Wireless network communications methods, communications device operational methods, wireless networks, configuration devices, communications systems, and articles of manufacture

• US 7,269,653 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Mentze, Duane, Harmon, Nathan, Williams, Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Viet D.
• Application Number:
  US10/703,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20050101293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/227, 709/228
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• 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 74/00 Wireless channel access

Abstract

Wireless network communications methods, communications device operational methods, wireless networks, configuration devices, communications systems, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one aspect, a wireless network communications method includes providing wireless network access data and network security data using a configuration device, wherein the wireless network access data corresponds to a respective wireless network, communicating the wireless network access data and the network security data to a communications device using the configuration device, providing access of the communications device to a first portion of the wireless network using the wireless network access data, communicating the network security data to the wireless network using the communications device, and providing access of the communications device to a second portion of the wireless network using the network security data.

Claims

1. A wireless network communications method comprising:

providing wireless network access data and network security data using a configuration device, wherein the wireless network access data corresponds to a respective wireless network;

communicating the wireless network access data and the network security data to a communications device using the configuration device;

providing access of the communications device to a first portion of the wireless network using the wireless network access data;

communicating the network security data to the wireless network using the communications device;

providing access of the communications device to a second portion of the wireless network using the network security data; and

wherein the communicatings individually comprise communicating service information usable by the communications device to access a service which is accessible using the wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portion comprises an authentication portion of the wireless network and the second portion comprises a secure portion of the wireless network accessible using the network security data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the network security data comprises authentication data used to authenticate the communications device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the network security data comprises encryption data usable to perform encryption operations with respect to information communicated intermediate the communications device and the second portion of the wireless network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the network security data identifies a location of a dynamic key distribution service configured to implement secure wireless communications of the wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the network security data identifies a type of a dynamic key distribution service configured to implement secure communications of the wireless network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications device is configured to search to locate a dynamic key distribution service, and to pull at least one cryptographic key from the key distribution service responsive to the searching identifying the location of the key distribution service.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the communicating wireless network access data comprises communicating network identification information of the wireless network.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the service information comprises an electronic address of the service.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the service information comprises a command configured to initiate performance of an action of the service with respect to the communications device.

9. A communications device operational method comprising:

providing a communications device configured to implement wireless communications;

receiving wireless network access data and network security data from a configuration device within the communications device, wherein the received data corresponds to a respective wireless network;

communicating the wireless network access data to the wireless network using the communications device;

communicating the network security data to the wireless network using the communications device; and

communicating information intermediate the communications device and the wireless network after the communicatings of the wireless network access data and the network security data.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the network security data comprises authentication data usable to authenticate the communications device.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the network security data comprises encryption data usable to perform encryption operations with respect to information communicated intermediate the communications device and the wireless network.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the network security data identifies a location of a dynamic key distribution service configured to implement secure wireless communications of the wireless network.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the network security data identifies a type of a dynamic key distribution service configured to implement secure communications of the wireless network.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising dynamically obtaining cryptographic keys from a dynamic key distribution service using the network security data.

15. A configuration device comprising:

a communications interface for implementing electronic communications of the configuration device with a communications device external of the configuration device;

a storage device for storing wireless network access data and network security data corresponding to a respective wireless network and for outputting the wireless network access data and network security data to the communications interface for communication externally of the configuration device to the communications device using the communications interface;

wherein the wireless network access data comprises data for configuring the communications device to access and to implement communications with the respective wireless network, and the network security data comprises data for configuring the communications device according to a security protocol implemented using the wireless network; and

wherein the storage device comprises a device for storing service information usable by the communications device to access a service which is accessible using the wireless network.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the network security data comprises authentication data used to authenticate the communications device.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the network security data comprises encryption data usable to perform encryption operations with respect to information communicated intermediate the communications device and the wireless network.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein the network security data identifies a location of a dynamic key distribution service configured to implement secure wireless communications of the wireless network.

19. The device of claim 15 wherein the network security data identifies a type of a dynamic key distribution service configured to implement secure communications of the wireless network.

20. The device of claim 15 wherein the network security data comprises an identifier of a dynamic key distribution service, and a command configured to cause the communications device to pull at least one cryptographic key from the key distribution service.

23. The device of claim 15 wherein the service information comprises an electronic address of the service.

24. The device of claim 15 wherein the service information comprises a command configured to initiate performance of an action of the service with respect to the communications device.