Automatic configuration of a wireless device

• US 8,831,568 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2012
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cherian, George, Iyer, Mahesh D., Abraham, Santosh Paul, Hawkes, Philip Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/589,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20130217359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 455410-411, 455418-420, 455/41.2, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1066 Session management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• 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 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

A method of automatically configuring a wireless device includes receiving programming credentials from a server at a programming module and authenticating the wireless device based on the programming credentials. The method includes programming the wireless device with access credentials of an access point of a network to enable the wireless device to communicate, via the access point, with one or more devices outside of the network.

Claims

1. A method of automatically configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving programming credentials from a server at a programming module;

authenticating the wireless device based on the programming credentials;

sending an authentication success message from the programming module to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device unlocks to enable programming of access credentials of an access point after receiving the authentication success message; and

sending a programming message from the programming module to the wireless device after sending the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device locks to disable programming of the wireless device with access credentials of another access point after receiving the programming message from the programming module.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the programming module authenticates the wireless device by exchanging authentication messages with the wireless device via the access point, and wherein at least one of the authentication messages is sent from the programming module and includes the programming credentials.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein after receiving the programming message from the programming module the wireless device completes local association with the access point.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein:

unlocking the wireless device comprises unlocking a non volatile memory of the wireless device;

the access credentials are programmed into the non volatile memory of the wireless device; and

the wireless device locks the non volatile memory after the access credentials are programmed into the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein after sending the programming message from the programming module the wireless device completes local association with the access point.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the programming credentials include information stored within a subscriber identity module (SIM).

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the programming credentials include a shared key, a digital certificate or a user-name and a password, and wherein the access credentials include a service set identifier (SSID) of the access point and a passphrase of the access point.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the programming module is configured to receive the access credentials from the access point.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the access credentials are input into the programming module.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the programming module and the access point are integrated into a single device that is configured to perform access point functions and programming module functions.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a secure connection between the programming module and the access point prior to authenticating the wireless device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an invitation by the programming module to the wireless device to initiate configuration of the wireless device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the invitation is sent by the programming module using beacon frames, generic advertisement service (GAS) frames, or probe response messages.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising discovering a network by the wireless device before configuration of the wireless device is initiated by the programming module.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless device is adapted to use a probe request message or an access network query protocol (ANQP) message to discover the network.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising performing service discovery to detect a service discovery identifier communicated by an internet protocol (IP) packet carried over one or more beacon frames, generic advertisement service (GAS) frames, or access network query protocol (ANQP) messages.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising sending a re-invitation by the programming module to the wireless device to re-initiate the configuration of the wireless device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing service discovery by the programming module to identify one or more available wireless devices to configure for communication, via the access point, with devices outside of a network.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point and the wireless device are compliant with one or more Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.

21. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

authenticate the wireless device based on received programming credentials, wherein the programming credentials are received from a server;

send an authentication success message to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device is caused to unlock and enable programming of access credentials of an access point after receiving the authentication success message; and

send a programming message to the wireless device after sending the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the wireless device locks to disable programming of the wireless device with access credentials of another access point after receiving the programming message.

23. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving programming credentials from a server;

means for authenticating the wireless device based on the programming credentials;

means for sending an authentication success message to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device unlocks to enable programming of access credentials of an access point after receiving the authentication success message; and

means for sending a programming message to the wireless device after sending the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the wireless device locks to disable programming of the wireless device with access credentials of another access point after receiving the programming message.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

authenticate a wireless device based on received programming credentials, wherein the programming credentials are received from a server;

send an authentication success message to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device unlocks to enable programming of access credentials of an access point after receiving the authentication success message; and

send a programming message to the wireless device after sending the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the wireless device locks to disable programming of the wireless device with access credentials of another access point after receiving the programming message.

27. A method comprising:

receiving, at a server, device information of a wireless device and subscription information of a subscriber; and

providing programming credentials to a programming module based on both the device information and the subscription information, wherein the programming credentials are used to authenticate the wireless device, wherein an authentication success message is sent from the programming module to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device unlocks to enable programming of access credentials of an access point automatically after receiving the authentication success message, wherein a programming message is sent from the programming module to the wireless device automatically after sending the authentication success message, and wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the server receives the device information and the subscription information from a transaction terminal.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing an application to the programming module to enable the programming module to send the authentication success message and the programming message to the wireless device.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising controlling an operation of the wireless device via the access point after the programming of the wireless device with the access credentials of the access point.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the server is a smart energy server.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the smart energy server supports a ZigBee Smart Energy standard.

33. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

detect receipt of device information of a wireless device and subscription information of a subscriber; and

provide programming credentials to a programming module based on both the device information and the subscription information, wherein the programming credentials are used to authenticate the wireless device, wherein an authentication success message is sent from the programming module to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device unlocks to enable programming of access credentials of an access point automatically after receiving the authentication success message, wherein a programming message is sent from the programming module to the wireless device automatically after sending the authentication success message, and wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

34. A method of automatically configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a programming module, a programming request message including a request for programming of the wireless device;

sending to the wireless device one or more authentication messages including programming credentials;

sending an authentication success message from the programming module to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device unlocks to enable programming of access credentials of an access point after receiving the authentication success message; and

sending a programming message from the programming module to the wireless device after sending the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the programming module is configured to:

perform authentication of the wireless device based on the programming credentials; and

program the wireless device with the access credentials of the access point, the wireless device being locked following the programming from being programmed with access credentials of another access point.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein after receiving the programming message from the programming module the wireless device completes local association with the access point.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the programming request message and the programming message are Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) protocol messages.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the programming message is sent within one or more data packets.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the programming request message further includes device specific information of the wireless device.

