Secure changing auto-generated keys for wireless access

• US 8,484,707 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2011
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Bertz, Lyle T., Delker, Jason R., Burcham, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAHI, SHAN E
• Application Number:
  US13/156,438
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 726/6, 726/5, 726/18, 726/20
• US Class Current: 726/6
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

A method for granting secure network access comprising requesting, by a mobile device, access to a network via an access point; receiving a passcode from the access point; sending a message including the passcode and an indicia back to the access point; and generating, by the access point, a secure key based on the indicia, the secure key providing network access to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for granting network access comprising:

receiving, by an automobile access point that comprises a computer processor, a request to access a network via the automobile access point from a mobile device;

generating, by the automobile access point, a passcode;

sending, by the automobile access point, the passcode to the mobile device;

receiving, by the automobile access point, a message from the mobile device, wherein the message includes the passcode and a media access control address of the mobile device;

receiving, by the automobile access point, an input parameter from an automobile access point operator, wherein the input parameter designates one or more rules for a secure key, and wherein the one or more rules are based on at least a number of access attempts by the mobile device; and

generating, by the automobile access point, the secure key based on the media access control address of the mobile device and the input parameter in response to receiving the message, wherein the secure key provides network access to the mobile device according to the one or more rules.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the passcode is one of a secret word, a password, and a string of alphanumeric characters.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request from a mobile device is initiated by opening a web browser in the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the passcode comprises sending one or more of an email, a short messaging service message, a visual display, and an audible communication.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point retains the secure key based on the one or more rules.

6. A system for managing network access rules comprising:

an automobile access point comprising a computer processor that;

receives a request from a mobile device to access a network via the automobile access point,

generates a passcode,

sends the passcode to the mobile device,

receives a reply from the mobile device, wherein the reply includes the passcode and a media access control address of the mobile device,

receives an input parameter from an automobile access point operator, wherein the input parameter designates one or more rules for a secure key, and wherein the one or more rules are based on at least a number of access attempts by the mobile device, and

generates the secure key based on the media access control address of the mobile device and the input parameter in response to receiving the reply, wherein the secure key provides network access to the mobile device according to the one or more rules; and

a rules engine configured to determine network access to the mobile device based on the one or more rules.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the passcode is one of a secret word, a password, and a string of alphanumeric characters.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the request from the mobile device is initiated by requesting, by opening a web browser in the mobile device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein sending the passcode comprises sending one or more of an email, a short messaging service message, a visual display, and an audible communication.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the access point retains the secure key based on the one or more rules.

11. A method for charging for network access comprising:

receiving, by an automobile access point that comprises a computer processor, a request to access a network via the automobile access point from a mobile device;

generating, by the automobile access point, a passcode;

sending, by the automobile access point, the passcode to the mobile device;

receiving, by the automobile access point, a message from the mobile device, wherein the message includes the passcode and a media access control address of the mobile device;

receiving, by the automobile access point, an input parameter from an automobile access point operator, wherein the input parameter designates one or more rules for a secure key, and wherein the one or more rules are based on at least a number of access attempts by the mobile device;

generating, by the automobile access point, the secure key based on the media access control address of the mobile device and the input parameter in response to receiving the message, wherein the secure key provides network access to the mobile device via the automobile access point according to the one or more rules; and

logging, by the automobile access point, the network access as a chargeable event.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the chargeable event is based on one or more of an attempt to access a network and a connection time.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the secure key is managed by a rules engine.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the request from the mobile device is initiated by opening a web browser in the mobile device.