Automated credentialing of device newly added to a network

• US 9,219,721 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Farber, Jordan Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ashok
• Assistant Examiner(s): POTRATZ, DANIEL B
• Application Number:
  US13/837,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20140282937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management

Abstract

A device newly introduced to a network is automatically credentialed to be able to communicate over a network before the device first communicates with the network. For example, at a point of purchase, a user can provide network identification information to a merchant computing device that effects transfer of that information to the new device such that the new device can communicate directly with the network without initial credentialing directly between the unique device and the local network. In another example, the merchant computing device communicates with the local network to register a newly purchased device with the local network before the newly purchased device is introduced to the network. Accordingly, the network is configured to begin communications with the unique device without initial credentialing directly between the unique device and the local network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in response to a user purchasing a unique device, prompting, by a merchant computing device, the user to provide a unique identification information for a local network, wherein the local network comprises a gateway device associated with at least a local communication protocol and an Internet communication protocol;

receiving, at the merchant computing device, the unique identification information for the local network in response to prompting the user;

reading, by a reading device in communication with the merchant computing device, a code physically off one of the unique device and a packaging of the unique device to obtain a unique identification information for the unique device, wherein the code comprises a code scannable by the reading device;

communicating, from the merchant computing device via the Internet communication protocol, the unique identification information for the unique device to the gateway device in the local network using the unique identification information for the local network; and

in response to the gateway device receiving the unique identification information for the unique device, configuring, by using the unique identification information for the unique device, the gateway device to communicate with the unique device directly via the local communication protocol without initial credentialing between the unique device and the local network, wherein the initial credentialing comprises pairing or adding the unique device to the local network such that the unique device is enabled to communicate with the gateway device via the local communication protocol and wherein the unique device is enabled to immediately communicate with the gateway device directly via the local communication protocol in response to the gateway device receiving the unique identification information for the unique device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the code comprises at least one of a bar code or a quick response (QR) code.

3. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions configured to cause a merchant computing device to perform operations comprising:

in response to a user purchasing a unique device, prompting the user to provide a unique identification information for a local network, wherein the local network comprises a gateway device associated with at least a local communication protocol and an Internet communication protocol;

receiving the unique identification information for the local network in response to prompting the user;

reading, by a reading device in communication with the merchant computing device, a code physically off one of the unique device and a packaging of the unique device to obtain a unique identification information for the unique device, wherein the code comprises a code scannable by the reading device; and

communicating, via the Internet communication protocol, the unique identification information for the unique device to the gateway device in the local network using the unique identification information for the local network, wherein the gateway device is enabled to communicate with the unique device directly via the local communication protocol without initial credentialing between the unique device and the local network by using the communicated unique identification information for the unique device, wherein the initial credentialing comprises pairing or adding the unique device to the local network such that the unique device is enabled to communicate with the gateway device via the local communication protocol, and wherein the unique device is enabled to immediately communicate with the gateway device directly via the local communication protocol in response to the gateway device receiving the unique identification information for the unique device.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 3, wherein the code comprises at least one of a bar code or a quick response (QR) code.