Wi-Fi router with integrated touch-screen and enhanced security features

• US 8,812,827 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2013
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securifi Incorporated A United States State of Nevada Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rammohan Malasani
• Inventors: Malasani, Rammohan
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoynov, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US14/040,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20140029749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 324 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/100, 713/184, 713/191, 370/310, 370/351, 455/410, 709/220
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

A Wi-Fi router with an integrated configuration touch-screen, and method to use this integrated touch screen to provide enhanced security features. The Wi-Fi router, which has a wired or optical network interface, may be factory pre-configured with hard to anticipate passwords and encryption codes, thus making even its default Wi-Fi settings difficult to attack. Besides displaying interactive menus on the touch-screen, the router may also generate touch sensitive dynamic alphanumeric virtual keypads to enable administrators to interact with the device without the need of extra computers or software. Inexperienced administrators secure in the knowledge that they may access and change even difficult to remember security settings at any time through the built-in touch-screen controller and simplified user interface, are encouraged to set up secure Wi-Fi systems. The device may optionally include security software that, upon touch of a button, can provide new randomized or otherwise obfuscated router settings.

Claims

1. A wireless router device, said router comprising:

at least one of a microprocessor and microcontroller;

memory;

at least one wireless transceiver;

at least one wired or optical network interface;

an integrated touch screen;

said integrated touch screen comprising part of a unitized case containing said at least one of a microprocessor and microcontroller, as well as memory and said at least one wireless transceiver;

said router having an encryption type and encryption code key, an administrator password, and a network name;

said router further configured with security configuration software; and

said security configuration software being configured to allow the administrator of said router to configure said router by direct touch or stylus input onto said integrated touch screen without the need to use a different computerized device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the said router confirms to IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi standards.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the said network name is the Wi-Fi SSID.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said security configuration software further comprise configuration parameters, and wherein said configuration parameters comprise DSL/Cable/Fiber DSL or Cable or Fiber login and password that enable connection to the respective DSL or Cable or Fiber modem through the said wired or optical network interface.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said router has an integrated DSL or Cable or Fiber chipset that enables the said router to connect directly to an analog wired interface of a DSL or Cable or Fiber without the need for an additional DSL or Cable or Fiber modem.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said security configuration software is capable of generating at least one of a random passwords and Wi-Fi encryption keys upon user command.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said security configuration software displays router setup instructions on said integrated touch screen, and receives user commands by touch input on said integrated touch screen.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said security configuration software displays a virtual keypad or keyboard on said integrated touch screen, and receives user input which is numeric or alphabetic or alphanumeric using said virtual keypad or keyboard.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said user input is a new password or encryption key.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said security configuration software further comprise configuration parameters, wherein at least some of said memory comprises non-volatile memory, and wherein said configuration parameters entered using the touch screen can be permanently saved into said devices'"'"' non-volatile memory.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said security configuration software further requests a user authorization password before displaying said router'"'"'s Wi-Fi encryption code key, administrator password, or SSID network name on said integrated touch screen.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said Wi-Fi encryption type, encryption code key, administrator password, or SSID network name are factory pre-selected to be unique to each device.

13. A wireless router device, said router comprising:

at least of a microprocessor and microcontroller;

memory;

at least one wireless transceiver;

at least one wired or optical network interface;

an integrated touch screen;

said integrated touch screen comprising part of a unitized case containing said at least one of a microprocessor and microcontroller, as well as memory and said at least one wireless transceiver;

said router having security parameters comprising an encryption type and encryption code key, an administrator password, and a network name;

at least one of said security parameters initially configured with default values that are unique to said router, thus rendering said router resistant to attack by an outside attacker;

said router further configured with security configuration software; and

said security configuration software being configured to allow the administrator of said router to configure said router by direct touch or stylus input onto said integrated touch screen without the need to use a different computerized device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the said router confirms to IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi standards;

and wherein said network name is the Wi-Fi SSID.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein said security configuration software is configured to display router setup instructions on said integrated touch screen, and receive user commands by touch input on said integrated touch screen.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein said security configuration software is configured to display a virtual keypad or keyboard on said integrated touch screen, and receive user input which is numeric or alphabetic or alphanumeric using said virtual keypad or keyboard.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein said security configuration software is configured to further request a user authorization password before displaying said router'"'"'s Wi-Fi encryption code key, administrator password, or SSID network name on said integrated touch screen.

18. A wireless router device, said router comprising:

at least of a microprocessor and microcontroller;

memory;

at least one wireless transceiver;

at least one wired or optical network interface;

an integrated touch screen;

said integrated touch screen comprising part of a unitized case containing said at least one of a microprocessor and microcontroller, as well as memory and said at least one wireless transceiver;

said router having security parameters comprising an encryption type and encryption code key, an administrator password, and a network name;

at least one of said security parameters initially configured with default values that are unique to said router, thus rendering said router resistant to attack by an outside attacker;

said router further configured with security configuration software;

wherein said security configuration software is configured to display router setup instructions on said integrated touch screen, and receive user commands by touch input on said integrated touch screen;

said security configuration software being configured to allow the administrator of said router to configure said router by direct touch or stylus input onto said integrated touch screen without the need to use a different computerized device.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said security configuration software is configured to display a virtual keypad or keyboard on said integrated touch screen, and receive user input which is numeric or alphabetic or alphanumeric using said virtual keypad or keyboard.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said security configuration software is configured to further request a user authorization password before displaying said router'"'"'s Wi-Fi encryption code key, administrator password, or SSID network name on said integrated touch screen.