Enabling Wireless Connectivity for Devices

• US 20150250021A1
• Filed: 02/28/2014
• Published: 09/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Salvador, Andy P., Stice, Michael David
• Granted Patent: US 9,451,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3051 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the configuration of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring the presence of processing resources, peripherals, I/O links, software programs verification or detection of system hardware configuration G06F11/2247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/00 Data switching networks interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0884 by delegation of authentication, e.g. a proxy authenticates an entity to be authenticated on behalf of this entity vis-à-vis an authentication entity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for enabling wireless connectivity for devices. A device can pair with a peripheral device and initiate provisioning of services to support communication with a network via the peripheral device. The device can detect completion of the provisioning, and communicate with the network via the peripheral device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

pairing, by a processor executing an access application, with a peripheral device;

initiating, by the processor, provisioning of services to support communication with a network via the peripheral device;

detecting, by the processor, completion of the provisioning; and

communicating, by the processor, with the network via the peripheral device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein pairing with the peripheral device comprises discovering the peripheral device in a proximity of the processor, and wherein the peripheral device is in a discover mode in response to activation of a switch of the peripheral device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating, by the processor, authentication with the network; and

detecting, by the processor, completion of the authenticating.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating with the network comprises:

transmitting data to the network via a peripheral transceiver of the peripheral device; and

receiving data from the network via the peripheral transceiver.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the peripheral device receives the data from the network via a wireless connectivity module included in the peripheral device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the peripheral device receives the data from the network via a wireless connectivity module transceiver included in the wireless connectivity module.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the peripheral transceiver communicates using a first wireless protocol, and wherein the wireless connectivity module transceiver communicates using a second wireless protocol.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the network comprises a wide area network, wherein the peripheral device comprises a battery that powers the peripheral device, and wherein the battery powers the wireless connectivity module transceiver.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device comprises a wireless connectivity module transceiver and an identity module, and wherein the wireless connectivity module transceiver is powered by a battery that powers the peripheral device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device receives data from the network via a wireless connectivity module transceiver, relays the data to peripheral modules of the peripheral device, and transmits the data to the processor via a peripheral transceiver included in the peripheral modules.

11. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

pairing with a peripheral device,

initiating provisioning of services to support communication with a network via the peripheral device,

detecting completion of the provisioning, and

communicating with the network via the peripheral device.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a wireless transceiver that communicates with the peripheral device via a peripheral transceiver of the peripheral device using a first wireless protocol, wherein the peripheral device communicates with the network using a wireless connectivity module transceiver using a second wireless protocol.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein communicating with the network comprises:

transmitting data to the network via the peripheral transceiver and the wireless connectivity module transceiver; and

receiving data from the network via the peripheral transceiver and the wireless connectivity module transceiver.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the network comprises a wide area network, wherein the peripheral device comprises a battery that powers the peripheral device, and wherein the battery powers a wireless connectivity module transceiver via which the peripheral device communicates with the network.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the peripheral device comprises a wireless connectivity module transceiver and an identity module, wherein the peripheral device authenticates with the network using the wireless connectivity module transceiver and the identity module, and wherein the wireless connectivity module transceiver is powered by a battery that powers the peripheral device.

16. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

pairing with a peripheral device;

initiating authenticating of the peripheral device;

initiating provisioning of services to support communication with a network via the peripheral device;

detecting completion of the authenticating and the provisioning; and

communicating with the network via the peripheral device.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the peripheral device receives the data from the network via a wireless connectivity module included in the peripheral device.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the network comprises a wide area network, wherein the peripheral device comprises a battery that powers the peripheral device, and wherein the battery powers the wireless connectivity module transceiver.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the peripheral device receives data from the network via a wireless connectivity module transceiver, wherein the peripheral device relays the data to peripheral modules of the peripheral device, and wherein the peripheral device transmits the data to the processor via a peripheral transceiver included in the peripheral modules.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 16, wherein the peripheral device comprises a data input device, and wherein the network comprises a cellular network.