Method for establishing communication connection between electronic devices and electronic device therefor

• US 10,511,967 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2016
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kang, Ki Seok, Park, Hong Chan, Kim, Gi Beom, Park, Sung Soo, Lee, Young Kow, Kang, Hyuk, Jin, In Ji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Teshome
• Application Number:
  US15/252,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20170134946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 726 7
• 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 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/205 involving negotiation or determination of the one or more network security mechanisms to be used, e.g. by negotiation between the client and the server or between peers or by selection according to the capabilities of the entities involved negotiation of communication capabilities H04L69/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/73 Access point logical identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes at least one communication module and a processor configured to control the at least one communication module. The processor is configured to verify properties of at least one communication network accessed by the electronic device through the at least one communication module, to determine an authentication scheme to be applied to a communication connection between the electronic device and an external electronic device and to establish the communication connection such that the external electronic device accesses the at least one communication network through the electronic device based on the authentication scheme.

Claims

1. A user equipment (UE), comprising:

at least one communication module; and

a processor operatively coupled to the at least one communication module,

wherein the processor is configured to;

through the at least one communication module, access to a communication network,

identify properties of the communication network accessed by the UE through the at least one communication module, wherein the properties comprise a type of the communication network, wherein the type of the communication network comprises a first communication network to which a charging policy is applied, and a second communication network to which the charging policy is not applied,

determine an authentication scheme to be applied to a communication connection between the UE and an external UE, based on the properties, and

establish, based on the authentication scheme, the communication connection such that the external UE accesses the communication network through the UE, and

wherein the processor is further configured to;

in response to determining that the type of the communication network is the first communication network, determine the authentication scheme as a WPA (Wi-Fi protected access) or a WPA2-preshared key (PSK), and

in response to determining that the type of the communication network is the second communication network, determine the authentication scheme as open.

2. The UE of claim 1, wherein the properties further comprise an authentication scheme of the communication network, a data rate of the communication network, or a network operator of the communication network, or any combination thereof.

3. The UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication module comprises:

a first communication module configured to access the second communication network; and

a second communication module configured to establish the communication connection between the external UE and the UE.

4. The UE of claim 3,

wherein the first communication module comprises a first wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) network controller, and

wherein the second communication module comprises a second Wi-Fi network controller.

5. A user equipment (UE), comprising:

at least one communication module; and

a processor operatively coupled to the at least one communication module,

wherein the processor is configured to;

identify an authentication scheme applied to a communication connection between the UE and an external UE,

select, based on the authentication scheme, a communication network among a first communication network to which a charging policy is applied, and a second communication network to which the charging policy is not applied,

through the at least one communication module, access the selected communication network, and

perform tethering for the external UE such that the external UE accesses the selected communication network through the UE, and

wherein the processor is further configured to;

in response to identifying that the authentication scheme is a WPA (Wi-Fi protected access) or a WPA2-preshared key (PSK), select the first communication network, and

in response to identifying that the authentication scheme is open, select the second communication network.

6. The UE of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to verify the authentication scheme in response to a connection request received from the external UE.

7. The UE of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to provide a user interface (UI) for notifying the first communication network and the second communication network.

8. The UE of claim 5,

wherein the first communication network corresponds to a cellular network, and

wherein the second communication network corresponds to a local-area wireless communication network.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing thereon instructions for, when executed by at least one processor, performing operations, the operations comprising:

accessing to a communication network;

identifying properties of the communication network accessed by a user equipment (UE), wherein the properties comprise a type of the communication network, wherein the type of the communication network comprises a first communication network to which a charging policy is applied, and a second communication network to which the charging policy is not applied;

determining an authentication scheme to be applied to a communication connection between the UE and an external UE, based on the properties; and

establishing, based on the authentication scheme, the communication connection such that the external UE accesses the communication network through the UE,

wherein determining of the authentication scheme comprises;

in response to determining that the type of the communication network is the first communication network, determining the authentication scheme as a WPA (Wi-Fi protected access) or a WPA2-preshared key (PSK), and

in response to determining that the type of the communication network is the second communication network, determining the authentication scheme as open.