Apparatus for associating a client device or service with a wireless network
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a memory including,identification information for identifying a client device when connecting the client device to a wireless network, wherein the apparatus is physically separate from the client device, andan authorization credential associated with the client device, wherein the identification information and the authorization credential are globally unique to the client device on the wireless network; and
a controller coupled to the memory and configured to;
receive the identification information from the client device; and
automatically provide the identification information and the authorization credential to a host device of the wireless network upon becoming communicatively connected with the host device,wherein the host device is configured to;
automatically associate the client device with the wireless network using the identification information and the authorization credential, andautomatically disassociate the client device with the wireless network when the apparatus is detected to be no longer in close proximity to or physically connected to the host device,wherein the apparatus is one of a near-field radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a universal serial bus (USB) drive manufactured with write-protected encrypted bits, an optical disk with manufactured keys, or a secure digital (SD) memory card with digital rights management (DRM) features.
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Abstract
A network association apparatus includes identification information and an authorization credential associated with a specific client device or service to be connected to a wireless network. The apparatus is configured to automatically provide the identification information and the authorization credential to a host device of a wireless network in a secure fashion when brought into close proximity to or physically connected with the host of the wireless network. The apparatus may comprise an RFID tag.
42 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a memory including, identification information for identifying a client device when connecting the client device to a wireless network, wherein the apparatus is physically separate from the client device, and an authorization credential associated with the client device, wherein the identification information and the authorization credential are globally unique to the client device on the wireless network; and a controller coupled to the memory and configured to; receive the identification information from the client device; and automatically provide the identification information and the authorization credential to a host device of the wireless network upon becoming communicatively connected with the host device, wherein the host device is configured to; automatically associate the client device with the wireless network using the identification information and the authorization credential, and automatically disassociate the client device with the wireless network when the apparatus is detected to be no longer in close proximity to or physically connected to the host device, wherein the apparatus is one of a near-field radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a universal serial bus (USB) drive manufactured with write-protected encrypted bits, an optical disk with manufactured keys, or a secure digital (SD) memory card with digital rights management (DRM) features. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system, comprising:
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a network association apparatus comprising; a memory comprising; identification information for identifying a client device when connecting the client device to a wireless network, wherein the network association apparatus is physically separate from the client device, and an authorization credential associated with the client device, wherein the identification information and the authorization credential are globally unique to the client device on the wireless network; and a controller coupled to the memory and configured to; receive the identification information and the authorization credential from the client device; and provide the identification information and the authorization credential to a host device of the wireless network upon becoming communicatively connected with the host device; wherein the network association apparatus is one of a near-field radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a universal serial bus (USB) drive manufactured with write-protected encrypted bits, an optical disk with manufactured keys, or a secure digital (SD) memory card with digital rights management (DRM) features; and the host device of the wireless network configured to; automatically obtain the identification information and the authorization credential from the network association apparatus, automatically associate the client device with the wireless network using the identification information and the authorization credential, and automatically disassociate the client device with the wireless network when the network association apparatus is detected to be no longer in close proximity to or physically connected to the host device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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detecting an apparatus associated with a client device becoming communicatively connected with a host device, wherein the apparatus is physically separate from the client device and is one of a near-field radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a universal serial bus (USB) drive manufactured with write-protected encrypted bits, an optical disk with manufactured keys, or a secure digital (SD) memory card with digital rights management (DRM) features; automatically receiving, at the host device of a wireless network, identification information and an authorization credential associated with the client device from the apparatus, wherein the identification information and the authorization credential are globally unique to the client device on the wireless network; receiving at the host device a registration request from the client device; upon receiving the registration request, connecting the client device to the wireless network based on the identification information and the authorization credential, wherein the identification information identifies the client device; detecting that the apparatus is no longer in close proximity to or physically connected to the host device; and in response to detecting that the apparatus is no longer present, automatically terminating the connection of the client device to the wireless network.
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Specification