Configuring wireless devices

• US 7,986,938 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meenan, Patrick, Chiles, David Clyde
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US12/639,259
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

Techniques are provided for the configuration of a home-networking system. Home-networking configuration information may be stored on a host system in a manner accessible to the home-networking system and migrated to a home-networking gateway or router that has not yet been configured. Wireless configuration information may be stored on a home-networking gateway or router and used to configure one or more wireless access points through the use of a physical connection, such as a wired communications pathway. One or more wireless home-networking devices may be configured based on wireless configuration information stored in a central repository on a host system or a home-networking system. The wireless configuration information may be accessible only through the use of a security code.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a plurality of wireless devices using a home-networking gateway, the method comprising:

receiving, at the home-networking gateway, a first security code from a first wireless device;

accessing, by the home-networking gateway, a first trusted security code;

authenticating, by the home-networking gateway, the first security code using the first trusted security code;

accessing first wireless configuration information using the home-networking gateway and sending the first wireless configuration information to the first wireless device, whereby the first wireless device is configured based on the first wireless configuration information;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway, a second security code from a second wireless device;

accessing, by the home-networking gateway, a second trusted security code;

authenticating, by the home-networking gateway, the second security code using the second trusted security code; and

accessing second wireless configuration information using the home-networking gateway and sending the second wireless configuration information to the second wireless device, whereby the second wireless device is configured based on the second wireless configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first trusted security code is different from the second trusted security code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration information and the second configuration information comprise different configuration information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless configuration information and the second wireless configuration information are associated with the home-networking gateway.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless configuration information and the second wireless configuration information are associated with a single user profile.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the first wireless configuration information and accessing the second wireless configuration information comprises:

accessing a user profile, stored at a host system, associated with the home-networking gateway, wherein the user profile is associated with the first wireless configuration information and the second wireless configuration information; and

receiving the first wireless configuration information and the second wireless configuration information from the host system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless device is dynamically configured based on the accessed second wireless configuration information by changing an operational setting associated with the second wireless device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the operational setting associated with the second wireless device is a content filtering setting.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the operational setting associated with the second wireless device controls the periods of time during which the second wireless device may be operated.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the operational setting associated with the second wireless device indicates a name associated with a user of the second wireless device.

11. A home-networking gateway comprising one or more processors and one or more storage media storing a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions being executable by at least one processor for:

receiving, at the home-networking gateway, a first security code from a first wireless device;

accessing, by the home-networking gateway, a first trusted security code;

authenticating, by the home-networking gateway, the first security code using the first trusted security code;

accessing first wireless configuration information using the home-networking gateway and sending the first wireless configuration information to the first wireless device, whereby the first wireless device is configured based on the first wireless configuration information;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway, a second security code from a second wireless device;

accessing, by the home-networking gateway, a second trusted security code;

authenticating, by the home-networking gateway, the second security code using the second trusted security code; and

accessing second wireless configuration information using the home-networking gateway and sending the second wireless configuration information to the second wireless device, whereby the second wireless device is configured based on the second wireless configuration information.

12. The home-networking gateway of claim 11, wherein the first trusted security code is different from the second trusted security code.

13. The home-networking gateway of claim 11, wherein the first configuration information and the second configuration information comprise different configuration information.

14. The home-networking gateway of claim 11, wherein the first wireless configuration information and the second wireless configuration information are associated with the home-networking gateway.

15. The home-networking gateway of claim 11, wherein the first wireless configuration information and the second wireless configuration information are associated with a single user profile.

16. The home-networking gateway of claim 11, wherein accessing the first wireless configuration information and accessing the second wireless configuration information comprises:

accessing a user profile, stored at a host system, associated with the home-networking gateway, wherein the user profile is associated with the first wireless configuration information and the second wireless configuration information; and

receiving the first wireless configuration information and the second wireless configuration information from the host system.

17. The home-networking gateway of claim 11, wherein the second wireless device is dynamically configured based on the accessed second wireless configuration information by changing an operational setting associated with the second wireless device.

18. The home-networking gateway of claim 17, wherein the operational setting associated with the second wireless device is a content filtering setting.

19. The home-networking gateway of claim 17, wherein the operational setting associated with the second wireless device controls the periods of time during which the second wireless device may be operated.

20. The home-networking gateway of claim 17, wherein the operational setting associated with the second wireless device indicates a name associated with a user of the second wireless device.