IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,165,448
Granted Patent B2
US 10,165,448 · App. 15/074,119 · Granted Dec 25, 2018

Authentication between wireless client and access point utilizing smart client detection

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,165,448
App. No.
15/074,119
Filed
Mar 18, 2016
Granted
Dec 25, 2018
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2439
USPC
726/3
Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable media may be operable to facilitate an automated pairing between an access point and station through a secure setup procedure. An access point may enter into an auto-connection mode after a boot of the access point, and while operating in the auto-connection mode, the access point may identify a station by retrieving attribute information carried by a probe request that is output from the station. The access point may compare the retrieved attribute information to one or more criteria attributes, and if the retrieved attribute information associated with the station matches the one or more criteria attributes, the access point may be placed into a secure setup mode. While the access point is in the secure setup mode, the station from which the probe request was received may be paired with the access point.

Claims (47)

1. A method comprising:

detecting an auto-connection mode trigger, wherein the auto-connection mode trigger comprises a boot of an access point, wherein the boot is of a boot type designated for enabling the auto-connection mode;

starting an auto-connection mode timer;

enabling an auto-connection mode at the access point;

receiving, at the access point, a probe request from a device;

determining that the auto-connection mode timer has not expired;

retrieving one or more attributes from the probe request, wherein the attributes comprise identification information associated with one or more identifying features of the device, wherein at least one of the one or more retrieved attributes comprises an information element serving to identify at least one of: a manufacturer of the device; a model name associated with the device; a model number associated with the device;

comparing the one or more retrieved attributes to one or more pre-configured criteria attributes, wherein the one or more pre-configured criteria attributes comprise one or more criteria attributes that are required for enabling a secure setup mode at the access point;

determining that one or more retrieved attributes match one or more of the pre-configured criteria attributes;

based upon the determination that one or more retrieved attributes match one or more of the pre-configured criteria attributes:

enabling a secure setup mode at the access point; and

pairing the device with the access point.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the auto-connection mode is enabled for a predetermined duration of time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the secure setup mode comprises a wireless protected setup mode.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the boot type designated for enabling the auto-connection mode comprises an initial boot of the access point during installation of the access point.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more retrieved attributes comprises a unique identifier associated with the device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more retrieved attributes comprises an indication that the device is operating in a secure setup mode.

7. An apparatus comprising:

an interface that receives a probe request from a device; and

one or more modules that:

detect an auto-connection mode trigger, wherein the auto-connection mode trigger comprises a boot of an access point, wherein the boot is of a boot type designated for enabling the auto-connection mode;

start an auto-connection mode timer;

enable an auto-connection mode based on the detection of the auto-connection mode trigger;

determine that the auto-connection mode timer has not expired;

retrieve one or more attributes from the probe request, wherein the attributes comprise identification information associated with one or more identifying features of the device, wherein at least one of the one or more retrieved attributes comprises an information element serving to identify at least one of: a manufacturer of the device; a model name associated with the device; a model number associated with the device;

compare the one or more retrieved attributes to one or more pre-configured criteria attributes, wherein the one or more pre-configured criteria attributes comprise one or more criteria attributes that are required for enabling a secure setup mode at the access point;

determine that one or more retrieved attributes match one or more of the pre-configured criteria attributes;

based upon the determination that one or more retrieved attributes match one or more of the pre-configured criteria attributes:

enable a secure setup mode at the access point; and

establish a wireless connection with the device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the auto-connection mode is enabled for a predetermined duration of time.

9. One or more non-transitory computer readable media having instructions operable to cause one or more processors to perform the operations comprising:

detecting an auto-connection mode trigger, wherein the auto-connection mode trigger comprises a boot of an access point, wherein the boot is of a boot type designated for enabling the auto-connection mode;

starting an auto-connection timer;

enabling an auto-connection mode at the access point;

receiving, at the access point, a probe request from a device;

determining that the auto-connection timer has not expired;

retrieving one or more attributes from the probe request, wherein the attributes comprise identification information associated with one or more identifying features of the device, wherein at least one of the one or more retrieved attributes comprises an information element serving to identify at least one of: a manufacturer of the device; a model name associated with the device; a model number associated with the device;

comparing the one or more retrieved attributes to one or more pre-configured criteria attributes, wherein the one or more pre-configured criteria attributes comprise one or more criteria attributes that are required for enabling a secure setup mode at the access point;

determining that one or more retrieved attributes match one or more of the pre-configured criteria attributes;

based upon the determination that one or more retrieved attributes match one or more of the pre-configured criteria attributes:

enabling a secure setup mode at the access point; and

pairing the device with the access point.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the auto-connection mode is enabled for a predetermined duration of time.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the boot type designated for enabling the auto-connection mode comprises an initial boot of the access point during installation of the access point.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the one or more retrieved attributes comprises a unique identifier associated with the device.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the one or more retrieved attributes comprises an indication that the device is operating in a secure setup mode.