METHODS OF AND SYSTEMS FOR REMOTELY CONFIGURING A WIRELESS DEVICE

• US 20130081113A1
• Filed: 09/26/2012
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cherian, George, Palanigounder, Anand
• Granted Patent: US 8,868,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1066 Session management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

A particular method includes transmitting a message from a first device to a second device. The message includes first information associated with identification of the first device. The first information enables the second device to obtain access data. The method also includes establishing a first communication link between the first device and the second device based on the access data. The method further includes receiving, via the first communication link, second information associated with establishment of a second communication link between the first device and a third device. The method also includes configuring the first device to establish the second communication link between the first device and the third device based on the second information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting a message from a first device to a second device, wherein the message comprises first information associated with identification of the first device, wherein the first information enables the second device to obtain access data;

establishing a first communication link between the first device and the second device based on the access data;

receiving, via the first communication link, second information associated with establishment of a second communication link between the first device and a third device; and

configuring the first device to establish the second communication link between the first device and the third device based on the second information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a machine-to-machine communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the first device to operate in accordance with a first mode of operation, wherein the first device is configured to provide a wireless local area network while in the first mode of operation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the first communication link comprises:

receiving security information from the second device, wherein the security information is included in the access data; and

authenticating the second device based on the security information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving security information from the second device via the first communication link; and

authorizing the second device to program the second information to the first device, wherein an authentication to program the first device is granted based on a verification of the security information by the first device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

unlocking a portion of a memory of the first device in response to the first communication link being established; and

storing the second information received from the second device in the unlocked portion of the memory.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the first device to operate in accordance with a second mode of operation after receiving the second information, wherein, when the first device is in the second mode of operation, the first device is enabled to establish the second communication link with the third device, and wherein the second communication link enables the first device to access a wireless local area network provided by the third device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a second message from the first device to the second device via the third device.

9. A wireless communication device comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a message from a first device to a second device, wherein the message comprises first information associated with identification of the first device, wherein the first information enables the second device to obtain access data;

a receiver configured, based on the access data, to receive, via a first communication link between the first device and the second device, second information associated with establishment of a second communication link between the first device and a third device; and

a processor configured to program the first device to establish the second communication link between the first device and the third device based on the second information.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to establish the first communication link.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the access data is associated with establishing the first communication link between the first device and the second device.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the access data comprises security information associated with the first device.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the access data includes one or more instructions associated with an authentication procedure to enable the second device to establish the first communication link with the first device.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the first communication link comprises a first wireless link, and wherein the second communication link comprises a second wireless communication link.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the message comprises a beacon broadcasted from the first device, and wherein the first information associated with identifying the first device comprises an identification code associated with the first device.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the message further comprises third information associated with establishing the first communication link, and wherein the third information comprises a service set identification (SSID) associated with the first device.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the second information to establish the second communication link between the first device and the third device comprises a service set identification (SSID) associated with the third device, security information associated with the third device, or a combination thereof.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the access data is associated with establishing the first communication link between the first device and the second device.

19. An apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting a message from a first device to a second device, wherein the message comprises first information associated with identification of the first device, wherein the first information enables the second device to obtain access data;

means for establishing a first communication link between the first device and the second device based on the access data;

means for receiving, via the first communication link, second information associated with establishment of a second communication link between the first device and a third device; and

means for configuring the first device to establish the second communication link between the first device and the third device based on the second information.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for authorizing the second device to program the second information to the first device, wherein an authentication to program the first device is granted based on a verification by the first device of security information received from the second device.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for unlocking a portion of a memory of the first device in response to the first communication link being established; and

means for storing the second information received from the second device in the unlocked portion of the memory.

22. A processor-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

transmit a message from a first device to a second device, wherein the message comprises first information associated with identification of the first device, wherein the first information enables the second device to obtain access data;

receive, via a first communication link between the first device and the second device based on the access data, second information associated with establishment of a second communication link between the first device and a third device; and

configure the first device to establish the second communication link between the first device and the third device based on the second information.

23. A method comprising:

receiving, from a first device, a message at a second device, wherein the message comprises first information that identifies the first device;

obtaining access data associated with establishing a first communication link between the first device and the second device;

establishing the first communication link between the first device and the second device based on the message; and

transmitting to the first device, via the first communication link, second information associated with establishment of a second communication link between the first device and a third device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first device comprises a machine-to-machine communication device.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving the access data associated with the first device from a fourth device associated with a manufacturer of the first device; and

transmitting a portion of the access data to the first device via the first communication link prior to transmission of the second information.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the access data comprises security information configured to cause a portion of a memory of the first device to be unlocked.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the fourth device comprises a server associated with the manufacturer or a portable memory storage device provided by the manufacturer.

28. An wireless communication device comprising:

a receiver configured to;

receive, from a first device, a message at a second device, wherein the message comprises first information that identifies the first device; and

receive access data associated with establishing a first communication link between the first device and the second device;

a processor configured to generate instructions to establish the first communication link between the first device and the second device based on the message; and

a transmitter configured to transmit to the first device, via the first communication link, second information associated with establishment of a second communication link between the first device and a third device.

29. The wireless communication device of claim 28, wherein the message received from the first device further comprises an identification code associated with the first device, and wherein the first information comprises a service set identification (SSID) associated with the first device.

30. The wireless communication device of claim 28, wherein the message is received in a beacon broadcasted from the first device, wherein the second device operates as a station to establish the first communication link with the first device, and wherein the first device provides a wireless local area network.

31. The wireless communication device of claim 28, wherein the access data includes security information associated with the first device, and wherein establishing the first communication link comprises transmitting security information to the first device.

32. The wireless communication device of claim 28, wherein the second information enables the first device to establish the second communication link with the third device, and wherein the third device comprises an access point.

33. The wireless communication device of claim 28, wherein the first communication link is established in accordance with an authentication procedure, where the second device operates as a station and the first device operates as an access point during the authentication procedure.

34. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving, from a first device, a message at a second device, wherein the message comprises first information that identifies the first device;

means for obtaining access data associated with establishing a first communication link between the first device and the second device;

means for establishing the first communication link between the first device and the second device based on the message; and

means for transmitting to the first device, via the first communication link, second information associated with establishment of a second communication link between the first device and a third device.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

means for receiving the access data associated with the first device from a fourth device associated with a manufacturer of the first device; and

means for transmitting a portion of the access data to the first device via the first communication link prior to transmission of the second information.

36. A processor-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive, from a first device, a message at a second device, wherein the message comprises first information that identifies the first device;

receive access data associated with establishing a first communication link between the first device and the second device;

establish the first communication link between the first device and the second device based on the message; and

transmit to the first device, via the first communication link, second information associated with establishment of a second communication link between the first device and a third device.