Establishing a home relationship between a wireless device and a server in a wireless network

• US 8,972,576 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IoT Innovations LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: KDL Scan Designs LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BIAGINI, CHRISTOPHER D
• Application Number:
  US10/833,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20050245233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,961 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method and system for establishing a persistent relationship between a mobile device and a server in a network is provided. Aspects of the invention include detecting the presence of the mobile device, and in response to determining that the device is unrecognized, automatically notifying a network administrator. In response to receiving the administrator'"'"'s authorization to establish a relationship, a user of the mobile device is requested to authorize the establishment of the relationship. If the user then accepts the offer and authorizes the relationship, the relationship is automatically established between the device and the network, such that no additional configuration is required by the user of the device to communicate over the network once the relationship has been established.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a relationship between a mobile device and a server in a network, comprising;

(a) detecting the presence of the mobile device;

(b) in response to determining that the mobile device is unrecognized, automatically notifying a network administrator;

(c) in response to receiving authorization from the network administrator to establish the relationship, requesting authorization from the mobile device to authorize the establishment of the relationship; and

(d) establishing the relationship between the mobile device and the network in response to receiving the authorization from the mobile device, such that no additional configuration is required by the mobile device to communicate over the network once the relationship has been established.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (d) further comprises defining a home relationship between the mobile device and the network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein (d) further comprises establishing the home relationship by identifying the network as home in the mobile device, and identifying the mobile device as owned to the server.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, upon the establishment of the home relationship, granting the mobile device access to the network and granting the network access to the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein (c) further comprises defining a type of relationship the network administrator is willing to grant the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein (b) further comprises notifying the network administrator by at least one of an audible or visual signal played on one or more devices coupled to the network, or an electronic notification sent to a mobile device owned by the network administrator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein (b) further comprises displaying on a control center for the network for selection by the network administrator, a list of actions to be taken by the network in regard to the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the list of actions comprises defining a known relationship between the device and the network that continues until revoked, denying access, allowing limited access, or allowing full access.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein (b) further comprises allowing the network administrator to set a default action that defines the relationship for the device in absence of owner intervention.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein (a) further comprises:

(i) requesting, by the sever, the device identification from the mobile device;

(ii) receiving, by the server, the device identification;

(iii) searching for the device identification among stored device identifications; and

(iv) based at least on finding the device identification, granting the mobile device access to the network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein (d) further comprises storing, by the server, the device identification previously transmitted by the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein (d) further comprises:

(i) storing, by the server, the device identification in response to the device identification being unavailable; and

(ii) transmitting from the server to the mobile device network information to facilitate device recognition of the home network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein (d) further comprises:

(i) generating a generated device identification for the device in response to the device identification being unavailable;

(ii) storing, by the server, the generated device identification; and

(iii) transmitting from the server to the device the generated device identification and network information to facilitate device recognition of the home network.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein (d) further comprises defining a guest relationship between the mobile device and the network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein (d) further comprises defining a temporary guest access that allows limited use of the network by the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein (d) further comprises defining a persistent guest access that provides automatic access to the network by the device, thereby eliminating future notifications when the mobile device is detected on the network.

17. A network configuration, comprising:

a mobile device; and

a wireless home network to communicate with the mobile device, the home network comprising at least one server coupled to at least one access point through a network interface, wherein the server;

(a) detects the presence of the mobile device;

(b) in response to determining that the mobile device is unrecognized, automatically notifies a network administrator and requests authorization from the network administrator to establish a relationship between the network and the mobile device;

(c) in response to receiving the authorization from the network administrator to establish the relationship, requests authorization from a mobile device to establish the relationship; and

(d) establishes the relationship between the mobile device and the network in response to receiving the authorization from the mobile device, such that no additional configuration is required by the mobile device to communicate over the network once the relationship has been established.

18. The network configuration of claim 17, wherein a home relationship is defined between the mobile device and the network.

19. The network configuration of claim 18, wherein the home relationship is established by identifying the network as home in the mobile device, and identifying the device as owned to the server.

20. The network configuration of claim 19, wherein after the home relationship is established, granting the mobile device access to the network and granting the network access to the mobile device.

21. The network configuration of claim 20, wherein the authorization from the network administrator defines a type of relationship the network administrator is willing to grant the mobile device.

