Method for device registration in a wireless home network

• US 7,340,612 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InterDigital CE Patent Holdings SAS (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Laurent, Christophe, Durand, Alain, Straub, Gilles, Vincent, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Moazzami; Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cervetti; David Garcia
• Application Number:
  US10/088,622
• Time in Patent Office: 2,722 Days
• Field of Search: 713/182
• US Class Current: 713/182
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40052 High-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus bus transfer protocol on a daisy chain bus using an embedded synchronisation G06F13/426
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40104 Security; Encryption; Content protection cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

A method for registering a device in a wireless network comprising a central controller. The method includes the step of asking a user whether he wants to install a new network or install a device on the network. In the case of installing a new network, the user enters a PIN code, an authentication key of the new network is generated and the device becomes the central controller. In the case of installing the device on an existing network, the user enters a PIN code, and upon authorization, receives an authentication key of the network for use in authenticating procedures with the central controller.

Claims

1. Method for registering a device in a wireless network comprising:

(a) asking a user, through a user interface, whether the user wants to install a new network or install said device on an existing network, and, in case the user wants to install a new network;

(b) asking the user to enter a PIN code, said entered PIN code becoming the PIN code that is valid for the entire new network, whereby the PIN code is used to install a device on the new network;

(c) generating an authentication key which becomes the authentication key of the new network; and

(d) the device becoming the central controller of the new network, and in case the device is to be installed on an existing network comprising an existing central controller;

(e) asking the user to enter a PIN code;

(f) checking by said existing central controller whether the entered PIN code corresponds to a PIN code of the existing network and if such checking is positive, sending an authentication key of the existing network from said existing central controller to said device; and

(g) storing said authentication key of the existing network by said device for use in authentication procedures between said device and said existing central controller.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the authentication key generated at step (c) is generated by a random generator.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the authentication key generated at step (c) is the result of a function depending on a device identifier and on said PIN code of the network.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein said authentication key of one of said existing and new networks is encrypted using a secret session key before being sent to said device, the secret session key being previously negotiated between said device and its corresponding central controller.

5. Method for registering a device in a Wireless network comprising:

(a) asking a user, through a user interface, whether the user wants to install a new network or to install the device on an existing network; and

in case the user wants to install a new network;

(b) asking the user to enter a PIN code, said entered PIN code becoming the PIN code that is valid or the entire new network, whereby the PIN code is used to install a device on the new network; and

(c) the device becoming the central controller of the network; and

in case the device is to be installed on an existing network comprising a central controller;

(d) asking the user to enter a PIN code;

(e) said device sending said PIN code and a device identifier to said central controller of the existing network;

(f) checking by said central controller of the existing network whether the entered PIN code corresponds to a PIN code of the existing network and, if such checking is positive, generating an authentication key and sending said authentication key from said central controller of the existing network to said device; and

(g) storing said authentication key in said device for use in authentication procedures between said device and said central controller of the existing network.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the authentication key generated at step (f) is the result of a function depending on a device identifier and on said PIN code of the existing network.

7. Method according to claim 5, wherein said authentication key of the network is encrypted using a secret session key before being sent to said device, the secret session key being previously negotiated between said device and said central controller of the existing network.