CONFIGURING WIRELESS ACCESSORY DEVICES

• US 20140366105A1
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2013
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bradley, Bob, Golembeski, Gregg J., Burks, Andrew W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,257,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• 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 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/43 using shared identity modules, e.g. SIM sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

This document describes, inter alia, techniques for configuring or setting up a wireless device. As an example of the features described herein, a first wireless device may be used to configure a second wireless device as follows: the first wireless device may detect that the second wireless device is available and is configurable; the first wireless device may connect to the second wireless device and transmit configuration information to the second wireless device, where the configuration information includes credentials that may be used to access a wireless network (e.g., a password to access a Wi-Fi network); the first wireless device and the second wireless device may then both connect to the wireless network, using the credentials; once both devices are connected to the wireless network, the first wireless device may verify that the second wireless device has been correctly configured.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a second wireless device by a first wireless device, the method comprising the first wireless device:

obtaining information for the second wireless device via a first wireless network;

determining that the second wireless device is in a configurable state based on the information;

communicating configuration information to the second wireless device via the first wireless network, the configuration information including credentials for connecting to a second wireless network;

connecting to the second wireless network using the credentials; and

communicating with the second wireless device via the second wireless network.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the first wireless device:

receiving from the second wireless device a first configuration seed number via the first wireless network;

receiving from the second wireless device a second configuration seed number via the second wireless network; and

comparing the first configuration seed number to the second configuration seed number to determine whether the second wireless device device is successfully configured.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the first wireless device:

displaying a configuration status of the second wireless device based on the information received from the second wireless device; and

obtaining a user input indicating whether to configure the second wireless device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the first wireless device:

receiving from the second wireless device a first configuration seed number via the first wireless network;

receiving information from the second wireless device via the second wireless network, the information including a second identifier for the second wireless device, a second configuration seed number, and configuration status information for the second wireless device; and

determining whether the second wireless device is successfully configured based on one or more of;

a comparison of the second identifier of the second wireless device to the first identifier of the second wireless device, a comparison of the first configuration seed number to the second configuration seed number, and the configuration status information for the second wireless device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information obtained for the second wireless device comprises a unique device identifier for the second wireless device and a configuration status of the second wireless device.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the unique device identifier is a media access control (MAC) address.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the first wireless device:

displaying a configuration status of the second wireless device based on the information obtained for the second wireless device to a user of the first wireless device; and

obtaining an indication of whether to configure the second wireless device from the user of the first wireless device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the first wireless device:

establishing an encrypted link via the first wireless network with the second wireless device over which to communicate the configuration information to the second wireless device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein obtaining information for the second wireless device via the first wireless network comprises receiving, in a beacon message, the information for the second wireless device, including a first identifier of the second wireless device and a configuration state of the second wireless device.

10. A wireless device comprising:

a wireless interface;

a data storage device; and

a processor, coupled to the wireless interface and the data storage device and configured to execute instructions stored in the data storage device that cause the wireless device to;

receive from an accessory device a beacon message including a first identifier of the accessory device and a configuration state of the accessory device via a first wireless network;

determine that the accessory device is in a configurable state based on information included in the beacon message;

communicate configuration information to the accessory device, the configuration information including credentials for connection to a second wireless network; and

communicate with the accessory device via the second wireless network.

11. The wireless device as recited in claim 10, wherein the credentials include a password for connecting to the second wireless network.

12. The wireless device as recited in claim 10, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor further cause the wireless device to:

receive from the accessory device a first configuration seed number via the first wireless network;

receive from the accessory device a second configuration seed number via the second wireless network; and

compare the first configuration seed number to the second configuration seed number to determine whether the accessory device is successfully configured.

13. The wireless device as recited in claim 10, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor further cause the wireless device to:

display a configuration status of the accessory device based on the configuration state received from the accessory device; and

obtain a user input indicating whether to configure the accessory device.

14. The wireless device as recited in claim 10, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor further cause the wireless device to:

receive from the accessory device a first configuration seed number via the first wireless network;

receive information from the accessory device via the second wireless network, the information including a second identifier for the accessory device, a second configuration seed number, and configuration status information for the accessory device; and

determine whether the accessory device is successfully configured based on one or more of;

a comparison of the second identifier of the accessory device to the first identifier of the accessory device, a comparison of the first configuration seed number to the second configuration seed number, and the configuration status information for the accessory device.

15. A method for configuring a second wireless device by a first wireless device, the method comprising the second wireless device:

transmitting a beacon message that indicates a device identifier and connection status information for the second wireless device;

receiving information from the first wireless device responsive to the beacon message;

transmitting information via a first wireless network to the second wireless device, the information including a configuration seed number and the device identifier; and

receiving configuration information from the first wireless device via the first wireless network, the configuration information including credentials for connecting to a second wireless network.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the second wireless device:

updating the configuration seed number and configuration status information based on the configuration information received from the first wireless device;

connecting to the second wireless network using the credentials received from the first wireless device; and

transmitting an updated configuration seed number, updated configuration status information, and the device identifier to the first wireless device via the second wireless network.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the second wireless device:

storing the configuration seed number;

updating the configuration seed number based on the configuration information received from the first wireless device;

storing an updated configuration seed number; and

transmitting the updated configuration seed number to the first wireless device via the second wireless network.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the credentials include a password for connecting to the second wireless network.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the updated configuration seed number transmitted by the second wireless device to the first wireless device enables the first wireless device at least in part to verify an updated configuration of the second wireless device.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the second wireless device:

updating a configuration of the second wireless device based on configuration information received from the first wireless device;

establishing a secure, encrypted connection with the first wireless device via the second wireless network; and

communicating updated configuration information to the first wireless device via the secure, encrypted connection to verify the updated configuration of the second wireless device.