Configuration of a new enrollee device for use in a communication network

• US 9,521,642 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Benoit, Olivier Jean, Tinnakornsrisuphap, Peerapol, Cohen, Etan Gur, Palanigounder, Anand
• Primary Examiner(s): Shiferaw, Eleni
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIDDINS, NELSON S
• Application Number:
  US15/139,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20160242137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 230 Days
• Field of Search: 726/29
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/28 Restricting access to network management systems or functions, e.g. using authorisation function to access network configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/00 Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00; network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorised activity G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/77 Graphical identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A new enrollee device is configured for a communication network using an electronic device and a network registrar. The new enrollee device is a headless device that lacks a first user interface for configuring the new enrollee device for the communication network. The electronic device obtains, at a sensor, sensor information that is indicative of a device key associated with the new enrollee device. The electronic device determines the device key based on the sensor information. The device key is provided to the network registrar to cause the network registrar to configure the new enrollee device for the communication network.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a new enrollee device in a communication network, the method comprising:

obtaining, via a sensor of an electronic device, sensor information that is indicative of a device key associated with the new enrollee device to be configured for the communication network, wherein the new enrollee device is a headless device that lacks a first user interface for configuring the new enrollee device for the communication network;

determining the device key based, at least in part, on the sensor information; and

providing, by the electronic device, the device key to a network registrar to cause the network registrar to configure the new enrollee device for the communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a camera, a microphone, a photo sensor, a radio frequency identifier tag reader, a near-field communications (NFC) tag sensor, a short range radio frequency communications component, and an electromagnetic sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining the sensor information comprises, detecting, using a scanning device associated with the electronic device, a predetermined code associated with the new enrollee device, or

capturing, using a camera associated with the electronic device, an image having the predetermined code associated with the new enrollee device encoded therein,

wherein the predetermined code is representative of the device key.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the image is a barcode or a Quick Response (QR) code image associated with the new enrollee device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said determining the device key comprises, decoding the predetermined code to obtain the device key.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining the sensor information comprises at least one member of a group consisting of:

decoding a visual tag associated with the new enrollee device to obtain the device key,

detecting a near-field communications (NFC) tag that contains the device key,

receiving the device key via a short range radio frequency connection with the new enrollee device,

receiving the device key via an electromagnetic interface of the electronic device, and

receiving an electronic message having the device key.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said providing:

receiving an indication from the network registrar indicating whether the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network using the device key;

presenting based, at least in part, on the indication, user feedback via a user interface of the electronic device, wherein the user feedback indicates that the new enrollee device has not been successfully configured for the communication network; and

prompting, via the user interface, for a new device key associated with the new enrollee device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said providing:

receiving, from the network registrar, device information for controlling the new enrollee device, wherein the device information indicates that the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the device information comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a network address, a device name, a device model number, and a management address for managing the new enrollee device via the communication network.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

enabling, at the electronic device, a user interface associated with controlling the new enrollee device using the device information.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a first network interface configured for communications with a network registrar via a communication network;

a processor;

a sensor; and

a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to,

obtain, via the sensor, sensor information that is indicative of a device key, the device key associated with a new enrollee device to be configured for the communication network, wherein the new enrollee device is a headless device that lacks a first user interface for configuring the new enrollee device for the communication network,

determining the device key based, at least in part, on the sensor information, and

provide the device key to the network registrar to cause the network registrar to configure the new enrollee device for the communication network.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising:

a user interface device, and

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to detect a presence of the new enrollee device via the user interface device.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to,

receive an indication from the network registrar indicating whether the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network using the device key,

present based, at least in part, on the indication, user feedback that indicates whether the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network, and

prompt for a new device key associated with the new enrollee device.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to,

receive, from the network registrar, device information for controlling the new enrollee device, wherein the device information indicates that the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising:

a user interface device,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to,

control the new enrollee device using the device information.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations that comprise:

obtaining, via a sensor of an electronic device, sensor information that is indicative of a device key, the device key associated with a new enrollee device to be configured for a communication network, wherein the new enrollee device is a headless device that lacks a first user interface for configuring the new enrollee device for the communication network;

determining the device key based, at least in part, on the sensor information; and

providing the device key to a network registrar to cause the network registrar to configure the new enrollee device for the communication network.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations for obtaining the sensor information comprise operations for:

detecting, using a scanning device associated with the electronic device, a predetermined code associated with the new enrollee device, or

capturing, using a camera associated with the electronic device, an image having the predetermined code associated with the new enrollee device encoded therein,

wherein the predetermined code is representative of the device key.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations for obtaining the sensor information comprise operations for at least one member of a group consisting of:

decoding a visual tag associated with the new enrollee device to obtain the device key,

detecting a near-field communications (NFC) tag that contains the device key,

receiving the device key via a short range radio frequency connection with the new enrollee device,

receiving the device key via an electromagnetic interface of the electronic device, and

receiving an electronic message having the device key.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an indication from the network registrar indicating whether the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network using the device key,

presenting based, at least in part, on the indication, user feedback via a user interface of the electronic device, wherein the user feedback indicates that the new enrollee device has not been successfully configured for the communication network, and

prompting, via the user interface, for a new device key associated with the new enrollee device.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the network registrar, device information for controlling the new enrollee device, wherein the device information indicates that the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network.