Methods and apparatus to discover authentication information in a wireless networking environment

• US 9,572,030 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: McCann, Stephen, Montemurro, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLDER, BRADLEY W
• Application Number:
  US14/594,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20150128232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• 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 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Examples to discover network authentication information in a wireless network involve transmitting during network discovery and prior to authentication, a Generic Advertisement Services (GAS) request to a network access point. The request requests authentication information. In addition, a response to the request is received from the network access point. The network authentication information is retrieved from the response. The network authentication information includes a re-direct frame.

Claims

1. A method to discover network authentication information in a wireless network, the method comprising:

transmitting, from a wireless terminal, during network discovery and prior to authentication, a Generic Advertisement Service (GAS) request to a network access point, the GAS request requesting network authentication information;

receiving a response to the GAS request from the network access point; and

retrieving from the response, the network authentication information, wherein the network authentication information includes an authentication type information and a re-direct uniform resource locator (URL) frame, wherein the authentication type information indicates that the wireless terminal uses the re-direct URL frame to perform at least one of;

(a) acceptance of terms and conditions, or (b) hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP)/hyper text transfer protocol secure (HTTPS) redirection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication type information indicates that the wireless terminal performs at least one of:

(a) on-line login enrollment, or (b) domain name server (DNS) redirection.

3. An apparatus to discover network authentication information in a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

a hardware processor configured to;

transmit during network discovery and prior to authentication, a Generic Advertisement Service (GAS) request to a network access point, the request requesting network authentication information;

receive a response to the GAS request from the network access point; and

retrieve from the response, the network authentication information, wherein the network authentication information includes an authentication type information and a re-direct uniform resource locator (URL) frame, wherein the authentication type information indicates that the wireless terminal uses the re-direct URL frame to perform at least one of;

(a) acceptance of terms and conditions, or (b) hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP)/hyper text transfer protocol secure (HTTPS) redirection.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the authentication type information indicates that the apparatus performs at least one of:

(a) on-line login enrollment, or (b) domain name server (DNS) redirection.

5. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a wireless terminal to at least:

transmit during network discovery and prior to authentication, a Generic Advertisement Service (GAS) request to a network access point, the request requesting network authentication information;

receive a response to the GAS request from the network access point; and

retrieve from the response, the network authentication information, wherein the network authentication information includes an authentication type information and a re-direct uniform resource locator (URL) frame, wherein the authentication type information indicates that the wireless terminal uses the re-direct URL frame to perform at least one of;

(a) acceptance of terms and conditions, or (b) hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP)/hyper text transfer protocol secure (HTTPS) redirection.

6. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the authentication type information indicates that the wireless terminal performs at least one of:

(a) on-line login enrollment, or (b) domain name server (DNS) redirection.