40. The method of claim 34, further comprising sending to the wireless device a service discovery message including device programming capability information.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the one or more authentication messages and the programming message are sent to the wireless device via the access point and wherein the programming request message is received from the wireless device via the access point.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the one or more authentication messages and the programming message are sent to the wireless device via a direct wireless connection between the programming module and the wireless device and wherein the programming request message is received from the wireless device via the direct wireless connection between the programming module and the wireless device.

43. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

detect receipt of a programming request message including a request for programming of the wireless device;

initiate sending to the wireless device of one or more authentication messages including programming credentials;

initiate sending an authentication success message to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device unlocks to enable programming of access credentials of an access point after receiving the authentication success message; and

initiate sending a programming message to the wireless device after sending the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

44. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a programming request message including a request for programming of the wireless device;

means for sending to the wireless device one or more authentication messages including programming credentials;

means for sending an authentication success message to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device unlocks to enable programming of access credentials of an access point after receiving the authentication success message; and

means for sending a programming message to the wireless device after sending the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

45. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

detect receipt of a programming request message including a request for programming of a wireless device;

initiate sending to the wireless device of one or more authentication messages including programming credentials;

send an authentication success message to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device unlocks to enable programming of access credentials of an access point automatically after receiving the authentication success message; and

sending a programming message to the wireless device automatically after sending the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

46. A method of automatically configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the wireless device, a service discovery message including device programming capability information;

sending to a programming module a programming request message including a request for programming of the wireless device;

receiving, at the wireless device, one or more authentication messages including programming credentials;

detect receipt of an authentication success message from the programming module after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device unlocks to enable programming of access credentials of an access point automatically after detecting receipt of the authentication success message; and

detect receipt of a programming message sent automatically from the programming module after the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the wireless device locks to disable programming of the wireless device with access credentials of another access point after receiving the programming message from the programming module.

48. The method of claim 47,

wherein after receiving the programming message from the programming module, the wireless device completes local association with the access point.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the programming request message is sent within at least one authentication frame.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein the one or more programming messages are received within one or more authentication frames.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the one or more programming messages are received within one or more data frames.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the service discovery message is received using a beacon, a public action frame, a probe request message, or any combination thereof.

53. A wireless device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

detect receipt of a service discovery message including device programming capability information;

initiate sending to a programming module of a programming request message including a request for programming;

detect receipt of one or more authentication messages including programming credentials;

detect receipt of an authentication success message from the programming module;

unlock to enable programming of access credentials of an access point automatically after detecting receipt of the authentication success message; and

detect receipt of a programming message sent automatically from the programming module after the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

54. A method of automatically configuring a wireless device, the method comprising:

performing service discovery by a programming device to identify the wireless device, wherein the programming device includes a programming module;

establishing a wireless connection by the programming device between the programming device and the wireless device;

authenticating the wireless device based on programming credentials;

sending an authentication success message from the programming device to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device unlocks to enable programming of access credentials of an access point after receiving the authentication success message; and

sending a programming message from the programming device to the wireless device after sending the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the wireless device locks to disable programming of the wireless device with access credentials of another access point after receiving the programming message from the programming module.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the wireless device is configured to operate as an access point to enable the programming module to establish the wireless connection between the programming device and the wireless device.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the wireless connection is a peer-to-peer wireless connection, and wherein after receiving the programming message from the programming device, the wireless device completes local association with the access point.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the programming device is configured to obtain the programming credentials.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the programming device is configured to obtain the programming credentials based on an application that is executable to obtain the programming credentials.

60. The method of claim 54, wherein the programming credentials include a device identifier, a passphrase of the wireless device, a digital certificate, or a combination thereof.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the access credentials include one or more of a service set identifier (SSID) of the access point and a passphrase of the access point.

62. The method of claim 54, wherein the wireless device is a home appliance, a meter configured to take measurements, a mobile device, a camera, a multimedia player, an entertainment unit, a navigation device, or any combination thereof.

63. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

perform service discovery to identify the wireless device;

establish a wireless connection with the wireless device;

authenticate the wireless device based on programming credentials;

send an authentication success message to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device is caused to unlock and enable programming of access credentials of an access point after receiving the authentication success message; and

send a programming message to the wireless device after sending the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

64. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

means for performing service discovery to identify the wireless device;

means for establishing a wireless connection between a programming device including a programming module and the wireless device;

means for authenticating the wireless device based on programming credentials;

means for sending an authentication success message from the programming device to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device is caused to unlock and enable programming of access credentials of an access point after receiving the authentication success message; and

means for sending a programming message from the programming device to the wireless device after sending the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

65. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

perform service discovery to identify a wireless device;

establish a wireless connection with the wireless device;

authenticate the wireless device based on programming credentials;

send an authentication success message to the wireless device after authenticating the wireless device, wherein the wireless device is caused to unlock and enable programming of access credentials of an access point automatically after receiving the authentication success message; and

send a programming message to the wireless device automatically after sending the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.