Method and system for automatic registration security

• US 7,653,036 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cohen, David Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost; Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, PIERRE LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US11/207,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20060039339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/328, 370/437, 380/277, 455/435.1, 455/433, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/432.1
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/73 Access point logical identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for automatic registration security are presented, and may comprise registering a client station with an access point without requiring a user to enter configuration information at the access point and at the client station. The method may comprise activating a button at an access point and activating a button at a client station to effectuate the registering. Aspects of a system for enabling communication of information in a secure communications network may comprise an access point that registers a client station without requiring a user to enter configuration information at the access point and at the client station. The system may comprise a button that is activated at an access point, and a button that is activated at a client station.

Claims

1. A method for enabling communication of information in a secure communication system, the method comprising:

activating a button located at an access point device;

determining an activation time duration for said button activating;

configuring said access point device in an open registration state at an open registration start time instant when said activation time duration is less than a network reset time duration, wherein a time duration for remaining in said open registration state is determined based on an open registration time duration;

receiving a registration request from a client station device;

determining whether said access point is in said open registration state upon receipt of said registration request;

registering a client station device in a network in response to said registration request when said access point is in said open registration state; and

configuring said access point in a registration closed state at a registration end time instant, wherein said registration end time instant is determined based on said registration start time instant and said open registration time duration.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said button Comprises a hardware button and/or a software enabled button.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating a preshared key and/or a service set identifier in response to said button activating.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said activation time duration for said button activating is less than said network reset time duration.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said button activating is preceded by a preceding button activation, wherein an activation time duration for said preceding button activation is not less than said network reset time duration.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising cancelling said registration request and/or one or more previously established client station device registrations when said activation time duration is not less than said network reset time duration.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising generating a preshared key and/or service set identifier subsequent to said cancelling.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising rejecting said registration request when said registration request is received at a time instant subsequent to said registration end time instant.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising rejecting subsequent registration requests received during a remainder of said open registration state.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuring said access point device with one or more values for a corresponding one or more of said network reset time duration, said open registration time duration, a preshared key and/or a service set identifier.

11. A system for enabling communication of information in a secure communication system, the system comprising:

one or more circuits that are operable to respond to activation of a button located at an access point device;

said one or more circuits are operable to determine an activation time duration for said button activating;

said one or more circuits are operable to configure said access point device in an open registration state at an open registration start time instant when said activation time duration is less than a network reset time duration, wherein a time duration for remaining in said open registration state is determined based on an open registration time duration;

said one or more circuits are operable to receive a registration request from a client station device;

said one or more circuits are operable to determine whether said access point is in said open registration state upon receipt of said registration request;

said one or more circuits are operable to register a client station device in a network in response to said registration request when said access point is in said open registration state; and

said one or more circuits are operable to configure said access point in a registration closed state at a registration end time instant, wherein said registration end time instant is determined based on said registration start time instant and said open registration time duration.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said button comprises a hardware button and/or a software enabled button.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to generate a preshared key and/or a service set identifier in response to said button activating.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said activation time duration for said button activating is less than said network reset time duration.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said button activating is preceded by a preceding button activation, wherein an activation time duration for said preceding button activation is not less than said network reset time duration.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to cancel said registration request and/or one or more previously established client station device registrations when said activation time duration is not less than said network reset time duration.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to generate a preshared key and/or service set identifier subsequent to said cancelling.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to reject said registration request when said registration request is received at a time instant subsequent to said registration end time instant.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to reject subsequent registration requests received during a remainder of said open registration state.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to configure said access point device with one or more values for a corresponding one or more of said network reset time duration, said open registration time duration, a preshared key and/or a service set identifier.

21. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for enabling communication of information in a secure communication system, the at least one code section being executable by a computer for causing the computer to perform steps comprising:

activating a button located at an access point device;

determining an activation time duration for said button activating;

configuring said access point device in an open registration state at an open registration start time instant when said activation time duration is less than a network reset time duration, wherein a time duration for remaining in said open registration state is determined based on an open registration time duration;

receiving a registration request from a client station device;

determining whether said access point is in said open registration state upon receipt of said registration request;

registering a client station device in a network in response to said registration request when said access point is in said open registration state; and

configuring said access point in a registration closed state at a registration end time instant, wherein said registration end time instant is determined based on said registration start time instant and said open registration time duration.

22. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said button comprises a hardware button and/or a software enabled button.

23. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said at least one code section comprises code generating a preshared key and/or a service set identifier in response to said button activating.

24. The machine-readable storage according to claim 23, wherein said activation time duration for said button activating is less than said network reset time duration.

25. The machine-readable storage according to claim 24, wherein said button activating is preceded by a preceding button activation, wherein an activation time duration for said preceding button activation is not less than said network reset time duration.

26. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for cancelling said registration request and/or one or more previously established client station device registrations when said activation time duration is not less than said network reset time duration.

27. The machine-readable storage according to claim 26, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for generating a preshared key and/or service set identifier subsequent to said cancelling.

28. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for rejecting said registration request when said registration request is received at a time instant subsequent to said registration end time instant.

29. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said at least one cede section comprises code for rejecting subsequent registration requests received during a remainder of said open registration state.

30. The machine-readable storage according to claim 21, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for configuring said access point device with one or more values for a corresponding one or more of said network reset time duration, said open registration time duration, a preshared key and/or a service set identifier.