Handling of unique identifiers for stations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11109302-B2
Application number	US-202016743623-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2020
Priority date	Jan 15, 2019
Publication date	Aug 31, 2021
Grant date	Aug 31, 2021

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate an exchange of messages between an access point and a station, wherein the access point requests a unique identifier from the station. The station may either respond with a message declining to provide a unique identifier or respond with a message including a unique identifier to be used by the access point for the station. The response from the station may include additional limitations on the use of the unique identifier by the access point. The access point may enforce different policies against a station depending upon how the station responds to the unique identifier request.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method comprising:
outputting a unique identifier request to a station, wherein the unique identifier request is output from an access point;
receiving, at the access point, a unique identifier response from the station;
determining whether a unique identifier is provided within the unique identifier response; and
providing access to one or more features offered to the station by the access point based on the determination, wherein the unique identifier response comprises an identifying value associated with the station, wherein the access point uses the identifying value across association events to consistently identify the station.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the providing access comprises enabling one or more features offered to the station by the access point based on the determination of whether the unique identifier is provided within the unique identifier response.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier request comprises an identification of a type of network provided by the access point.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier request comprises an identification of an encryption status of a network provided by the access point.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier response comprises an identification of a duration for which the access point can use the unique identifier.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier request is output after an association between the station and the access point has been completed.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein, when the unique identifier response does not include an identification of a duration for which the access point can use the unique identifier, the access point continues to store the unique identifier for the station after the association between the station and the access point is ended.

8. An access point that:
outputs a unique identifier request to a station;
receives a unique identifier response from the station;
determines whether a unique identifier is provided within the unique identifier response; and
provide access to one or more features offered to the station by the access point based on the determination, wherein the unique identifier response comprises an identifying value associated with the station, wherein the access point uses the identifying value across association events to consistently identify the station.

9. The access point of claim 8 , wherein the providing access comprises enabling one or more features offered to the station by the access point based on the determination of whether the unique identifier is provided within the unique identifier response.

10. The access point of claim 8 , wherein the unique identifier request comprises an identification of a type of network provided by the access point.

11. The access point of claim 8 , wherein the unique identifier request comprises an identification of an encryption status of a network provided by the access point.

12. The access point of claim 8 , wherein the unique identifier response comprises an identification of a duration for which the access point can use the unique identifier.

13. The access point of claim 8 , wherein the unique identifier request is output after an association between the station and the access point has been completed.

14. One or more non-transitory computer readable media having instructions operable to cause one or more processors to perform the operations comprising:
outputting a unique identifier request to a station, wherein the unique identifier request is output from an access point;
receiving, at the access point, a unique identifier response from the station;
determining whether a unique identifier is provided within the unique identifier response; and
providing access to one or more features offered to the station by the access point based on the determination, wherein the unique identifier response comprises an identifying value associated with the station, wherein the access point uses the identifying value across association events to consistently identify the station.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14 , wherein:
the providing access comprises enabling one or more features offered to the station by the access point based on the determination of whether the unique identifier is provided within the unique identifier response.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14 , wherein the unique identifier request comprises an identification of a type of network provided by the access point.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14 , wherein the unique identifier request comprises an identification of an encryption status of a network provided by the access point.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14 , wherein the unique identifier response comprises an identification of a duration for which the access point can use the unique identifier.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14 , wherein the unique identifier request is output after an association between the station and the access point has been completed.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19 , wherein, when the unique identifier response does not include an identification of a duration for which the access point can use the unique identifier, the access point continues to store the unique identifier for the station after the association between the station and the access point is ended.

Assignees

• Arris Entpr Llc

Inventors

• Ansley Carol
• Strater Jay
• Lumbatis Kurt
• Hamilton Mark

Classifications

• H04W88/08

  Access point devices · CPC title

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04W12/69

  Identity-dependent · CPC title

• H04W12/02 Primary

  Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII] · CPC title

• H04W8/26

  Network addressing or numbering for mobility support · CPC title