Apparatus and method to register Wi-Fi clients on a Wi-Fi network
First Claim
1. A method to distribute network configuration information over a wireless network to a non-client device, comprising;
- determining, by a network client device, the network configuration information;
receiving, by the network client device, a universally unique identification (UUID) of the non-client device;
querying, by the network client device, a server based on the UUID;
receiving, by the network client device in response to the query, a token associated with the non-client device;
generating, by the network client device, a data packet having the network configuration information, wherein the generating includes,forming the data packet to have a multicast address and a payload,encrypting the network configuration information using an advanced encryption standard based on the token, andloading the encrypted network configuration information in an unused portion of the multicast address of the data packet that is not needed for communication of the data packet over the wireless network; and
transmitting the data packet having the encrypted network configuration information over the wireless network in a multicast manner using the multicast address.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are provided to enable the registration of an embedded device with a wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi network. An established client of the wireless network formulates one or more data packets having an unencrypted multicast address, where at least a portion of the multicast address is unnecessary for transmission of the data packets over the wireless network. The established client inserts network configuration information in the unused portion of the multicast address and transmits the data packets over wireless network. The network configuration information can include a network identification (SSID) and network password. Any access point that receives the multicast packets will retransmit multiple times per standard protocol, allowing the embedded device to receive the original transmission from the client device or the retransmissions. Since the address portion of data packets are not encrypted, the embedded device can determine the SSID and any password from the multicast packets, and thereafter register with the wireless network.
19 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method to distribute network configuration information over a wireless network to a non-client device, comprising;
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determining, by a network client device, the network configuration information; receiving, by the network client device, a universally unique identification (UUID) of the non-client device; querying, by the network client device, a server based on the UUID; receiving, by the network client device in response to the query, a token associated with the non-client device; generating, by the network client device, a data packet having the network configuration information, wherein the generating includes, forming the data packet to have a multicast address and a payload, encrypting the network configuration information using an advanced encryption standard based on the token, and loading the encrypted network configuration information in an unused portion of the multicast address of the data packet that is not needed for communication of the data packet over the wireless network; and transmitting the data packet having the encrypted network configuration information over the wireless network in a multicast manner using the multicast address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A communication device, comprising:
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a communication interface, including circuitry, configured to communicate over a wireless network; and a processor coupled to a memory, the memory storing instructions that cause the processor to; establish communication with the wireless network using network configuration information; generate a data packet having a multicast address and a payload, wherein the network configuration information is loaded in an unused portion of the multicast address of the data packet that is not needed for communication of the data packet over the wireless network, and cause the data packet to be transmitted by the communication interface over the wireless network in a multicast manner using the multicast address, wherein the wireless network is a Wi-Fi network, and wherein the instructions cause the processor to form the multicast address to be recognized by the Wi-Fi network and include at least a portion of a service set identification (SSID) and a password needed to access the Wi-Fi network as the network conformation in the unused portion of the multicast address. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A communication device, comprising:
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a communication interface, including circuitry, configured to communicate over a wireless network; and a processor coupled to a memory, the memo storing instructions that cause the processor to; establish communication with the wireless network using network configuration information; generate a data packet having a multicast address and a payload, wherein the network configuration information is loaded in an unused portion of the multicast address of the data packet that is not needed for communication of the data packet over the wireless network, and cause the data packet to be transmitted by the communication interface over the wireless network in a multicast manner using the multicast address, wherein the processor, based on the instructions, is configured to encrypt an identification of the wireless network, a password for accessing the wireless network, and an Internet Protocol address of the communication device, at least portions of which are included in the unused portion of the multicast address of the data packet. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method to receive network configuration information for a wireless network, comprising:
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receiving, by a device that is not a current client of the network, data packets having a multicast address that are multicast by the wireless network and an Internet Protocol address of a network client device that originated the data packets; decoding the network configuration information from unused portions of the multicast address of the data packets that are not needed for communication of the data packets over the wireless network; registering with the wireless network using the network configuration information; and transmitting a message to the network client device using the Internet Protocol address to confirm the registration with wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification