Handling of unique identifiers for stations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11678255-B2
Application number	US-202117390076-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2021
Priority date	Jan 15, 2019
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

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 for generating a unique identifier response by a station associated with a network, the method comprising:
receiving a unique identifier request from an access point, wherein the unique identifier request includes a request that the station respond with a unique identifier that is to be used by the access point for the station;
determining that a unique identifier generation feature is enabled;
generating a unique identifier response, wherein the unique identifier response includes a unique identifier for the station; and
outputting the unique identifier response to the access point.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
determining a type of the network with which the station is associated; and
determining an encryption status of the network.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining that the unique identifier generation feature is enabled comprises determining that the unique identifier generation features is enabled for the type of network, the encryption status, or both.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier response includes an indication that the station is providing the unique identifier that is to be used by the access point for the station.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
accessing one or more services or one or more features enabled by the access point device based on the unique identifier.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
associating the station with the access point.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier request comprises at least one of:
an identifier query action field, wherein the identifier query action field indicates whether the station supports an identifier query action frame;
an identifier length field, wherein the identifier length field identifies a length of the unique identifier; and
an identifier duration field, wherein the identifier duration field indication a duration of time that the access point can use the unique identifier.

8. A station for generating a unique identifier response, the station comprising:
a memory storing one or more computer-readable instructions;
a processor configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to perform one or more operations to:
receive the unique identifier request from an access point, wherein the unique identifier request includes a request that the station respond with a unique identifier that is to be used by the access point for the station;
determine that a unique identifier generation feature is enabled;
generate a unique identifier response, wherein the unique identifier response includes a unique identifier for the station; and
output the unique identifier response to the access point.

9. The station of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to further perform the one or more operations to:
determine a type of the network with which the station is associated; and
determine an encryption status of the network.

10. The station of claim 9 , wherein determining that the unique identifier generation feature is enabled comprises determining that the unique identifier generation features is enabled for the type of network, the encryption status, or both.

11. The station of claim 8 , wherein the unique identifier response includes an indication that the station is providing the unique identifier that is to be used by the access point for the station.

12. The station of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to further perform the one or more operations to:
access one or more services or one or more features enabled by the access point device based on the unique identifier.

13. The station of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to further perform the one or more operations to:
associate the station with the access point.

14. The station of claim 8 , wherein the unique identifier request comprises at least one of:
an identifier query action field, wherein the identifier query action field indicates whether the station supports an identifier query action frame;
an identifier length field, wherein the identifier length field identifies a length of the unique identifier; and
an identifier duration field, wherein the identifier duration field indication a duration of time that the access point can use the unique identifier.

15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media of a station storing one or more instructions that when executed by a processor of the station cause the station to perform one or more operations comprising:
receive the unique identifier request from an access point, wherein the unique identifier request includes a request that the station respond with a unique identifier that is to be used by the access point for the station;
determine that a unique identifier generation feature is enabled;
generate a unique identifier response, wherein the unique identifier response includes a unique identifier for the station; and
output the unique identifier response to the access point.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to further perform the one or more operations to:
determine a type of the network with which the station is associated; and
determine an encryption status of the network.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein determining that the unique identifier generation feature is enabled comprises determining that the unique identifier generation features is enabled for the type of network, the encryption status, or both.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein determining that the unique identifier generation feature is enabled comprises determining that the unique identifier generation features is enabled for the type of network, the encryption status, or both.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to further perform the one or more operations to:
access one or more services or one or more features enabled by the access point device based on the unique identifier.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the unique identifier request comprises at least one of:
an identifier query action field, wherein the identifier query action field indicates whether the station supports an identifier query action frame;
an identifier length field, wherein the identifier length field identifies a length of the unique identifier; and
an identifier duration field, wherein the identifier duration field indication a duration of time that the access point can use the unique identifier.

Assignees

• Arris Entpr Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04W88/08

  Access point devices · CPC title

• H04W12/02 Primary

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

• H04W48/08 Primary

  Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery (signalling during connection H04W76/00) · CPC title

• H04W12/71

  Hardware identity · CPC title