Identity-based wireless device configuration

• US 7,916,707 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tarquin Consulting Company LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Fontaine, Jean-Emmanuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torres; Marcos L
• Application Number:
  US12/050,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20080216154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/328, 455/418, 455/419, 4554351-4353, 455/436.3, 455/426.1, 455410-411, 455/552.1, 455/560, 455/432.3, 709217-223, 717160-178
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 for a wireless network to a wireless device, the method comprising:

storing, on a trusted system, a collection of wireless network configuration information for different wireless networks, the collection of wireless network configuration information including;

first wireless network configuration information that corresponds to a first wireless network and that is useful for configuring devices to enable the devices to communicate wirelessly over the first wireless network, and

second wireless network configuration information that corresponds to a second wireless network and that is useful for configuring the devices to enable the devices to communicate wirelessly over the second wireless network;

storing, on the trusted system, an association between a first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information;

storing, on the trusted system, an association between a second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information;

receiving a first communication that is associated with the first user identity;

accessing, in response to receipt of the first communication and from storage on the trusted system, associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities, the accessed associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities including the stored association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information and the stored association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information;

determining that the first user identity is associated with the first communication;

based on determining that the first user identity is associated with the first communication and by leveraging the accessed association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information, identifying and communicating the first wireless network configuration information to a first wireless device;

receiving a second communication that is associated with the second user identity;

accessing, in response to receipt of the second communication and from storage on the trusted system, associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities, the accessed associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities including the stored association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information and the stored association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information;

determining that the second user identity is associated with the second communication; and

based on determining that the second user identity is associated with the second communication and by leveraging the accessed association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information, identifying and communicating the second wireless network configuration information to a second wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a first communication that is associated with the first user identity includes receiving the first communication from the first wireless device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving the first communication from the first wireless device includes receiving the first communication at the trusted system from the first wireless device over a wired connection between the first wireless device and the trusted system.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving the first communication from the first wireless device includes receiving the first communication at the trusted system from the first wireless device over a wireless connection between the first wireless device and the trusted system.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving a second communication that is associated with the second user identity includes receiving the second communication from the second wireless device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

receiving the first communication from the first wireless device includes receiving the first communication at the trusted system from the first wireless device over a wired connection between the first wireless device and the trusted system; and

receiving the second communication from the second wireless device includes receiving the second communication at the trusted system from the second wireless device over a wired connection between the second wireless device and the trusted system.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein:

receiving the first communication from the first wireless device includes receiving the first communication at the trusted system from the first wireless device over a wired connection between the first wireless device and the trusted system; and

receiving the second communication from the second wireless device includes receiving the second communication at the trusted system from the second wireless device over a wireless connection between the second wireless device and the trusted system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a first communication that is associated with the first user identity includes receiving a request that the first wireless network configuration information be communicated to the first wireless device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein receiving a second communication that is associated with the second user identity includes receiving a request that the second wireless network configuration information be communicated to the second wireless device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

receiving a first communication that is associated with the first user identity includes receiving a first communication that includes an indication that the first communication is associated with the first user identity; and

determining that the first user identity is associated with the first communication includes determining that the first user identity is associated with the first communication based on the first communication including the indication that the first communication is associated with the first user identity.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

receiving a second communication that is associated with the second user identity includes receiving a second communication that includes an indication that the second communication is associated with the second user identity; and

determining that the second user identity is associated with the second communication includes determining that the second user identity is associated with the second communication based on the second communication including the indication that the second communication is associated with the second user identity.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in response to receiving the first communication, prompting the first user identity for authentication information;

receiving authentication information from the first user identity;

verifying the received authentication information; and

communicating the first wireless network configuration information to the first wireless device only after successfully verifying the received authentication information, wherein determining that the first user identity is associated with the first communication includes determining that the first user identity is associated with the first communication based on the received authentication information.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

in response to receiving the second communication, prompting the second user identity for authentication information;

receiving authentication information from the second user identity;

verifying the received authentication information; and

communicating the second wireless network configuration information to the second wireless device only after successfully verifying the received authentication information, wherein determining that the second user identity is associated with the second communication includes determining that the second user identity is associated with the second communication based on the received authentication information.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first wireless network configuration information includes a connectivity parameter such that communicating the first wireless network configuration information to the first wireless device includes communicating the connectivity parameter to the first wireless device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the second wireless network configuration information includes a connectivity parameter such that communicating the second wireless network configuration information to the second wireless device includes communicating the connectivity parameter to the second wireless device.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the collection of wireless network configuration information on the trusted system includes storing the collection of wireless network configuration information on a trusted system that is physically distinct from both the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the collection of wireless network configuration information on the trusted system includes storing the collection of wireless network configuration information on a system provided by an Internet service provider or a system provided by an Internet access provider.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the first wireless network configuration information based on determining that the first user identity is associated with the first communication and by leveraging the accessed association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information includes:

determining that other wireless network configuration information stored on the trusted system is associated with the first user identity;

enabling the first user identity to select one of the first wireless network configuration information and the other wireless network configuration information as wireless network configuration information to be communicated to the first wireless device; and

receiving an indication of a selection by the first user identity of the first wireless network configuration information as the wireless network configuration information to be communicated to the first wireless device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein identifying the second wireless network configuration information based on determining that the second user identity is associated with the second communication and by leveraging the accessed association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information includes:

determining that other wireless network configuration information stored on the trusted system is associated with the second user identity;

enabling the second user identity to select one of the second wireless network configuration information and the other wireless network configuration information as wireless network configuration information to be communicated to the second wireless device; and

receiving an indication of a selection by the second user identity of the second wireless network configuration information as the wireless network configuration information to be communicated to the second wireless device.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program including instructions that cause a computing device to:

store, on the computing device, a collection of wireless network configuration information for different wireless networks, the collection of wireless network configuration information including;

first wireless network configuration information that corresponds to a first wireless network and that is useful for configuring wireless devices to enable the wireless devices to communicate wirelessly over the first wireless network; and

second wireless network configuration information that corresponds to a second wireless network and that is useful for configuring the wireless devices to enable the wireless devices to communicate wirelessly over the second wireless network;

store, on the computing device, an association between a first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information;

store, on the computing device, an association between a second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information;

receive a first communication that is associated with the user identity;

access, in response to receipt of the first communication and from storage on the computing device, associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities, the accessed associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities including the stored association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information and the stored association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information;

determine that the first user identity is associated with the first communication;

based on determining that the first user identity is associated with the first communication and by leveraging the accessed association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information, identify and communicate the first wireless network configuration information to a first wireless device;

receive a second communication that is associated with the second user identity;

access, in response to receipt of the second communication and from storage on the computing device, associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities, the accessed associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities including the stored association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information and the stored association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information;

determine that the second user identity is associated with the second communication; and

based on determining that the second user identity is associated with the second communication and by leveraging the accessed association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information, identify and communicate the second wireless network configuration information to a second wireless device.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the instructions that cause the computing device to receive the first communication includes instructions that cause the computing device to receive a request that the first wireless network configuration information be communicated to the first wireless device.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the instructions that cause the computing device to receive the first communication includes instructions that cause the computing device to receive an indication that the first communication is associated with the first user identity;

and

wherein the instructions that cause the computing device to determine that the first user identity is associated with the first communication includes instructions that determine that the first user identity is associated with the first communication based on the indication that the first communication is associated with the first user identity.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the computer program includes further instructions that cause the computing device to:

in response to receiving the first communication, prompt the first user identity for authentication information;

receive authentication information from the first user identity;

verify the received authentication information; and

communicate the first wireless network configuration information to the first wireless device after verification of the received authentication information, wherein the determination that the first user identity is associated with the first communication is based on the received authentication information.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the computer program includes further instructions that cause the computing device to:

determine that other stored wireless network configuration information is associated with the first user identity; and

receive an indication of a selection of the first wireless network configuration information or of the other wireless network configuration as the wireless network configuration information to be communicated to the first wireless device.

25. A system for communicating wireless configuration information for a wireless network to a wireless device, the system comprising:

at least one processing element; and

a data storage system storing;

a collection of wireless network configuration information for different wireless networks, the collection of wireless network configuration information including;

first wireless network configuration information that corresponds to a first wireless network and that is useful for configuring wireless devices to enable the wireless devices to communicate wirelessly over the first wireless network; and

second wireless network configuration information that corresponds to a second wireless network and that is useful for configuring the wireless devices to enable the wireless devices to communicate wirelessly over the second wireless network;

an association between a first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information; and

an association between a second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information; and

instructions that cause the at least one processing element to;

receive a first communication that is associated with the first user identity;

access, in response to receipt of the first communication and from the data storage system, associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities, the accessed associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities including the stored association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information and the stored association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information;

determine that the first user identity is associated with the first communication;

based on determining that the first user identity is associated with the first communication and by leveraging the accessed association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information, identify and communicate the first wireless network configuration information to a first wireless device;

receive a second communication that is associated with the second user identity;

access, in response to receipt of the second communication and from the data storage system, associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities, the accessed associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities including the stored association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information and the stored association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information;

determine that the second user identity is associated with the second communication; and

based on determining that the second user identity is associated with the second communication and by leveraging the accessed association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information, identify and communicate the second wireless network configuration information to a second wireless device.

26. A system for communicating wireless configuration information for a wireless network to a wireless device, comprising:

means for storing data, the data including;

a collection of wireless network configuration information for different wireless networks, the collection of wireless network configuration information including;

first wireless network configuration information that corresponds to a first wireless network and that is useful for configuring wireless devices to enable the wireless devices to communicate wirelessly over the first wireless network; and

second wireless network configuration information that corresponds to a second wireless network and that is useful for configuring the wireless devices to enable the wireless devices to communicate wirelessly over the second wireless network;

an association between a first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information; and

an association between a second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information;

means for receiving a first communication that is associated with the first user identity;

means for accessing, in response to receipt of the first communication and from the means for storing data, associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities, the accessed associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities including the stored association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information and the stored association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information;

means for determining that the first user identity is associated with the first communication;

means for identifying and communicating the first wireless network configuration information to a first wireless device based on a determination that the first user identity is associated with the first communication and by leveraging the accessed association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information;

means for receiving a second communication that is associated with the second user identity;

means for accessing, in response to receipt of the second communication and from the data storage system, associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities, the accessed associations between wireless network configuration information and user identities including the stored association between the first user identity and the first wireless network configuration information and the stored association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information;

means for determining that the second user identity is associated with the second communication; and

means for identifying and communicating the second wireless network configuration information to a second wireless device based on a determination that the second user identity is associated with the second communication and by leveraging the accessed association between the second user identity and the second wireless network configuration information.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

means for determining that another stored wireless network configuration information is associated with the first user identity; and

means for receiving an indication of whether the first wireless network configuration information or the other wireless network configuration is to be communicated to the first wireless device.