Provisioning of wireless connectivity for devices using NFC

• US 8,494,502 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Abel, Miller T., Guday, Shai, Nick, Benjamin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US13/459,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/432.2, 455/466, 455/411, 455/433, 455/436, 709/246, 370/259, 370/260, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates connecting a wireless device to a secure network. A device can establish a near field communication link with a verified device on a network, wherein the near field communication link can be a secure and/or encrypted link to provision the device without comprising security constraints within the network. An installation component can invoke the transfer of provisioning data to the network via the near filed communication link to secure a wireless connection for the device to the network.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates connecting to a wireless network via a verified device that is provisioned to operate on the wireless network via a first wireless connection that is not a near field communication link, comprising:

a wireless device that establishes a near field communication link with the verified device; and

an installation component that invokes an exchange of provisioning data between the device and the verified device via the near field communication link and uses the provisioning data to establish a second wireless connection distinct from the near field communication link between the device and the verified device whereby the device may communicate with the wireless network via said second wireless connection.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the provisioning data includes installation protocols, authentication protocols, data related to acquiring a connection with the wireless network, device configuration data, and/or device related data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the provisioning data is employed by the installation component to authenticate the device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is at least one of the following:

a computer;

a network;

a keyboard;

a speaker;

a mouse;

a monitor;

a headset;

a pair of headphones;

a remote;

a router;

an access point;

a printer;

a hard drive;

a modem;

a phone;

a cellular communication device;

a portable digital assistant (PDA); and

a microphone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second wireless connection is at least one of a wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth™

, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), and ultra-wideband (UWB).

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device and/or the verified device include sensors that enables the wireless device and/or verified device to detect each other as being in sufficient proximity of each other to establish said near field communication link.

7. A method that facilitates connecting a wireless device to a wireless network, comprising:

a processor executing instructions to establish a near field communication link between the wireless device and a verified device on the wireless network, wherein the verified device is provisioned to operate on the wireless network via a first wireless connection that is different from the near field communication link;

the processor executing instructions to securely exchange provisioning data between the wireless device and the verified device across the near field communication link; and

the processor executing instructions to establish a second wireless connection distinct from the near field communication link between the wireless device and the verified device using said provisioning data, whereby the wireless device may communicate with the wireless network via said second wireless connection.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

authenticating the wireless device using the provisioning data.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

implementing a security technique to ensure valid use of the near field communication link by the wireless device; and

determining an efficient wireless connection for the wireless device to utilize on the wireless network.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless device and/or verified device detect each other as being in sufficient proximity of each other to establish said near field communication link.

11. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that when executed by a processor facilitates the connection of a wireless device to a wireless network, said instructions, when executed, causing said processor to perform the following steps:

establish a near field communication link between the wireless device and a verified device on the wireless network, wherein the verified device is provisioned to operate on the wireless network via a first wireless connection that is different from the near field communication link;

securely exchange provisioning data between the wireless device and the verified device across the near field communication link; and

establish a second wireless connection distinct from the near field communication link between the wireless device and the verified device using the provisioning data, whereby the wireless device may communicate with the wireless network via said second wireless connection.

12. A medium as in claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause said processor to authenticate the wireless device using the provisioning data.

13. The medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause said processor to:

implement a security technique to ensure valid use of the near field communication link by the wireless device; and

determine an efficient wireless connection for the wireless device to utilize on the wireless network.

14. The medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the wireless device and/or verified device to detect each other as being in sufficient proximity of each other to establish said near field communication link.