Identity-based wireless device configuration

• US 7,346,344 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fontaine, Jean-Emmanuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torres; Marcos L.
• Application Number:
  US10/448,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20040242197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 4554351-4353, 455/436.3, 455/426.1, 455410-411, 4554561-4566, 4554321-4323, 709217-223, 717160-178, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Techniques are provided for the relating identity information with wireless configuration information for a wireless device or a wireless network. A trusted system may be used to generate wireless configuration parameters for a wireless network based on identity information. The identity-based wireless configuration information may be stored on the trusted system remote to the wireless network and accessible to the wireless device. The wireless configuration may be migrated from the trusted system to the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for communicating wireless configuration information to a gateway for a wireless local area network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a trusted system, wireless configuration information that is associated with a first gateway for a first wireless local area network and that is useful in configuring the first gateway to enable communications between the first gateway and one or more other devices over the first wireless local area network;

receiving, at the trusted system, an indication that the wireless configuration information is associated with an identity associated with the first wireless local area network;

storing, on the trusted system, the wireless configuration information and an indication that the wireless configuration information is associated with the identity;

receiving a request from the identity associated with the first wireless local area network to communicate, to a second gateway for a second wireless local area network, wireless configuration information that is based on the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network;

in response to receiving the request from the identity and based on the received indication that the wireless configuration information is associated with the identity, accessing the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network; and

downloading wireless configuration information that is based on the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network to the second gateway for the second wireless local area network to configure the second gateway to enable communications between the second gateway and one or more other devices over the second wireless local area network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the devices comprise wireless devices.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network comprises using an identity received from a storage location that is remote to the devices.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

authenticating the request from the identity to determine whether the identity is authorized to access the trusted system; and

accessing the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network and downloading wireless configuration information only if the received identity is authorized to access the trusted system.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the trusted system comprises a system provided by an Internet service provider or a system provided by an Internet access provider.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless configuration information comprises a connectivity parameter.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the identity comprises a user identity.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the identity comprises a network identity.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the network identity comprises one or more of a network name, a service set identifier, a media access control address, or a network address.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating the wireless configuration information based on the identity.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein generating wireless configuration information comprises generating a network identity.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising storing the generated wireless configuration information.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein storing the generated wireless configuration information comprises storing the generated wireless configuration information at a storage location that is remote to both the devices and the gateways.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing a communication session between the trusted system and the second gateway for the second wireless network.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing a communications session between a device and the trusted system through the second gateway for the second wireless network after downloading wireless configuration information to the second gateway for the second wireless local area network.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the trusted system comprises a system provided by an Internet service provider or a system provided by an Internet access provider.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the first wireless local area network and the second wireless local area network are available for wireless connectivity concurrently.

72. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless configuration information that is based on the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network is different than the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network such that downloading the wireless configuration information that is based on the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network to the second gateway for the second wireless local area network comprises downloading wireless configuration information that is different than the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network to the second gateway for the second wireless local area network.

73. The method of claim 1 wherein:

receiving a request from the identity to communicate, to a second gateway for a second wireless local area network, wireless configuration information that is based on the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network comprises receiving a request from the identity to replicate the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network to the second gateway for the second wireless local area network; and

downloading the wireless configuration information that is based on the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network to the second gateway for the second wireless local area network comprises downloading the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network to the second gateway for the second wireless local area network.

18. A computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program configured to communicate wireless configuration information to a gateway for a wireless local area network, the medium comprising one or more code segments configured to:

receive, at a trusted system, wireless configuration information that is associated with a first gateway for a first wireless local area network and that is useful in configuring the first gateway to enable communications between the first gateway and one or more other devices over the first wireless local area network;

receive, at the trusted system, an indication that the wireless configuration information is associated with an identity associated with the first wireless local area network;

store, on the trusted system, the wireless configuration information and an indication that the wireless configuration information is associated with the identity;

receive a request from the identity associated with the first wireless local area network to communicate, to a second gateway for a second wireless local area network, wireless configuration information that is based on the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network;

in response to receiving the request from the identity and based on the received indication that the wireless configuration information is associated with the identity, access the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network; and

download wireless configuration information that is based on the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network to the second gateway for the second wireless local area network to configure the second gateway to enable communications between the second gateway and one or more other devices over the second wireless local area network.

19. The medium of claim 18 wherein the devices comprise wireless devices.

20. The medium of claim 18 wherein the one or more code segments configured to access the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network comprise one or more code segments configured to use an identity received from a storage location that is remote to the devices.

21. The medium of claim 18 wherein the one or more code segments are further configured to:

authenticate the request from the identity to determine whether the identity is authorized to access the trusted system; and

access the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network and download wireless configuration information only if the received identity is authorized to access the trusted system.

22. The medium of claim 18 wherein the wireless configuration information comprises a connectivity parameter.

23. The medium of claim 18 wherein the identity comprises a user identity.

24. The medium of claim 18 wherein the identity comprises a network identity.

25. The medium of claim 18 wherein the one or more code segments are further configured to generate the wireless configuration information based on the identity.

26. The medium of claim 18 wherein the one or more code segments are further configured to store the generated wireless configuration information.

27. The medium of claim 18 wherein the first wireless local area network and the second wireless local area network are available for wireless connectivity concurrently.

38. The medium of claim 18 wherein the trusted system comprises a system provided by an Internet service provider or a system provided by an Internet access provider.

39. The medium of claim 25 wherein the one or more code segments configured to generate the wireless configuration information comprise one or more code segments configured to generate a network identity.

28. A system for communicating wireless configuration information to a gateway for a wireless local area network, the system comprising a processor connected to a storage device and one or more input/output devices, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive, at a trusted system, wireless configuration information that is associated with a first gateway for a first wireless local area network and that is useful in configuring the first gateway to enable communications between the first gateway and one or more other devices over the first wireless local area network;

receive, at the trusted system, an indication that the wireless configuration information is associated with an identity associated with the first wireless local area network;

store, on the trusted system, the wireless configuration information and an indication that the wireless configuration information is associated with the identity;

receive a request from the identity associated with the first wireless local area network to communicate, to a second gateway for a second wireless local area network, wireless configuration information that is based on the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network;

in response to receiving the request from the identity and based on the received indication that the wireless configuration information is associated with the identity, access the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network; and

download wireless configuration information that is based on the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network to the second gateway for the second wireless local area network to configure the second gateway to enable communications between the second gateway and one or more other devices over the second wireless local area network.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the devices comprise wireless devices.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the processor configured to access the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network comprises a processor configured to use an identity received from a storage location that is remote to the devices.

31. The system of claim 28 wherein the processor is further configured to:

authenticate the request from the identity to determine whether the identity is authorized to access the trusted system; and

access the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless local area network and download the accessed wireless configuration information only if the received identity is authorized to access the trusted system.

32. The system of claim 28 wherein the wireless configuration information comprises a connectivity parameter.

33. The system of claim 28 wherein the identity comprises a user identity.

34. The system of claim 28 wherein the identity comprises a network identity.

35. The system of claim 28 wherein the processor is further configured to generate wireless configuration information based on the identity.

36. The system of claim 28 wherein the processor is further configured to store the generated wireless configuration information.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the first wireless local area network and the second wireless local area network are available for wireless connectivity concurrently.

40. The system of claim 28 wherein the trusted system comprises a system provided by an Internet service provider or a system provided by an Internet access provider.

41. The system of claim 35 wherein the processor configured to generate wireless configuration information comprises a processor configured to generate a network identity.

42. A method comprising:

receiving, at a trusted system, an indication of an identity associated with a user of a device and an indication of a location of the device;

maintaining, on the trusted system, wireless configuration information for a first wireless local area network located at a first location, wherein the wireless configuration information for the first wireless local area network is associated with the identity and useful in configuring the device to enable communications between the device and the first wireless local area network;

maintaining, on the trusted system, wireless configuration information for a second wireless local area network located at a second location, wherein the wireless configuration information for the second wireless local area network is associated with the identity and is useful in configuring the device to enable communications between the device and the second wireless local area network;

analyzing the received indication of the location of the device to determine whether the received indication of the location of the device is related to the first location or the second location;

