Efficient network layer for IPv6 protocol

• US 9,648,009 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2014
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Erickson, Grant M., Boross, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOLLY, KENDALL LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/506,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20150026791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/741 Routing in networks with a plurality of addressing schemes, e.g. with both IPv4 and IPv6
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/745 Address table lookup; Address filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/045 involving different protocol versions, e.g. MIPv4 and MIPv6
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

An electronic device may include a network interface that may enable the electronic device to wirelessly couple the electronic device to other electronic devices. The electronic device may also include a processor that may determine at least one data path to the other electronic devices using a Routing Information Protocol—Next Generation (RIPng) routing mechanism. After identifying at least one data path to the other electronic devices, the processor may determine whether the identified data path(s) is secure using a Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) protocol. If the identified data path(s) is determined to be secure, the processor may send Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) data packets to the other electronic devices via the secure data path(s).

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a network interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a second electronic device of a wireless mesh network;

a processor;

a memory comprising instructions to join the electronic device to the wireless mesh network, the instructions, which when executed by the processor, configure the electronic device to;

establish, via wireless communication with the second electronic device, a Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) session to allow the electronic device to join the wireless mesh network, the DTLS session based on a cipher suite and a key;

generate a second key based on the cipher suite and the key, and utilize the second key in subsequent communications;

in response to the establishment of the DTLS session, receive a network key via the network interface, the network key being associated with the mesh network; and

communicate with devices in the mesh network utilizing the network key.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the key comprises a public key, a private key, or any combination thereof that determines a secret key for communications between the electronic device and the second electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the key is stored in the electronic device prior to establishing the DTLS session.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein subsequent communications between the electronic device and the second electronic device are encrypted utilizing the second key.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the second key comprises a session key for establishing communication.

6. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the second key is stored in the electronic device or in the second electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the wireless mesh network is based on an IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

8. A method of joining an electronic device to a wireless mesh network, the method comprising:

wirelessly communicating, via a network interface of the electronic device, with a second electronic device of the wireless mesh network;

establishing, via said communicating, a Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) session to allow the electronic device to join the wireless mesh network, the DTLS session based on a cipher suite and a key;

generating a second key based on the cipher suite and the key, and utilizing the second key in subsequent communications;

in response to the establishing, receiving a network key via the network interface, the network key being associated with the mesh network; and

communicating with another device in the mesh network utilizing the network key.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising encrypting subsequent communications between the electronic device and the second electronic device using the second key.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second key comprises a session key for establishing communication.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second key is stored in the electronic device or in the second electronic device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless mesh network is based on an IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the key comprises a public key, a private key, or any combination thereof that determines a secret key for communications between the electronic device and the second electronic device.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing the key in the electronic device prior to establishing the DTLS session.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions to join an electronic device to a wireless mesh network, the instructions when executed by a processor of the electronic device, configure the electronic device to:

wirelessly communicate, via a network interface of the electronic device, with a second electronic device of the wireless mesh network;

establish, via the wireless communication, a Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) session that is based on a cipher suite and a key;

generate a second key based on the cipher suite and the key, and utilize the second key in subsequent communications;

in response to the establishment of the DTLS session, receive a network key via the network interface, the network key being associated with the mesh network; and

communicate with devices in the mesh network utilizing the network key.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the key comprises a public key, a private key, or any combination thereof that determines a secret key for communications between the electronic device and the second electronic device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the key is stored in the electronic device prior to establishing the DTLS session.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein subsequent communications between the electronic device and the second electronic device are encrypted utilizing the second key.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second key comprises a session key for establishing communication.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second key is stored in the electronic device or in the second electronic device.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the wireless mesh network is based on an IEEE 802.15.4 standard.