Apparatus and method for secure configuration of shared medium devices
First Claim
1. A network adapter, comprising:
- an enrollment manager, configured to receive an activation command from an activation source and configured to emit an enrollment command in response thereto; and
a hardware adapter controller connected to the enrollment manager to receive the enrollment command and configured to manage an enrollment signal in response thereto,wherein the enrollment signal can be both an OUTBOUND enrollment signal or an INBOUND enrollment signal;
wherein each of the OUTBOUND enrollment signal and the INBOUND enrollment signal can be both an enrollment provider signal or an enrollment supplicant signal;
wherein the adapter controller transmits an OUTBOUND enrollment signal and receives an INBOUND enrollment signal;
wherein at least one of the enrollment manager and the adapter controller changes a network adapter configuration in accordance with an INBOUND enrollment signal; and
wherein the network adapter effectuates a secure communication across a shared medium network in response to the network adapter configuration.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An UNENROLLED adapter responds to an enrollment activation signal by generating an enrollment supplicant signal. The enrollment supplicant signal is received by an ENROLLED adapter, an enrollment provider, which responds by formulating and transmitting an enrollment provider signal, including security management service information, to the UNENROLLED adapter. The UNENROLLED adapter changes a network adapter configuration responsive to the security management service information provided by the ENROLLED adapter, by which the network adapter is configured securely, and secure communications are effectuated. Enrolled adapter can solicit enrollment of an UNENROLLED adapter. The activation signal can be a physical or virtual activation sequence.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A network adapter, comprising:
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an enrollment manager, configured to receive an activation command from an activation source and configured to emit an enrollment command in response thereto; and a hardware adapter controller connected to the enrollment manager to receive the enrollment command and configured to manage an enrollment signal in response thereto, wherein the enrollment signal can be both an OUTBOUND enrollment signal or an INBOUND enrollment signal; wherein each of the OUTBOUND enrollment signal and the INBOUND enrollment signal can be both an enrollment provider signal or an enrollment supplicant signal; wherein the adapter controller transmits an OUTBOUND enrollment signal and receives an INBOUND enrollment signal; wherein at least one of the enrollment manager and the adapter controller changes a network adapter configuration in accordance with an INBOUND enrollment signal; and wherein the network adapter effectuates a secure communication across a shared medium network in response to the network adapter configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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5. A method of configuring a network adapter, comprising:
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receiving by an enrollment manager of the network adapter an activation command from an enrolled network adapter the same as the network adapter; generating by the enrollment manager an enrollment supplicant signal in response to the activation command; managing by an adapter controller connected to the enrollment manager the enrollment supplicant signal; transmitting the enrollment supplicant signal to the enrolled network adapter; receiving an enrollment provider signal from the enrolled network adapter, wherein the enrollment provider signal includes a security management service information; and configuring a network adapter in conformance with the security management service information, wherein the network adapter responds to configuring the network adapter by communicating securely across a shared medium. - View Dependent Claims (6, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A network adapter, comprising:
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an enrollment manager, configured to receive an activation command from an activation source and configured to emit an enrollment command in response thereto; and a hardware adapter controller connected to the enrollment manager to receive the enrollment command and configured to manage an enrollment signal in response thereto, wherein the enrollment signal can be both an OUTBOUND enrollment signal or an INBOUND enrollment signal; wherein each of the OUTBOUND enrollment signal and the INBOUND enrollment signal can be both an enrollment provider signal or an enrollment supplicant signal; wherein the adapter controller transmits an OUTBOUND enrollment signal and receives an INBOUND enrollment signal; wherein at least one of the enrollment manager and the adapter controller changes an network adapter configuration in accordance with an INBOUND enrollment signal; wherein the network adapter effectuates a secure communication across a shared medium network in response to the network adapter configuration; and wherein the activation command is received by the enrollment manager from one of an actuator, a power state cycling signal, and activation input over a shared medium. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification