Method for wireless easy connect

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9351158-B2
Application number	US-201414190437-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2014
Priority date	Mar 8, 2013
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

A consumer appliance or product having a Wi-Fi embedded device may be connected to a wireless local area network (WLAN) without users having to change networks on their “personal device” e.g., personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone, etc., or having to access the Wi-Fi embedded device in any way, e.g., transparent setup and connection to the user. A specially transmitted data packet, beacon, or other broadcast packet from a client connected to wireless local area network (WLAN) may be used to send an encrypted equivalent of a last stage Wi-Fi protected setup (WPS) transfer that provides network commissioning information to the Wi-Fi embedded device so that it may automatically connect to the WLAN.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for connecting a wireless device to a wireless network, said method comprising the steps of:
listening for a trigger code when the wireless device is powered on;
sending the trigger code from a user device, wherein the trigger code is sent through a wireless router of the wireless network;
receiving the trigger code with the wireless device;
transmitting recognition information from the wireless device to the user device;
creating a pair-wise key from the recognition information;
handshaking on the pair-wise key between the wireless device and the user device;
sending wireless router access information from the user device;
receiving the wireless router access information with the wireless device; and
sending the wireless router access information from the wireless device to the wireless router to join the wireless network as a client.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the user device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a game box, and a smart television.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless router access information is a payload comprising a service set identification (SSID) and a password (PW).

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
encrypting the wireless router access information before the step of sending; and
decrypting the wireless router access information after the step of receiving the wireless router access information.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of sending the wireless router access information from the wireless device to the wireless router comprises the steps of changing mode of the wireless device to a client station and then sending the wireless router access information from the wireless device to the wireless router to join the wireless network.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is embedded in a product.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of a thermostat, a security system, a baby monitor, a telephone answering machine, an electric car charger, a sprinkler system, and a light.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is embedded in an appliance.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the appliance is selected from the group consisting of a toaster, refrigerator, oven, washing machine, a warming tray, a coffee pot, an iron, a vacuum, and a clothes dryer.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the user device is a smart phone.

12. A method for connecting a wireless device to a wireless network, said method comprising the steps of:
listening for a trigger code when the wireless device is powered on;
sending connection information comprising a trigger code and a payload from a user device, wherein the payload comprises wireless router access information, wherein the trigger code and the payload are sent through a wireless router of the wireless network;
receiving the connection information with the wireless device; and
sending the wireless router access information from the wireless device to the wireless router to join the wireless network as a client.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the user device is a smart phone.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the user device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a game box, and a smart television.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the wireless router access information comprises a service set identification (SSID) and a password (PW).

16. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
encrypting the payload before the step of sending; and
decrypting the payload after the step of receiving the connection information.

17. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of sending the wireless router access information from the wireless device to the wireless router comprises the steps of changing a mode of the wireless device to a client station and then sending the wireless router access information from the client station wireless device to the wireless router to join the wireless network.

18. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

19. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the wireless device is embedded in a product.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of a thermostat, a security system, a baby monitor, a telephone answering machine, an electric car charger, a sprinkler system, and a light.

21. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the wireless device is embedded in an appliance.

22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein the appliance is selected from the group consisting of a toaster, refrigerator, oven, washing machine, a warming tray, a coffee pot, an iron, a vacuum, and a clothes dryer.

23. A method for connecting a wireless device to a wireless network, said method comprising the steps of:
sending connection information from the wireless device, wherein the connection information is sent through a wireless router of the wireless network;
listening for the connection information with a user device;
verifying validity of the connection information;
connecting the user device to the wireless device when the connection information is validated;
sending wireless router access information from the user device;
receiving the wireless router access information with the embedded device; and
sending the wireless router access information from the wireless device to the wireless router to join the wireless network as a client.

24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the user device is a smart phone.

25. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the user device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a game box, and a smart television.

26. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the connection information comprises beacons having a specific object identifier (OID) and embedded device identification (ID).

27. The method according to claim 26 , wherein the step of listening for the connection information from the wireless device comprises the steps of scanning channels with the user device and listening for the beacons having the specific OID and ID.

28. The method according to claim 23 , wherein wireless router access information comprises a service set identification (SSID) and a password (PW).

29. The method according to claim 23 , further comprising the steps of:
encrypting the wireless router access information before the step of sending from the user device; and
decrypting the wireless router access information after the step of receiving with the embedded device.

30. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the step of sending the wireless router access information from the wireless device to the wireless router comprises the steps of changing a mode of the wireless device to a client station and then sending the wireless router access information from the client station wirele

Assignees

• Microchip Tech Inc

Inventors

• Wright Mark
• Ko Nohee

Classifications

• H04L63/18

  using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215) · CPC title

• H04L63/0853

  using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234) · CPC title

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04W12/04 Primary

  Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA] · CPC title

• H04W12/50 Primary

  Secure pairing of devices · CPC title