IP Library Granted Patent US 12,317,069
Granted Patent B2
US 12,317,069 · App. 17/538,558 · Granted May 27, 2025

Protected pre-association station identification

Inventors: Kurt A Lumbatis (Dacula, GA); Mark Hamilton (Superior, CO)
Assignee: Ruckus IP Holdings LLC
H04W12/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,317,069
App. No.
17/538,558
Filed
Nov 30, 2021
Granted
May 27, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2646
USPC
370/338
Abstract

An exchange of messages between an access point and a station can be facilitated, 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 including a unique identifier requirement message.

Claims (73)

1. A method for a station to respond to a unique identifier request action frame from an access point in a network, the method comprising:

receiving a unique identifier request action frame from the access point;

determining that a unique identifier associated with the station is required to access the network based on the unique identifier request action frame;

determining a unique identifier support status for the station;

configuring a unique identifier user interface based on the unique identifier support status;

providing to a display device one or more messages via the unique identifier user interface, wherein the one or more messages comprise a unique identifier requirement message;

generating a unique identifier response action frame based on the unique identifier support status; and

sending the unique identifier response action frame to the access point.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

disassociating from the access point based on the unique identifier support status.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier response action frame comprises a unique identifier with a zero length.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the unique identifier support status comprises:

determining that a unique identifier setting indicates a status of disabled.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the unique identifier support status for the station comprises:

querying a unique identifier database for one or more unique identifier configuration parameters; and

setting the unique identifier support status for the station based on at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein setting the unique identifier support status for the station based on the at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters comprises:

comparing a network SSID received from the access point to an SSID of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters; and

determining that a unique identifier is not associated with the network SSID based on the comparison.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after providing to the display device the unique identifier user interface, receiving one or more unique identifier configuration parameters associated with the station from the unique identifier user interface, wherein at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters indicate that the unique identifier setting is enabled;

generating a unique identifier based on at least one of the received one or more unique identifier configuration parameters;

generating an additional unique identifier response action frame based on the unique identifier; and

accessing one or more features of the network based on an additional unique identifier response action frame received from the access point.

8. A station for responding to a unique identifier request action frame from an access point 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:

receive a unique identifier request action frame from the access point;

determine that a unique identifier associated with the station is required to access the network based on the unique identifier request action frame;

determine a unique identifier support status for the station;

configure a unique identifier user interface based on the unique identifier support status;

provide to a display device one or more messages via the unique identifier user interface, wherein the one or more messages comprise a unique identifier requirement message;

generate a unique identifier response action frame based on the unique identifier support status; and

send the unique identifier response action frame to the access point.

9. The station of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to:

disassociate from the access point based on the unique identifier support status.

10. The station of claim 8 , wherein the unique identifier response action frame comprises a unique identifier with a zero length.

11. The station of claim 8 , wherein the determining the unique identifier support status comprises:

determining that a unique identifier setting indicates a status of disabled.

12. The station of claim 8 , wherein the determining the unique identifier support status for the station comprises:

querying a unique identifier database for one or more unique identifier configuration parameters; and

setting the unique identifier support status for the station based on at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters.

13. The station of claim 12 , wherein setting the unique identifier support status for the station based on the at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters comprises:

comparing a network SSID received from the access point to an SSID of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters; and

determining that a unique identifier is not associated with the network SSID based on the comparison.

14. The station of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more computer-readable instructions to:

after providing to the display device the unique identifier user interface, receiving one or more unique identifier configuration parameters associated with the station from the unique identifier user interface, wherein at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters indicate that the unique identifier setting is enabled;

generating a unique identifier based on at least one of the received one or more unique identifier configuration parameters;

generating an additional unique identifier response action frame based on the unique identifier; and

accessing one or more features of the network based on an additional unique identifier response action frame received from the access point.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium of a station storing one or more computer-readable instructions for responding to a unique identifier request action frame from an access point 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.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions when executed by the processor further cause the station to perform one or more further operations comprising:

disassociating from the access point based on the unique identifier support status.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the unique identifier response action frame comprises a unique identifier with a zero length.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein determining the unique identifier support status comprises:

determining that a unique identifier setting indicates a status of disabled;

querying a unique identifier database for one or more unique identifier configuration parameters; and

setting the unique identifier support status for the station based on at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein setting the unique identifier support status for the station based on the at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters comprises:

comparing a network SSID received from the access point to an SSID of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters; and

determining that a unique identifier is not associated with the network SSID based on the comparison.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions when executed by the processor further cause the station to perform one or more further operations comprising:

after providing to the display device the unique identifier user interface, receiving one or more unique identifier configuration parameters associated with the station from the unique identifier user interface, wherein at least one of the one or more unique identifier configuration parameters indicate that the unique identifier setting is enabled;

generating a unique identifier based on at least one of the received one or more unique identifier configuration parameters;

generating an additional unique identifier response action frame based on the unique identifier; and

accessing one or more features of the network based on an additional unique identifier response action frame received from the access point.

Assignments (10)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2026
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075476/0814 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 059350/0743 Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
Reel/Frame 074594/0156 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 59710/0506 Recorded Jan 9, 2026
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
Reel/Frame 074282/0522 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 059350/0921 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 069743/0704 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
To: RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 066399/0561 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 059710/0506 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059350/0921 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059350/0743 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2021
From: LUMBATIS, KURT A; HAMILTON, MARK
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 058315/0070 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation In Part 17406757 · Aug 19, 2021
Continuation In Part 17406692 · Aug 19, 2021
Continuation In Part 17514232 · Oct 29, 2021
Continuation In Part 16743623 · Jan 15, 2020
Continuation In Part 16743623 · Jan 15, 2020
Continuation In Part 16743623 · Jan 15, 2020
Provisional Application 62792744 · Jan 15, 2019
Provisional Application 62875279 · Jul 17, 2019
Related Publication 20220086635A1 · Mar 17, 2022
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