based on analyzing the received indication of the location of the device, determining if the received indication of the location of the device is related to the first location or the second location;

selecting appropriate wireless configuration information for the device from among the wireless configuration information for the first wireless local area network and the wireless configuration information for the second wireless local area network based on the received indication of the location of the device, the wireless configuration information for the first wireless local area network being selected based on a determination that the received indication of the location of the device is related to the first location, and the wireless configuration information for the second wireless local area network being selected based on a determination that the received indication of the location of the device is related to the second location; and

downloading the appropriate wireless configuration information to the device.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the indication of the location of the device identifies a physical location, the first and second locations are physical locations, and the first and second locations are different.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein the device comprises a wireless device.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

authenticating the received indication of the identity to determine whether the identity is authorized to access the trusted system; and

analyzing the received indication of the location and selecting appropriate wireless configuration information for the device only if the received identity is authorized to access the trusted system.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the trusted system comprises a system provided by an Internet service provider or a system provided by an Internet access provider.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein the wireless configuration information for the first wireless local area network comprises a connectivity parameter, and the wireless configuration information for the second wireless local area network comprises a different connectivity parameter.

48. The method of claim 42 wherein the identity comprises a user identity.

49. The method of claim 42 wherein the identity comprises a network identity.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the network identity comprises one or more of a network name, a service set identifier, a media access control address, or a network address.

51. The method of claim 42 wherein the trusted system comprises a system provided by an Internet service provider or a system provided by an Internet access provider.

52. A computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program configured to configure a wireless network, the medium comprising one or more code segments configured to:

receive, at a trusted system, an indication of an identity associated with a user of a device and an indication of a location of the device;

maintain, on the trusted system, wireless configuration information for a first wireless local area network located at a first location, wherein the configuration information for the first wireless local area network is associated with the identity and useful in configuring the device to enable communications between the device and the first wireless local area network;

maintain, on the trusted system, wireless configuration information for a second wireless local area network located at a second location, wherein the wireless configuration information for the second wireless local area network is associated with the identity and is useful in configuring the device to enable communications between the device and the second wireless local network;

analyze the received indication of the location of the device to determine whether the received indication of the location of the device is related to the first location or the second location;

determine, based on analyzing the received indication of the location of the device, if the received indication of the location of the device is related to the first location or the second location;

select appropriate wireless configuration information for the device from among the wireless configuration information for the first wireless local area network and the wireless configuration information for the second wireless local area network based on the received indication of the location of the device, the wireless configuration information for the first wireless local area network being selected based on a determination that the received indication of the location of the device is related to the first location, and the wireless configuration information for the second wireless local area network being selected based on a determination that the received indication of the location of the device is related to the second location; and

download the appropriate wireless configuration information to the device.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 52 wherein the device comprises a wireless device.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 52 wherein the one or more code segments are further configured to:

authenticate the received indication of the identity to determine whether the identity is authorized to access the trusted system; and

analyze the received indication of the location and select appropriate wireless configuration information for the device only if the received identity is authorized to access the trusted system.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 55 wherein the trusted system comprises a system provided by an Internet service provider or a system provided by an Internet access provider.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 52 wherein the wireless configuration information for the first wireless network comprises a connectivity parameter, and the wireless configuration information for the second wireless network comprises a different connectivity parameter.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 52 wherein the identity comprises a user identity.

59. The computer readable medium of claim 52 wherein the identity comprises a network identity.

60. The computer readable medium of claim 59 wherein the network identity comprises one or more of a network name, a service set identifier, a media access control address, or a network address.

61. The computer readable medium of claim 52 wherein the trusted system comprises a system provided by an Internet service provider or a system provided by an Internet access provider.

53. The computer readable medium of 52 wherein the indication of the location of the device identifies a physical location, the first and second locations are physical locations, and the first and second locations are different.

