Device for updating configuration information in a wireless network

• US 7,885,687 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Sanderson, Rian D., Serceki, Zeljko John
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/923,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20080049740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 455/558, 455/557, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0846 based on copy from other elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• 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: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

In one aspect, a digital device comprises a wireless station, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to detect a coupling of a flash device to the USB port and obtain wireless network configuration information from the flash device. The wireless network configuration information comprises a network name and a security key for a wireless communications network. The processor is further configured to store the wireless network configuration information in the memory, configure the wireless station using the wireless network configuration information, and connect the wireless station to the wireless communications network based on the wireless network configuration information.

Claims

1. A digital device comprising:

a wireless station;

a universal serial bus (USB) port;

a memory; and

a processor configured to

detect a coupling of a flash device to the USB port,

verify that the wireless station is a desired recipient of wireless network configuration information,

initiate a downloading of the wireless network configuration information from the flash device to the wireless station if the wireless station is the desired recipient of the configuration information,

prevent the downloading of the wireless network configuration information from the flash device if the wireless station is not the desired recipient of the configuration information,

wherein the wireless network configuration information comprises a network name and a security key for a wireless communications network,

store the wireless network configuration information in the memory,

configure the wireless station using the wireless network configuration information, and

connect the wireless station to the wireless communications network based on the wireless network configuration information.

2. The digital device of claim 1, wherein the digital device is a computer.

3. The digital device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications network is an 802.11 wireless network.

4. The digital device of claim 1, wherein the security key is a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key.

5. The digital device of claim 1, wherein the wireless station is integrated inside the digital device.

6. A digital device comprising:

a wireless station;

a universal serial bus (USB) port;

a processor; and

memory having stored therein computer code executable by the processor, the computer code comprising

instructions for detecting a coupling of a flash device to the USB port,

instructions for obtaining, in response to the detecting, wireless network configuration information from the flash device, wherein the wireless network configuration information comprises a network name and a security key for a wireless communications network,

instructions for verifying that the wireless station is a desired recipient of wireless network configuration information,

instructions for initiating a downloading of the wireless network configuration information from the flash device to the wireless station if the wireless station is the desired recipient of the configuration information,

instructions for preventing the downloading of the wireless network configuration information from the flash device if the wireless station is not the desired recipient of the configuration information,

instructions for storing the wireless network configuration information,

instructions for configuring the wireless station using the wireless network configuration information, and

instructions for connecting the wireless station to the wireless communications network based on the wireless network configuration information.

7. The digital device of claim 6, wherein the digital device is a computer.

8. The digital device of claim 6, wherein the wireless communications network is an 802.11 wireless network.

9. The digital device of claim 6, wherein the security key is a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key.

10. The digital device of claim 6, wherein the wireless station is integrated inside the digital device.

11. A digital device comprising:

a universal serial bus (USB) port configured to couple to a flash device;

a memory; and

a processor configured to

determine wireless network configuration information, including a network name and a security key, for a wireless communications network,

store the wireless network configuration information in the memory,

detect a coupling of the flash device to the USB port,

verify that the flash device is a desired recipient of wireless network configuration information,

download the wireless network configuration information to the flash device if the flash device is the desired recipient of the configuration information,

prevent the downloading of the wireless network configuration information from the flash device if the wireless station is not the desired recipient of the configuration information, and

detect a decoupling of the flash device from the USB port.

12. The digital device of claim 11, wherein the digital device is a computer.

13. The digital device of claim 11, wherein the wireless communications network is an 802.11 wireless network.

14. The digital device of claim 11, wherein the security key is a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key.

15. The digital device of claim 11, further comprising a wireless station configured to connect to the wireless communications network.

16. A digital device comprising:

a wireless station configured with initial wireless network configuration information, including an initial network name and an initial security key;

a universal serial bus (USB) port;

a memory storing the initial wireless network configuration information; and

a processor configured to

detect a coupling of a flash device to the USB port,

verify that the wireless station is a desired recipient of updated wireless network configuration information from the flash device,

initiate a downloading of the updated wireless network configuration information from the flash device if the wireless station is the desired recipient of the configuration information,

prevent the downloading of the updated wireless network configuration information from the flash device if the wireless station is not the desired recipient of the configuration information,

wherein the updated wireless network configuration information comprises an updated network name and an updated security key for a wireless communications network,

store the updated wireless network configuration information in the memory,

reconfigure the wireless station using the updated wireless network configuration information, and

connect the wireless station to the wireless communications network based on the updated wireless network configuration information.

17. The digital device of claim 16, wherein the digital device is a computer.

18. The digital device of claim 16, wherein the wireless communications network is an 802.11 wireless network.

19. The digital device of claim 16, wherein the initial security key and the updated security key are wired equivalent privacy (WEP) keys.

20. The digital device of claim 16, wherein the initial security key and the updated security key are different.