Handling of unique identifiers for stations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11678256-B2
Application number	US-202117390147-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 an access point to provide one or more features, the method comprising:
outputting a unique identifier request to a station, 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;
receiving a unique identifier response from the station, wherein the unique identifier request and the unique identifier response are wireless communications;
determining that the station supports creating and delivering the unique identifier based on an indication provided within the unique identifier response;
determining that the unique identifier response provides the unique identifier to be used for the station;
providing access to the one or more features to the station based on the unique identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the unique identifier response provides the unique identifier is based on whether the unique identifier is present within the unique identifier response or whether the unique identifier response provides an indication whether the unique identifier is provided by the 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 response comprises an identifier duration field.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
using the unique identifier for a duration of time indicated by the identifier duration field.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
storing the unique identifier for the duration of time indicated by the identifier duration field.

7. 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.

8. An access point for providing one or more features, the access point comprising:
a memory storing one or more instructions;
a processor configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to perform one or more operations to:
output a unique identifier request to a station, 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;
receives a unique identifier response from the station, wherein the unique identifier request and the unique identifier response are wireless communications;
determine that the station supports creating and delivering the unique identifier based on an indication provided within the unique identifier response; and
determine that the unique identifier response provides the unique identifier to be used for the station; and
providing access to the one or more features to the station based on the unique identifier.

9. The access point of claim 8 , wherein determining that the unique identifier response provides the unique identifier is based on whether the unique identifier is present within the unique identifier response or whether the unique identifier response provides an indication whether the unique identifier is provided by the 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 response comprises an identifier duration field.

12. The access point of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to further perform the one or more operations to:
use the unique identifier for a duration of time indicated by the identifier duration field.

13. The access point device 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:
store the unique identifier for the duration of time indicated by the identifier duration field.

14. 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.

15. One or more non-transitory computer readable media of an access point storing one or more instructions that when executed by a processor of the access point cause the access point to perform one or more operations comprising:
outputting a unique identifier request to a station, 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;
receiving a unique identifier response from the station, wherein the unique identifier request and the unique identifier response are wireless communications;
determining whether a unique identifier is provided within the unique identifier response;
determining that the station supports creating and delivering the unique identifier based on an indication provided within the unique identifier response;
determining that the unique identifier response provides the unique identifier to be used for the station; and
providing access to the one or more features to the station based on the unique identifier.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein determining that the unique identifier response provides the unique identifier is based on whether the unique identifier is present within the unique identifier response or whether the unique identifier response provides an indication whether the unique identifier is provided by the response.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the unique identifier request comprises an identification of a type of network provided by the access point.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the unique identifier response comprises an identifier duration field.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18 , using the unique identifier for a duration of time indicated by the identifier duration field.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18 , wherein the one or more instructions when further executed cause the access point to perform one or more further operations comprising:
storing the unique identifier for the duration of time indicated by the identifier duration field.

Assignees

• Arris Entpr Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H04W12/71

  Hardware identity · CPC title

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04W48/16

  Discovering, processing access restriction or access information · CPC title

• H04W12/69

  Identity-dependent · CPC title

• H04W8/24

  Transfer of terminal data · CPC title