Method and apparatus for configuring a wireless device through reverse advertising
First Claim
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1. A method for using reverse advertising to configure a new wireless device to join an existing wireless network, comprising:
- broadcasting an advertisement for the new wireless device on a new wireless network, wherein the new wireless network is separate from the existing wireless network;
in response to the advertisement, receiving information from an existing wireless device that is on the existing wireless network that specifies how to join the existing wireless network, wherein receiving the information involves receiving the information from the existing wireless device on the new wireless network; and
using the information to configure the new wireless device to join the existing wireless network, wherein joining the existing wireless network comprises coupling the new wireless device directly to the existing wire network.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses reverse advertising to configure a new wireless device to join an existing wireless network. During operation, the new wireless device broadcasts an advertisement for itself. In response to the advertisement, the new wireless device receives information from an existing wireless device on the existing wireless network. This information specifies how to join the existing wireless network. Next, the new wireless device uses the information to configure itself to join the existing wireless network.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for using reverse advertising to configure a new wireless device to join an existing wireless network, comprising:
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broadcasting an advertisement for the new wireless device on a new wireless network, wherein the new wireless network is separate from the existing wireless network; in response to the advertisement, receiving information from an existing wireless device that is on the existing wireless network that specifies how to join the existing wireless network, wherein receiving the information involves receiving the information from the existing wireless device on the new wireless network; and using the information to configure the new wireless device to join the existing wireless network, wherein joining the existing wireless network comprises coupling the new wireless device directly to the existing wire network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for using reverse advertising to configure a new wireless device to join an existing wireless network, comprising:
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at an existing wireless device on the existing wireless network, receiving an advertisement from the new wireless device on a new wireless network, wherein the new wireless network is separate from the existing wireless network; in response to the advertisement, sending information to the new wireless device specifying how to join the existing wireless network, wherein sending the information involves sending the information to the new wireless device on the new wireless network; and upon receiving a request from the new wireless device to join the existing wireless network, allowing the new wireless device to join the existing wireless network, wherein allowing the new wireless device to join the existing wireless network comprises allowing the new wireless device to couple directly to the existing wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for using reverse advertising to configure a new wireless device to join an existing wireless network, the method comprising:
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broadcasting an advertisement for the new wireless device on a new wireless network, wherein the new wireless network is separate from the existing wireless network; in response to the advertisement, receiving information from an existing wireless device that is on the existing wireless network that specifies how to join the existing wireless network, wherein receiving the information involves receiving the information from the existing wireless device on the new wireless network; and using the information to configure the new wireless device to join the existing wireless network, wherein joining the existing wireless network comprises coupling the new wireless device directly to the existing wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for using reverse advertising to configure a new wireless device to join an existing wireless network, the method comprising:
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at an existing wireless device on the existing wireless network, receiving an advertisement from the new wireless device on a new wireless network, wherein the new wireless network is separate from the existing wireless network; in response to the advertisement, sending information to the new wireless device specifying how to join the existing wireless network, wherein sending the information involves sending the information to the new wireless device on the new wireless network; and upon receiving a request from the new wireless device to join the existing wireless network, allowing the new wireless device to join the existing wireless network, wherein allowing the new wireless device to join the existing wireless network comprises allowing the new wireless device to couple directly to the existing wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus that uses reverse advertising to configure a new wireless device to join an existing wireless network, comprising:
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the new wireless device; a broadcasting mechanism within the new wireless device that is configured to broadcast an advertisement for the new wireless device on a new wireless network that is separate from the existing wireless network; a receiving mechanism within the new wireless device that is configured to receive information from an existing wireless device that is on the existing wireless network in response to the advertisement that specifies how to join the existing wireless network, wherein receiving the information involves receiving the information from the existing wireless device on the new wireless network; and a joining mechanism that is configured to use the information to join the existing wireless network, wherein joining the existing wireless network comprises coupling the new wireless device directly to the existing wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. The apparatus of 29, wherein the receiving mechanism is configured to perform a Diffie-Hellman key exchange to ensure that the encryption key is received securely.
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31. An apparatus that uses reverse advertising to configure a new wireless device to join an existing wireless network, comprising:
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an existing wireless device on the existing wireless network; a receiving mechanism within the existing wireless device that is configured to receive an advertisement from the new wireless device on a new wireless network, wherein the new wireless network is separate from the existing wireless network; an initialization mechanism within the existing wireless device, wherein in response to the advertisement, the initialization mechanism is configured to; send information to the new wireless device specifying how to join the existing wireless network, wherein sending the information involves sending the information to the new wireless device on the new wireless network, and upon receiving a request from the new wireless device to join the existing wireless network, allow the new wireless device to join the existing wireless network, wherein allowing the new wireless device to join the existing wireless network comprises allowing the new wireless device to couple directly to the existing wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification