Protected pre-association station identification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12317169-B2
Application number	US-202117538463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2021
Priority date	Jan 15, 2019
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

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 initiates a secure connection with the access point prior to associating with the access point. 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 via the secure connection. 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 the station depending upon how the station responds to the unique identifier request. A station can provide a user interface for the configuration of the unique identifier based on one or more configuration parameters.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for generating a unique identifier associated with a station in a network, the method comprising:
determining that the network supports use of the unique identifier;
determining a status of a unique identifier setting;
configuring a unique identifier user interface based on the status and the determination that the network supports use of the unique identifier;
providing to a display device the unique identifier user interface;
receiving via the unique identifier user interface one or more unique identifier configuration parameters;
generating the unique identifier associated with the station based on at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters; and
sending a message to the network, wherein the message comprises the unique identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
establishing a secure connection with an access point of the network; and
receiving a request from the access point for the unique identifier.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the request comprises a unique identifier request action frame from the access point.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
storing the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters, wherein the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters comprise the unique identifier and a service set identifier (SSID);
after receiving the request, determining the unique identifier based on the request, wherein the request comprises a network SSID;
generating a unique identifier response action frame based on the unique identifier, wherein sending the message to the network comprises sending the unique identifier response action frame to the access point; and
accessing one or more features of the network based on the unique identifier response action frame.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the configuring the unique identifier user interface comprises:
retrieving one or more previously stored unique identifier configuration parameters associated with the unique identifier; and
providing to the unique identifier user interface the one or more previously stored unique identifier configuration parameters;

wherein the receiving the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters comprises updating the one or more previously stored unique identifier configuration parameters with the received one or more unique identifier configuration parameters; and
storing the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining that the unique identifier has expired based on at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters;
deleting the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters associated with the unique identifier.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters comprises any of a unique identifier, a service set identifier (SSID), a unique identifier setting, a unique identifier duration, or any combination thereof.

8. A station for generating a unique identifier associated with the station in a network, the station comprising:
a memory storing one or more computer-readable instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to:
determine that the network supports use of the unique identifier;
determine a status of a unique identifier setting;
configure a unique identifier user interface based on the status and the determination that the network supports use of the unique identifier;
provide to a display device the unique identifier user interface;
receive via the unique identifier user interface one or more unique identifier configuration parameters;
generate the unique identifier associated with the station based on at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters; and
send a message to the network, wherein the message comprises the unique identifier.

9. The station of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to:
establish a secure connection with an access point of the network; and
receive a request from the access point for the unique identifier.

10. The station of claim 9 , wherein the request comprises a unique identifier request action frame from the access point.

11. The station of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to:
store the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters, wherein the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters comprise the unique identifier and a service set identifier (SSID);
after receiving the request, determine the unique identifier based on the request, wherein the request comprises a network SSID;
generate a unique identifier response action frame based on the unique identifier, wherein sending the message to the network comprises sending the unique identifier response action frame to the access point; and
access one or more features of the network based on the unique identifier response action frame.

12. The station of claim 8 , wherein:
the configuring the unique identifier user interface comprises:
retrieving one or more previously stored unique identifier configuration parameters associated with the unique identifier; and
providing to the unique identifier user interface the one or more previously stored unique identifier configuration parameters;

the receiving the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters comprises updating the one or more previously stored unique identifier configuration parameters with the received one or more unique identifier configuration parameters; and
the processor is further configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to:
store the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters.

13. The station of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to:
determine that the unique identifier has expired based on at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters;
delete the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters associated with the unique identifier.

14. The station of claim 8 , wherein the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters comprises any of a unique identifier, a service set identifier (SSID), a unique identifier setting, a unique identifier duration, or any combination thereof.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium of a station storing one or more computer-readable instructions for generating a unique identifier associated with the station in a network, the one or more computer-readable instructions that when executed by a processor of the station cause the station to perform one or more operations comprising:
determining that the network supports use of the unique identifier;
determining a status of a unique identifier setting;
configuring a unique identifier user interface based on the status and the determination that the network supports use of the unique identifier;
providing to a display device the unique identifier user interface;
receiving via the unique identifier user interface one or more unique identifier configuration parameters;
generating the unique identifier associated with the station based on at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters; and
sending a message to the network, wherein the message comprises the unique identifier.

Assignees

• Ruckus Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Lumbatis Kurt A
• Hamilton Mark

Classifications

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04W48/16

  Discovering, processing access restriction or access information · CPC title

• H04W8/26

  Network addressing or numbering for mobility support · CPC title

• H04W76/11 Primary

  Allocation or use of connection identifiers · CPC title

• H04W48/08 Primary

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