Methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable media for connecting to network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12155654-B2
Application number	US-202017136161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2020
Priority date	Jan 7, 2020
Publication date	Nov 26, 2024
Grant date	Nov 26, 2024

Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a first network device from a second network device, a request to probe a network connected to the first network device. The request includes an identification of the second network device. The method also includes determining whether the second network device is authenticated to the network based on the identification. The method further includes in accordance with a determination that the second network device is authenticated to the network, causing a response to the received request to be transmitted to the second network device to enable a connection of the second network device to the network. In this way, the enrollee network device can be onboarded to the existing network in an easy and time-saving manner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A first network device comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program codes;
the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first network device at least to
receive from a second network device a request to probe a network connected to the first network device, the request comprising an identification of the second network device, the identification of the second network device including a group serial number and a device serial number of the second network device;
determine whether the second network device is authenticated to the network based on at least one of the group serial number and the device serial number of the second network device by
obtaining authentication information comprising a set of identifications of devices having been authenticated to the network, and
in accordance with a determination that the identification matches one of the set of identifications, determining that the second network device is authenticated to the network; and

in accordance with the determination that the second network device is authenticated to the network, cause a response to the received request to be transmitted to the second network device to enable an onboarding connection of the second network device to the network by
determining at least one candidate network device having also received the probe request from the second network device and connected to the network, the at least one candidate network device being under control of the first network device,
selecting a target network device from the at least one candidate network device and the first network device based on signal qualities of the probe request received at the at least one candidate network device and the first network device, and
causing the target network device to transmit the response to the second network device.

2. The first network device of claim 1 , wherein the first network device is caused to cause the response to be transmitted to the second network device by:
transmitting the response to the second network device, the response at least comprising the identification of the second network device.

3. The first network device of claim 2 , wherein transmitting the response to the second network device comprising:
transmitting to a third network device an indication that the request has been received at the first network device, the first network device being under control of the third network device; and
in response to being controlled by the third network device to respond to the second network device, transmitting the response to the second network device.

4. The first network device of claim 2 , wherein the response further comprises a further identification of the first network device, and the first network device is further caused to:
in response to receiving from the second network device a further request including the identification and the further identification, perform an onboarding connection setup procedure between the first network device and the second network device.

5. The first network device of claim 2 , wherein the response further comprises a credential for backhaul of the network, and the first network device is further caused to:
associate the second network device to a Basic Service Set, BSS, for the backhaul of the network based on the credential.

6. The first network device of claim 1 , wherein the identification of the second network device is comprised in a vendor specific information element of the request.

7. The first network device of claim 1 , wherein the
authentication information is generated at least partially by scanning of code associated with a device or enter of a serial number of a device.

8. The first network device of claim 1 , wherein the first network device is further caused to:
in accordance with the determination that the second network device is not authenticated to the network, discard the request.

9. A second network device comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program codes;
the at least one memory and the computer program codes are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the second network device at least to
upon being powered on, broadcast a request to probe a network connected to a first network device, the request comprising an identification of the second network device, the identification of the second network device including a group serial number and a device serial number of the second network device; and
receive from a target network device a response to the broadcast request to enable an onboarding connection of the second network device to the network, the target network device selected from at least one candidate network device having also received the probe request from the second network device and connected to the network based on signal qualities of the probe request received at the at least one candidate network device and the first network device, the at least one network device being under control of the first network device, the response transmitted in accordance with a determination that the identification of the second network device matches authentication information comprising a set of identifications of devices having been authenticated to the network, and in accordance with the determination that the identification of the second network device matches one of the set of identifications the second network device is authenticated to the network based on at least one of the group serial number and the device serial number of the second network device.

10. The second network device of claim 9 , wherein the second network device is further caused to:
in response to the response comprising the identification and a further identification of the first network device, transmit to the first network device a further request including the identification and the further identification; and
perform an onboarding connection setup procedure between the first network device and the second network device.

11. The second network device of claim 9 , wherein the second network device is further caused to:
in response to the response comprising the identification and a credential for backhaul of the network, transmit an association request to be associated to a Basic Service Set, BSS, for the backhaul of the network based on the credential.

12. The second network device of claim 9 , wherein the identification of the second network device is comprised in a vendor specific information element of the request.

13. A method of communication comprising:
receiving, at a first network device from a second network device, a request to probe a network connected to the first network device, the request comprising an identification of the second network device, the identification of the second network device including a group serial number and a device serial number of the second network device;
determining whether the second network device is authenticated to the network based on at least one of the group serial number and the device serial number of the second network device by
obtaining authentication information comprising a set of identifications of devices having been authenticated to the network, and
in accordance with a determination that the identification matches one of the set of identifications, determining that the second network device is authenticated to the network; and

in accordance with a determination that the second network device is authenticated to the network, causing a response to the receiv

Assignees

• Nokia Solutions & Networks Oy

Inventors

• Tan Jun
• Edwards Dennis
• Luo Ye
• Zhang Bangliang
• Huang Wenqin

Classifications

• H04L63/083

  using passwords (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226) · CPC title

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04W12/71

  Hardware identity · CPC title

• H04W48/18

  Selecting a network or a communication service · CPC title

• H04L63/0876 Primary

  based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint · CPC title