Method of limiting use of a mobile wireless access point near a wireless local area network

• US 9,451,634 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Oerton, Kevin John
• Primary Examiner(s): SHIVERS, ASHLEY L
• Application Number:
  US14/921,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20160044465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

To promote network security in a wireless local area network (WLAN), a mobile communication device, which is operable as a mobile wireless access point, may read a WLAN identifier that is known to be used by the WLAN and an indication of a channel on which a wireless access point of the WLAN is known to operate. The device may then monitor the channel for a transmission of the WLAN identifier. The mobile wireless access point may be configured to operate using the selected channel so that the monitoring occurs on the same channel as that on which the mobile wireless access point is operating. The transmission, if detected, may be considered to indicate that the mobile communication device is within the WLAN. Upon detecting the transmission, use of the WLAN identifier by the mobile wireless access point at the mobile communication device may be prevented, e.g. by requiring the mobile wireless access point to use a different WLAN identifier or by disabling the mobile wireless access point.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device operable as a mobile wireless access point and comprising a processor and a memory, the mobile communication device operable to:

receive a precluded WLAN identifier;

receive a permissible channel that identifies a channel that is available for use by the mobile communication device for mobility wireless access point functionality;

select the permissible channel as a selected channel;

monitor the selected channel for the precluded WLAN identifier; and

upon detection of the precluded WLAN identifier, prevent a mobile wireless access point from using the precluded WLAN identifier.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the permissible channel comprises receiving a set of permissible channels; and

selecting the selected channel comprises selecting one of the set of permissible channels as the selected channel.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein selecting is based, at least in part, on the identity of a channel on which the mobile wireless access point is already configured to operate.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said preventing the mobile wireless access point at the mobile communication device from using the WLAN identifier comprises disabling the mobile wireless access point.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said preventing the mobile wireless access point at the mobile communication device from using the WLAN identifier comprises requiring the mobile wireless access point to use a different WLAN identifier.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said monitoring of the selected channel is conditional upon a determination that the mobile communication device is in motion.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein said monitoring of the selected channel is conditional upon a determination that the mobile communication device is presently situated in a geographical location that is known to be proximate to the WLAN.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 1 further comprising, prior to the monitoring, configuring the mobile wireless access point functionality to operate using the selected channel.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein monitoring comprising monitoring only the selected channel for the precluded WLAN.

10. A method of operating a mobile communication device operable as a mobile wireless access point, the method comprising:

receiving a precluded WLAN identifier;

receiving a permissible channel that identifies a channel that is available for use by the mobile communication device for mobility wireless access point functionality;

selecting the permissible channel as a selected channel;

monitoring the selected channel for the precluded WLAN identifier; and

upon detection of the precluded WLAN identifier, preventing a mobile wireless access point from using the precluded WLAN identifier.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

receiving the permissible channel comprises receiving a set of permissible channels; and

selecting the selected channel comprises selecting one of the set of permissible channels as the selected channel.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting is based, at least in part, on the identity of a channel on which the mobile wireless access point is already configured to operate.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said preventing the mobile wireless access point at the mobile communication device from using the WLAN identifier comprises disabling the mobile wireless access point.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said preventing the mobile wireless access point at the mobile communication device from using the WLAN identifier comprises requiring the mobile wireless access point to use a different WLAN identifier.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said monitoring of the selected channel is conditional upon a determination that the mobile communication device is in motion.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said monitoring of the selected channel is conditional upon a determination that the mobile communication device is presently situated in a geographical location that is known to be proximate to the WLAN.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising, prior to the monitoring, configuring the mobile wireless access point functionality to operate using the selected channel.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring comprising monitoring only the selected channel for the precluded WLAN.

19. A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing software that, upon execution by a processor of a mobile communication device that is operable as a mobile wireless access point, causes the mobile communication device to:

receive a precluded WLAN identifier;

receive a permissible channel that identifies a channel that is available for use by the mobile communication device for mobility wireless access point functionality;

select the permissible channel as a selected channel;

monitor the selected channel for the precluded WLAN identifier; and

upon detection of the precluded WLAN identifier, prevent a mobile wireless access point from using the precluded WLAN identifier.

20. A system for promoting network security in a wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising multiple WLAN cells, each WLAN cell comprising a wireless access point, the system comprising:

A mobile communication device operable as a mobile wireless access point, the mobile communication device operable to;

receive a precluded WLAN identifier;

receive a permissible channel that identifies a channel that is available for use by the mobile communication device for mobility wireless access point functionality;

select the permissible channel as a selected channel;

monitor the selected channel for the precluded WLAN identifier; and

upon detection of the precluded WLAN identifier, prevent a mobile wireless access point from using the precluded WLAN identifier.