Automatic wireless network device configuration

• US 7,940,732 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beck, Kelli Cates, Lowry, Sadie
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brandt; Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US11/624,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20080175187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/338, 370/901, 370/902, 370/908, 370/912, 370/913, 370/915, 455/412.1, 455/414.2, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/421, 455/435.1, 455/446, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A portable wireless configuration device, such as a key fob, is provided which executes an application program to configure a wireless client device to connect to a secured wireless network via an access point. The wireless client device may be unconnected to and remote from the access point. A request signal is transmitted from the wireless configuration device to the access point in response to detecting a user input on the wireless configuration device. The request signal includes a request for network connectivity settings associated with the secured wireless network. The wireless configuration device receives and then stores the network connectivity settings from the access point. The wireless configuration device then transmits the settings to the wireless client device to be configured.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a wireless client device to connect to a secured wireless network, comprising:

detecting at least one user input on a wireless configuration device;

in response to detecting the at least one user input, transmitting a request signal from the wireless configuration device to an access point for network connectivity settings associated with the secured wireless network;

receiving the network connectivity settings from the access point on the wireless configuration device;

generating a first confirmation signal in response to receiving the network connectivity settings from the access point;

in response to detecting the at least one user input, transmitting the network connectivity settings from the wireless configuration device to the wireless client device, the wireless client device being unconnected to and remote from the access point upon receiving the network connectivity settings; and

generating a second confirmation signal in response to transmitting the network connectivity settings to the wireless client device;

wherein generating a first confirmation signal and a second confirmation signal comprises generating at least one of a visual alert and an audible alert.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the received network connectivity settings on the wireless configuration device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a current proximity to the access point, wherein if the proximity is outside of a predetermined distance, then inhibiting the transmission of the request signal and inhibiting the transmission of the network connectivity settings to the wireless client device in response to detecting the at least one user input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the request signal comprises transmitting at least one of a wireline and a wireless signal in a format including at least one of a cellular network signal format, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, BLUETOOTH, DECT, and USB.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the network connectivity settings from the access point on the wireless configuration device comprises receiving at least one of a service set identifier, wireless network encryption data, a dynamic host configuration protocol setting, a static Internet Protocol address, a domain name server address setting, and media access control filtering data.

6. An apparatus for configuring a wireless client device to connect to a secured wireless network, comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a request signal to an access point for network connectivity settings associated with the secured wireless network in response to detecting at least one user input and for transmitting the network connectivity settings to the wireless client device in response to detecting the at least one user input, the wireless client device being unconnected to and remote from the access point upon receiving the network connectivity settings;

a receiver for receiving the network connectivity settings from the access point;

a processor, in communication with the transmitter and the receiver, for executing instructions to format the request signal prior to transmission to the access point, transmit the request signal to the access point, and transmit the network connectivity settings to the wireless client device; and

an alert generator, in communication with the transmitter and the receiver, for generating an alert in response to receiving the network connectivity settings from the access point and in response to transmitting the network connectivity settings to the wireless client device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

a storage for storing the network connectivity settings received by the receiver; and

a proximity detector, in communication with the processor, for determining a current proximity to the access point, wherein if the proximity is outside of a predetermined distance, the processor executes instructions to inhibit the transmitter from transmitting the request signal and from transmitting the network connectivity settings to the wireless client device in response to the at least one user input.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the alert generator comprises a light emitting diode for generating a visual alert in response to receiving the network connectivity settings from the access point and in response to transmitting the network connectivity settings to the wireless client device.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the alert generator comprises a speaker for generating an audible alert in response to receiving the network connectivity settings from the access point and in response to transmitting the network connectivity settings to the wireless client device.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the request signal comprises at least one of a wireline and a wireless signal in a format including at least one of a cellular network signal format, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, BLUETOOTH, DECT, and USB.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the network connectivity settings associated with the secured wireless network comprises at least one of a service set identifier, wireless network encryption data, a dynamic host configuration protocol setting, a static Internet Protocol address, a domain name server address setting, and media access control filtering data.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having executable instructions, which, when executed on a wireless configuration device, will cause the wireless configuration device to perform a method for configuring a wireless client device to connect to a secured wireless network, the method comprising:

detecting at least one user input on the wireless configuration device;

in response to detecting the at least one user input, transmitting a request signal from the wireless configuration device to an access point for network connectivity settings associated with the secured wireless network;

receiving the network connectivity settings from the access point on the wireless configuration device;

generating a first confirmation signal in response to receiving the network connectivity settings from the access point;

storing the received network connectivity settings on the wireless configuration device;

in response to detecting the at least one user input, transmitting the network connectivity settings from the wireless configuration device to the wireless client device, the wireless client device being unconnected to and remote from the access point upon receiving the network connectivity settings; and

generating a second confirmation signal in response to transmitting the network connectivity settings to the wireless client device;

wherein generating a first confirmation signal and a second confirmation signal comprises generating at least one of a visual alert and an audible alert.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 further comprising determining a current proximity to the access point, wherein if the proximity is outside of a predetermined distance, then inhibiting the transmission of the request signal and inhibiting the transmission of the network connectivity settings to the wireless client device in response to detecting the at least one user input.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein transmitting the request signal comprises transmitting at least one of a wireline and a wireless signal in a format including at least one of a cellular network signal format, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, BLUETOOTH, DECT, and USB.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein receiving the network connectivity settings from the access point on the wireless configuration device comprises receiving at least one of a service set identifier, wireless network encryption data, a dynamic host configuration protocol setting, a static Internet Protocol address, a domain name server address setting, and media access control filtering data.