22. The network configuration of claim 21, wherein the network administrator is notified by at least one of an audible or visual signal played on one or more devices coupled to the network, or an electronic notification sent to a mobile device owned by the network administrator.

23. The network configuration of claim 22, wherein the server displays on a control center for the network for selection by the network administrator, a list of actions to be taken by the network in regard to the mobile device.

24. The network configuration of claim 23, wherein the list of actions comprises defining a known relationship between the device and the network that continues until revoked, denying access, allowing limited access, or allowing full access.

25. The network configuration of claim 22, wherein the network administrator is allowed to set a default action that defines a home relationship for the device in absence of owner intervention.

26. The network configuration of claim 19, wherein the server stores device identification previously transmitted by the device.

27. The network configuration of claim 19, wherein in response to detecting the presence of the device, the server:

(i) requests the device identification from the mobile device;

(ii) receives the device identification;

(iii) searches for the device identification among stored device identifications; and

(iv) grants the mobile device access to the network based at least in part on not locating the device identification.

28. The network configuration of claim 27, wherein the server stores the device identification previously transmitted by the device.

29. The network configuration of claim 28, wherein the server stores the device identification, and transmits network information to the mobile device to facilitate device recognition of the home network based at least in part on not locating the device identification.

30. The network configuration of claim 28, wherein the server stores a generated device identification generated based at least in part on the device identification being unavailable, and the server transmits to the device the generated device identification and network information to facilitate device recognition of the home network.

31. The network configuration of claim 17, wherein (d) further comprises defining a guest relationship between the mobile device and the network.

32. The network configuration of claim 31, wherein a temporary guest access is defined that allows limited use of the network by the mobile device.

33. The network configuration of claim 32, wherein a persistent guest access is defined that provides automatic access to the network by the device, thereby eliminating future notifications when the mobile device is detected on the network.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for establishing a relationship between a mobile device and a server in a network, the computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

(a) detect the presence of the mobile device;

(b) in response to determining that the mobile device is unrecognized, automatically notify a network administrator and request authorization from the network administrator to establish a relationship between the network and the mobile device;

(c) in response to receiving the authorization from the network administrator to establish the relationship, request authorization from the mobile device to establish the relationship; and

(d) establish the relationship between the mobile device and the network in response to receiving the authorization from the mobile device, such that no additional configuration is required by the mobile device to communicate over the network once the relationship has been established.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein (d) further comprises defining a home relationship between the mobile device and the network.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein (d) further comprises establishing the home relationship by identifying the network as home in the wireless device, and identifying the mobile device as owned to the server.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, further comprising upon the establishment of the home relationship, granting the mobile device access to the network and granting the network access to the mobile device.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein (c) further comprises defining in the administrator'"'"'s authorization what type of relationship the administrator is willing to grant the mobile device.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein (b) further comprises notifying the network administrator by at least one of an audible or visual signal played on one or more devices coupled to the network, or an electronic notification sent to a mobile device owned by the network administrator.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein (b) further comprises displaying on a control center for the network for selection by the network administrator, a list of actions to be taken by the network in regard to the mobile device.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the list of actions comprises defining a known relationship between the device and the network that continues until revoked, denying access, allowing limited access, or allowing full access.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein (b) further comprises allowing the network administrator to set a default action that defines a home relationship for the device in absence of intervention.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein (a) further comprises:

(i) requesting, by the sever, the device identification from the mobile device;

(ii) receiving, by the server, the device identification;

(iii) searching for the device identification among stored device identifications; and

(iv) granting the mobile device access to the network based at least in part on locating the device identification.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein (d) further comprises storing, by the server, the device identification previously transmitted by the device.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein (d) further comprises:

(i) storing, by the server, the device identification based at least in part on locating the device identification; and

(ii) transmitting from the server to the device network information to facilitate device recognition of the home network.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein (d) further comprises:

(i) generating a generated device identification for the mobile device based at least in part on not locating the device identification;

(ii) storing, by the server, the generated device identification; and

(iii) transmitting from the server to the device the generated device identification and network information to facilitate device recognition of the home network.

47. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein (d) further comprises defining a guest relationship between the mobile device and the network.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein (d) further comprises defining a temporary guest access that allows limited use of the network by the mobile device.

49. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein (d) further comprises defining a persistent guest access that provides automatic access to the network by the device, thereby eliminating future notifications when the mobile device is detected on the network.