Network settings browser synchronization

• US 8,799,989 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2012
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Kan
• Primary Examiner(s): THIAW, CATHERINE B
• Application Number:
  US13/372,421
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-222, 709227-229, 713/1, 726 1- 3, 726 12- 15
• US Class Current: 726/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Computer-implemented methods for automatically configuring a device with network settings retrieved using a web browser are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a user identification associated with a user web browser profile from a web browser on a device, and retrieving network setting information associated with the user web browser profile. The method also includes providing the retrieved network setting information to the web browser of the device. The retrieved network setting information is configured to be used by the web browser to configure the device to connect to at least one network. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for automatically configuring a device with network settings retrieved using a web browser, the method comprising:

receiving a user identification associated with a user web browser profile;

retrieving from a memory network setting information associated with the user web browser profile, wherein the network setting information is configured to be designated as unsecured, secured, or private; and

providing the retrieved network setting information designated as unsecured or secured to a web browser of a device, wherein the retrieved network setting information designated as unsecured or secured comprises a wireless network access point name, and restricting access of the web browser to retrieved network setting information designated as private, wherein the retrieved network setting information designated as private comprises virtual private network (VPN) network settings,

wherein the retrieved network setting information is configured to be used by the web browser to configure the device to connect to at least one network, and

wherein the user identification is provided to the web browser independent of the web browser having access to a web page.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the retrieved network settings are provided from a server.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the retrieved network settings are configured to be provided by the web browser of the device to a network interface of the device in order to configure the network interface of the device with the network settings.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein unsecured network settings are configured to be stored on the server, stored on the device, and accessible to an authenticated user of the client.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein secured network settings are configured to restrict access to passwords and be selectively accessible to an authenticated user of the device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the network setting information comprises wireless network access point settings, virtual private network settings, and proxy settings.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the wireless network access point settings comprise at least one of the wireless network access point name, a wireless network password, and a wireless network security protocol.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the virtual private network settings comprise at least one of a password, biometric, two-factor authentication, cryptographic information, and digital certificate.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the proxy settings comprise at least one of a network address and a port number.

10. A system for automatically configuring a device with network settings retrieved using a web browser, the system comprising:

a memory comprising network setting information associated with a user web browser profile;

a processor configured to;

receive a user identification associated with the user web browser profile;

retrieve the network setting information associated with the user web browser profile, wherein the network setting information is configured to be designated as unsecured, secured, or private; and

provide the retrieved network setting information designated as unsecured or secured to a web browser of a device, wherein the retrieved network setting information designated as unsecured or secured comprises a wireless network access point name, and restrict access of the web browser to retrieved network setting information designated as private, wherein the retrieved network setting information designated as private comprises virtual private network (VPN) network settings,

wherein the retrieved network setting information is configured to be used by the web browser to configure the device to connect to at least one network,

wherein the network setting information comprises wireless network access point settings, virtual private network settings, and proxy settings, and

wherein the user identification is provided to the web browser independent of the web browser having access to a web page.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the retrieved network settings are provided from a server.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the retrieved network settings are configured to be provided by the web browser of the device to a network interface of the device in order to configure the network interface of the device with the network settings.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein unsecured network settings are configured to be stored on the server, stored on the device, and accessible to an authenticated user of the device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein secured network settings are configured to restrict access to passwords and be selectively accessible to an authenticated user of the client.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein

the wireless network access point settings comprise at least one of the wireless network access point name, a wireless network password, and a wireless network security protocol,

the virtual private network settings comprise at least one of a password, biometric, two-factor authentication, cryptographic information, and digital certificate, and

the proxy settings comprise at least one of a network address and a port number.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions for causing a processor to execute a method for automatically configuring a device with network settings retrieved using a web browser, the method comprising:

receiving a user identification associated with a user web browser profile;

retrieving network setting information associated with the user web browser profile that is configured to be designated as unsecured, secured, or private;

providing the retrieved network setting information designated as unsecured or secured to a web browser on a device, wherein the retrieved network setting information designated as unsecured or secured comprises a wireless network access point name; and

restricting access of the web browser to network settings designated as private, wherein the retrieved network setting information designated as private comprises virtual private network (VPN) network settings,

wherein the retrieved network setting information is configured to be used by the web browser to configure the device to connect to at least one network, and

wherein the user identification is provided to the web browser independent of the web browser having access to a web page.