DEVICE MANAGEMENT USING A SECONDARY CELLULAR DATA CONNECTION

• US 20170196040A1
• Filed: 01/04/2017
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lattice Health Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lattice Health Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: MADABHUSHI, PRAMOD, TONOGAI, DALE, ADRIANCE, JOHN MICHAEL
• Granted Patent: US 10,972,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A device is capable of connecting to both a WLAN and a cellular data network. Preference is given to using the WLAN. However, prior to connecting to the WLAN, the cellular data network is used to connect to a remote portal from which the device receives parameters to connect to the WLAN. The portal initiates prompts to receive the WLAN parameters that it provides to the device. Upon successfully connecting to the portal the device deactivates the cellular data connection. Upon there being network path errors on the preferred network connection, the device is capable of activating the secondary cellular data connection to the portal to report errors.

Claims

1. A method for a portal to provide a device with parameters to connect to a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising:

the portal receiving parameters for the device to use in connecting to the WLAN;

the portal providing the parameters to the device to use in connecting to the WLAN;

wherein the parameters include at least one of a WLAN service set identifier (SSID) and a WLAN password; and

wherein the WLAN is remote to the portal, such that the WLAN is not directly accessible by the portal.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising

the portal receiving a configuration request from the device prior to providing the parameters to the device.

3. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising:

the portal receiving parameters for the device to use prior to receiving the configuration request.

4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

the portal receiving the parameters for the device to use on a web interface.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

the portal receiving, from the device, an identifier of each of one or more biometric devices;

wherein each biometric device sends biometric readings to the device for the device to relay to the portal.

6. The method of claim 5, the method further comprising:

the portal comparing the identifier for each of the one or more biometric devices to a list of biometric devices the device is expected to control; and

responsive to determining that the biometric device is expected to be controlled by the device and has not previously been activated, the portal recording that the biometric device has been activated.

7. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising:

responsive to determining that each biometric device that the device is expected to control have been activated, the portal sending a prompt to provide the parameters for the device to use in connecting to the WLAN.

8. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

the portal sending a prompt to provide the parameters for the device to use in connecting to the WLAN.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the prompt is not sent to the device.

10. The method of claim 8, the method further comprising:

the portal receiving, from the device, the SSID of one or more WLANs visible to the device; and

the portal using the SSID of one or more WLANs visible to the device to construct the prompt.

11. A method for a device to activate a connection to a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising:

the device using a cellular data connection to obtain parameters from a portal to activate the connection;

wherein the parameters comprise a least one of a WLAN service set identifier (SSID) and a WLAN password;

wherein the device is local to the WLAN, such that the WLAN is visible to the device; and

wherein the portal is at a remote location, such that the WLAN is not visible to the portal.

12. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising:

the device using the parameters obtained from the portal to activate the connection; and

the device, upon successfully activating the connection, deactivating the cellular data connection.

13. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising:

the device prompting a user to activate one or more biometric devices; and

the device receiving readings from one or more biometric devices.

14. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

the device forwarding the readings to the portal.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the prompting of the user to activate the one or more biometric devices occurs prior to the device receiving the parameters from the portal to activate the connection.

16. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising:

prior to the device obtaining the parameters to activate the connection, the device issuing a prompt for a user to enter the parameters.

17. A method for a device to resolve a network path error, the method comprising:

the device detecting the network path error to a portal on a preferred network connection;

the device, responsive to detecting the network path error, establishing a connection to the portal on a secondary cellular data connection;

the device reporting the error to the portal on the secondary cellular data connection;

the device monitoring the preferred network connection; and

wherein upon the connection to the portal being reestablished on the preferred network connection, the device deactivating the secondary cellular data connection.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the preferred network connection is to a wireless local area network (WLAN).

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

the device using the secondary cellular data connection to obtain updated WLAN parameters from the portal, wherein the portal is at a location remote to the WLAN such the WLAN is neither directly accessible nor visible to the portal;

the device attempting to reestablish the preferred network connection using the updated WLAN parameters; and

wherein the updated WLAN parameters comprise a least one of a WLAN service set identifier (SSID) and a WLAN password.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

responsive to detecting the network path error, the device collecting information to determine a point of failure for the network path error; and

the device providing the information to the portal on the secondary cellular data connection.