Systems and methods for implementing ad hoc wireless networking

• US 8,531,989 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2011
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Radhakrishnan, Ravi Alagappan, Chandrasekar, Karthick Raja
• Primary Examiner(s): Weidner, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US13/042,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20120230221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/12 Transmitting and receiving encryption devices synchronised or initially set up in a particular manner
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

This disclosure involves methods and systems for implementing IBSS networks between peer client devices. Devices function as registrar or enrollee in the network depending upon whether they are in configured or unconfigured mode. The WPS-PBC configuration routine allows the unconfigured enrollee device to obtain the necessary network configuration profile from the configured registrar device upon a successful WPS handshake process. Once a device has received the network configuration protocol, its status is switched to configured, allowing it to function as a registrar for the network for the subsequent addition of new devices. When both devices are initially in an unconfigured state, one is chosen to act as registrar so that it can automatically generate the necessary network configuration profile and pass it along to the other device. Following this process, both devices are set to configured mode.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication comprising:

activating a configuration routine on a first device to cause the first device to transmit a first frame having an activation information element and to scan for transmissions having an activation information element, wherein the first device is in unconfigured mode;

receiving a transmission from a second device with the first device, wherein the received transmission has an activation information element;

exchanging information wirelessly between the first device and the second device to provide the first device with a network configuration profile, negotiated between the first device and the second device;

applying the network configuration profile to the first device to enable communication over an independent basic service set network with the second device; and

setting the first device to a configured mode, wherein the first device and the second device are configured to function as registrars after exchanging the network configuration profile and communicate the network configuration profile to a third device in unconfigured mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission of the first frame having an activation information element conforms to WPS protocols.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein activating a configuration routine on the first device comprises pushing a button.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the independent basic service set network employs WPA2 encryption.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a transmission from the second device comprises receiving a transmission including a configuration information element indicating the second device is in configured mode.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a configuration information element with the first device, wherein the configuration information element indicates whether the first device is in configured or unconfigured mode.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

activating a configuration routine on the first device when the first device is in configured mode to cause the first device to transmit a second frame having an activation information element;

activating a configuration routine on the third device to cause the third device to transmit a frame having an activation information element and to scan for transmissions having an activation information element;

receiving a transmission from the first device with the third device, wherein the received transmission includes an activation information element;

exchanging information wirelessly between the first device and the third device to provide the third device with the network configuration profile; and

applying the network configuration profile with the third device to enable communication over the independent basic service set network with the first device and the second device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising setting the third device in configured mode after applying the network configuration profile.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission received from the second device includes a configuration information element indicating the second device is in unconfigured mode;

further comprising;

establishing the second device as registrar and the first device as enrollee;

generating the network configuration profile on the second device;

setting the second device to a configured mode;

before exchanging information wirelessly between the first device and the second device to provide the first device with the network configuration profile.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein establishing the second device as registrar is based on a comparison of a MAC address of the first device to a MAC address of the second device.

11. A system for wireless communication comprising a first device transmitting a first frame having an activation information element;

wherein the first device is configured to receive a transmission having an activation information element from a second device, exchange information wirelessly with the second device to negotiate a network configuration profile to allow communication with the second device over an independent basic service set network, and change status from unconfigured to configured, wherein the first device and the second device are configured to function as registrars after exchanging the network configuration profile and communicate the network configuration profile to a third device in unconfigured mode.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first device and the second device transmissions having an activation information element conform to WPS protocols.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first device is configured to transmit a plurality of frames having an activation information element for a set period of time after a user pushes a button.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the independent basic service set network employs WPA2 encryption.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first device is configured to exchange information conforming to extensible authentication protocols.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first device is configured to transmit a frame having a configuration information element that indicates configured or unconfigured status.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising the third device, wherein the third device is configured to receive a second frame transmitted by the first device including an activation information element and a configuration information element and exchange information wirelessly with the first device to obtain the network configuration profile to allow communication with the second device over the independent basic service set network when the configuration information element of the first device indicates configured status.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the third device is configured to receive the second frame from the first device after a configuration routine on the third device is activated.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the first device is configured to function as registrar when unconfigured and:

receive a transmission from the second device including an activation information element and a configuration information element indicating the second device is unconfigured;

generate the network configuration profile; and

transmit a frame having a configuration information element indicating the first device is configured.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first device is configured to function as registrar based upon a comparison of a MAC address of the first device with a MAC address of the second device.