62. A system comprising a processor connected to a storage device and one or more input/output devices, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive, at a trusted system, an indication of an identity associated with a user of a device and an indication of a location of the device;

maintain, on the trusted system, wireless configuration information for a first wireless local area network located at a first location, wherein the configuration information for the first wireless local area network is associated with the identity and useful in configuring the device to enable communications between the device and the first wireless local area network;

maintain, on the trusted system, wireless configuration information for a second wireless local area network located at a second location, wherein the wireless configuration information for the second wireless local area network is associated with the identity and is useful in configuring the device to enable communications between the device and the second wireless local network;

analyze the received indication of the location of the device to determine whether the received indication of the location of the device is related to the first location or the second location;

determine, based on analyzing the received indication of the location of the device, if the received indication of the location of the device is related to the first location or the second location;

select appropriate wireless configuration information for the device from among the wireless configuration information for the first wireless local area network and the wireless configuration information for the second wireless local area network based on the received indication of the location of the device, the wireless configuration information for the first wireless local area network being selected based on a determination that the received indication of the location of the device is related to the first location, and the wireless configuration information for the second wireless local area network being selected based on a determination that the received indication of the location of the device is related to the second location; and

download the appropriate wireless configuration information to the device.

64. The system of claim 62 wherein the device comprises a wireless device.

65. The system of claim 62 wherein the processor is further configured to:

authenticate the received indication of the identity to determine whether the identity is authorized to access the trusted system; and

analyze the received indication of the location and select appropriate wireless configuration information for the device only if the received identity is authorized to access the trusted system.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein the trusted system comprises a system provided by an Internet service provider or a system provided by an Internet access provider.

67. The system of claim 62 wherein the wireless configuration information for the first wireless network comprises a connectivity parameter, and the wireless configuration information for the second wireless network comprises a different connectivity parameter.

68. The system of claim 62 wherein the identity comprises a user identity.

69. The system of claim 62 wherein the identity comprises a network identity.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein the network identity comprises one or more of a network name, a service set identifier, a media access control address, or a network address.

71. The system of claim 62 wherein the trusted system comprises a system provided by an Internet service provider or a system provided by an Internet access provider.

63. The system of 62 wherein the indication of the location of the device identifies a physical location, the first and second locations are physical locations, and the first and second locations are different.

74. A method for communicating wireless configuration information to a gateway for a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a trusted system, wireless configuration information that is associated with a first gateway for a first wireless network and that is useful in configuring the first gateway to enable communications between the first gateway and one or more other devices over the first wireless network;

receiving, at the trusted system, an indication that the wireless configuration information is associated with an identity associated with the first wireless network;

storing, on the trusted system, the wireless configuration information and an indication that the wireless configuration information is associated with the identity;

receiving a request from the identity associated with the first wireless network to communicate, to a second gateway for a second wireless network, wireless configuration information that is based on the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless network;

in response to receiving the request from the identity and based on the received indication that the wireless configuration information is associated with the identity, accessing the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless network; and

downloading wireless configuration information that is based on the wireless configuration information stored on the trusted system and associated with the first gateway for the first wireless network to the second gateway for the second wireless network to configure the second gateway to enable communications between the second gateway and one or more other devices over the second wireless network.

75. A method comprising:

receiving, at a trusted system, an indication of an identity associated with a user of a device and an indication of a location of the device;

maintaining, on the trusted system, wireless configuration information for a first wireless network located at a first location, wherein the wireless configuration information for the first wireless network is associated with the identity and useful in configuring the device to enable communications between the device and the first wireless network;

maintaining, on the trusted system, wireless configuration information for a second wireless network located at a second location, wherein the wireless configuration information for the second wireless network is associated with the identity and is useful in configuring the device to enable communications between the device and the second wireless network;

analyzing the received indication of the location of the device to determine whether the received indication of the location of the device is related to the first location or the second location;

based on analyzing the received indication of the location of the device, determining if the received indication of the location of the device is related to the first location or the second location;

selecting appropriate wireless configuration information for the device from among the wireless configuration information for the first wireless network and the wireless configuration information for the second wireless network based on the received indication of the location of the device, the wireless configuration information for the first wireless network being selected based on a determination that the received indication of the location of the device is related to the first location, and the wireless configuration information for the second wireless being selected based on a determination that the received indication of the location of the device is related to the second location; and

downloading the appropriate wireless configuration information to the device.