J2 Global, Inc.
• Inventors: Zucker, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 9,258,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/7
• 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 63/083 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 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting user credentials to another device. According to some embodiments, a method is described of receiving into a first portable electronic device a set of credentials from a user, the set of credentials to include a WLAN SSID and a network key, the set of credentials to allow the first device to connect to the WLAN. The set of credentials is used to connect the first device to the WLAN. The first device creates a message for wireless transmission, the message includes the set of credentials for accessing the WLAN and is adapted to be delivered to a second device. Finally, the first device transmits the message over the air, wherein the message is addressed to the second device. The second device receives the message and uses the credentials in the message to connect to the WLAN. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving into a first portable electronic device a set of credentials from a user, the set of credentials to include a wireless local area network (WLAN) service set identifier (SSID) and a network key, the set of credentials to allow the first device to connect to a secure WLAN having the SSID;

using the set of credentials to connect the first device to the secure WLAN as a node of the secure WLAN;

creating a message for wireless transmission, wherein the message includes the set of credentials for accessing the secure WLAN and is adapted to be delivered to a second portable electronic device; and

transmitting the message over the air by the first device, wherein the message is addressed to the second device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device is one of a cellular telephone with wireless local area network (WLAN) capabilities, a smart phone, a portable media player, a tablet computer, and a laptop computer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the message by the first device comprises one of (a) transmitting the message through an authorized connection with the secure WLAN, (b) transmitting the message through a cellular data communication connection, (c) transmitting the message through a cellular voice communication text message channel, (d) transmitting the message through a wireless personal area network, and (e) transmitting the message through a point-to-point network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the message contains one of a cellular phone number of the second device, and the cellular phone number at a text messaging gateway domain name address.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prompting the user, upon using the set of credentials to connect to the WLAN and prior to transmitting the message, to transmit the message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the message is addressed to an address of the second device, the address of the second device being one of a Bluetooth address, a short message service (SMS) gateway address, a multimedia message service (MMS) gateway address, a cellular telephone number, and an electronic mail (email) address.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein using the set of credentials to connect the first device to the secure WLAN comprises:

sending a first authentication request to an access point of the secure WLAN;

receiving a clear text challenge from the access point of the secure WLAN;

encrypting the clear text challenge using the network key;

sending a second authentication request to the access point, the second authentication request including the encrypted clear text challenge; and

receiving a confirmation from the access point that the first device is successfully connected to the secure WLAN.

8. A computer-implemented method of a portable electronic device, comprising:

receiving, by a portable electronic device, a message over the air, wherein the message contains credentials for accessing a secure wireless local area network (WLAN) including a service set identifier (SSID) and a network key;

extracting, from the message, the SSID of the secure WLAN and the network key allowing the portable electronic device to connect to the secure WLAN;

locating the secure WLAN using the extracted SSID; and

connecting to the secure WLAN using the extracted network key.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the portable electronic device is one of a cellular telephone with wireless local area network (WLAN) capabilities, a smart phone, a portable media player, a tablet computer, and a laptop computer.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the receiving is done in response to receiving input from a user.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the connecting to the secure WLAN with the extracted SSID and the extracted network key is done in response to receiving input from a user.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the message is received over the air via one of (a) a cellular data communication connection, (b) a cellular voice communication text message channel, (c) a wireless personal area network, and (d) a point-to-point network.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving into a first portable electronic device credentials from a user, the credentials to include a password, and the credentials to allow the first device to access protected content;

using the credentials to access the protected content such that at least a portion of the protected content is displayed at the first device;

creating a message for wireless transmission, wherein the message includes the credentials for accessing the protected content and an identification of the protected content accessible with the credentials and further wherein the message is adapted to be delivered to a second portable electronic device over the air; and

transmitting the message over the air by the first device, wherein the message is addressed to the second device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the protected content is one of an application within the memory of the portable electronic device, a web site requiring login, a web site requiring authentication, or a web application.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the credentials are a password.

16. A computer-implemented method of a portable electronic device, comprising:

receiving, by a portable electronic device, a message over the air, wherein the message contains credentials for accessing protected content;

extracting, from the message, the credentials allowing the portable electronic device to access the protected content;

identifying the protected content that is accessible using the credentials; and

accessing the protected content using the extracted credentials.