Automatic configuration of a wireless device

• US 9,253,712 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cherian, George, Iyer, Mahesh Dandapani, Abraham, Santosh Paul, Hawkes, Philip Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US14/260,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20140233425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 455418-420, 455410-411
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 performing service discovery by the wireless device to identify a programming module and sending to the programming module a probe request including a first device public key. The method includes receiving from the programming module a probe response including an indication of a match between the first device public key and a second device public key.

Claims

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

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

sending to the programming module a probe request including a first device public key;

receiving from the programming module a probe response including an indication of a match between the first device public key and a second device public key;

receiving from the programming module one or more authentication messages including programming credentials;

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

receiving from the programming module a programming message after receiving the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the match between the first device public key and the second device public key includes an invitation from the programming module to the wireless device to initiate configuration of the wireless device by the programming module.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device performs the service discovery based on a beacon, a public action frame, a probe request message, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is authenticated by the programming module based on the programming credentials and wherein the wireless device is configured to be programmed, by the programming module, with the access credentials of the access point.

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

6. The method of claim 1, wherein programming of the access credentials of the access point configures the wireless device to communicate with a device that is outside of a network of the access point.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the wireless device with the access point.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the service discovery is performed in response to powering up of the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the programming module authenticates the wireless device by exchanging the one or more authentication messages with the wireless device via the access point.

10. The method of claim 1, 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.

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

12. A wireless device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

perform service discovery to identify a programming module;

initiate sending to the programming module a probe request including a first device public key;

detect receipt of a probe response including an indication of a match between the first device public key and a second device public key;

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

detect receipt of an authentication success message after an authentication of the wireless device with the programming module;

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

detect receipt of a programming message after detecting receipt of the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the processor performs the service discovery based on detecting receipt of a beacon, a public action frame, a probe request message, or any combination thereof.

14. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the processor is integrated in 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.

15. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the one or more authentication messages are received from the programming module via the access point.

16. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein:

enabling the programming comprises unlocking a non volatile memory;

the access credentials are programmed into the non volatile memory; and

the processor locks the non volatile memory after the access credentials are programmed.

17. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein after detecting receipt of the programming message, local association with the access point is completed.

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

perform service discovery at a wireless device to identify a programming module;

initiate sending to the programming module a probe request including a first device public key;

detect receipt of a probe response including an indication of a match between the first device public key and a second device public key;

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

detect receipt of an authentication success message after an authentication of the wireless device;

enable programming of access credentials of an access point after receiving the authentication success message; and

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

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the wireless device is authenticated by the programming module based on the programming credentials and wherein the wireless device is programmed, by the programming module, with the access credentials of the access point.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein:

enabling the programming comprises unlocking a non volatile memory;

the access credentials are programmed into the non volatile memory; and

the processor locks the non volatile memory after the access credentials are programmed.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein after detecting receipt of the programming message, the processor disables programming of a memory with access credentials of another access point.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein after detecting receipt of the programming message, local association with the access point is completed.

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

performing service discovery by the wireless device to identify a programming device;

establishing a wireless connection with the programming device;

sending to the programming device a probe request including a first device public key;

receiving from the programming device a probe response including an indication of a match between the first device public key and a second device public key;

receiving from the programming device one or more authentication messages including programming credentials;

receiving from the programming device an authentication success message, 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

receiving a programming message automatically after the authentication success message, wherein the programming message includes the access credentials of the access point.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the programming device includes a programming module, wherein the wireless device is authenticated by the programming module based on the programming credentials, wherein the wireless device is programmed, by the programming module, with the access credentials of the access point, and wherein the authentication of the wireless device based on the programming credentials unlocks the wireless device to enable programming the wireless device with the access credentials of the access point.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the access point is a second access point and wherein the wireless device operates as a first access point to enable establishing the wireless connection.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the wireless connection is a peer-to-peer wireless connection.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the wireless device comprises 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.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the wireless device performs the service discovery based on a beacon, a public action frame, a probe request message, or any combination thereof.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein:

unlocking the wireless device comprises unlocking a memory;

the access credentials are programmed into the memory; and

the wireless device locks the memory after the access credentials are programmed.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein after receiving the programming message, the wireless device completes local association with the access point.