Automated Credentialing of Device Newly Added to a Network

• US 20160142417A1
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Farber, Jordan Ari
• Granted Patent: US 9,608,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management

Abstract

A device newly introduced to a network is automatically credentialed to be able to communicate over a network before the device first communicates with the network. For example, at a point of purchase, a user can provide network identification information to a merchant computing device that effects transfer of that information to the new device such that the new device can communicate directly with the network without initial credentialing directly between the unique device and the local network. In another example, the merchant computing device communicates with the local network to register a newly purchased device with the local network before the newly purchased device is introduced to the network. Accordingly, the network is configured to begin communications with the unique device without initial credentialing directly between the unique device and the local network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a merchant computing device, a unique identification information for a local network; and

communicating, from the merchant computing device local to a unique device, the unique identification information for the local network to the unique device via a direct communication channel prior to a first communication between the unique device and the local network;

wherein the unique identification information for the local network allows the unique device to communicate substantively with the local network without initial credentialing directly between the unique device and the local network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the unique identification information for the local network comprises receiving the unique identification information for the local network from one or more of a merchant database, the local network, or a user computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the merchant computing device sending to the user computing device a request for the unique identification information for the local network.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the user computing device is local to the merchant computing device.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the user computing device is remote from the merchant computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identification information comprises a service set identifier and a password.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the merchant computing device is a point of sale device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the merchant computing device is a server configured to facilitate online sales.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions configured to cause a processing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a merchant computing device, a unique identification information for a local network; and

communicating the unique identification information for the local network from the merchant computing device to a unique device local to the merchant computing device via a direct communication channel comprising one or more of a near field communication receiver, a radio frequency identification (RFID) receiver, and a battery based low power wakeup receiver, the communicating configured to effect configuration of the unique device to begin communications with the local network without initial credentialing directly between the unique device and the local network.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions for receiving the unique identification information for the local network further comprise instructions to cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving the unique identification information for the local network from one or more of a merchant database, the local network, or a user computing device.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

the merchant computing device sending to the user computing device a request for the unique identification information for the local network.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the user computing device is local to the merchant computing device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the user computing device is remote from the merchant computing device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the unique identification information comprises a service set identifier and a password.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the merchant computing device is a point of sale device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the merchant computing device is a server configured to facilitate online sales.

17. A system comprising:

a merchant computing device configured to;

receive a unique identification information for a local network,

transmit the unique identification information to a unique device, wherein the unique identification information for the local network allows the unique device to communicate substantively with the local network without initial credentialing between the unique device and the local network;

the unique device, which is configured to;

receive, from the merchant computing device, the unique identification information,

after receiving the unique identification information, communicate substantively with the local network; and

a device configured to transmit the unique identification information to the merchant computing device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the merchant computing device is one of a point of sale device and a server configured to facilitate online sales.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the device configured to transmit the unique identification information to the merchant computing device is local to the merchant computing device.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the device configured to transmit the unique identification information to the merchant computing device is a merchant database server.