System and method for establishing a secure wireless communication path
View Patent ↗A communication system automatically provides a secure communication link between a device and a network. A switch initiates a wireless link between the switch and the network. Then, a secure communication path is created between the switch and the network. When a device is linked to the switch, the device is automatically granted access to the secure communication path created by the switch.
1. A communication system for automatically establishing a secure wireless communication link between a device and a control node of a network, the system comprising:
a switch configured to establish a broadband wireless link between the switch and the network and to establish a secure communication path between the switch and the control node over the broadband wireless link; and
one or more devices connected to the switch over a non-wireless link wherein upon connection to the switch, the one or more devices are configured to automatically exchange secure communications with the control node utilizing the broadband wireless link and the secure communication path established by the switch:
wherein the switch is configured to receive configuration software for the one or more devices transmitted from the control node over the secure communication path, store the configuration software in a memory device of the switch, and broadcast the configuration software for delivery to the one or more devices via a plurality of ports of the switch, wherein the ports each have a unique packet address associated with each of the one or more devices.
2. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more devices are automatically configured when connected to the switch.
3. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the switch assigns internet protocol addresses for the one or more devices.
4. The communication system of claim 3 , wherein the internet protocol addresses are stored on the switch.
5. The communication system of claim 3 , wherein the internet protocol addresses are obtained from the control node.
6. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more devices comprise a device with an ability to establish packet communication with the network.
7. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more devices comprise a wireless repeater.
8. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more devices comprise a device that is unable to establish an individual secure communication path with the control node.
9. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the switch is configured to automatically configure the one or more devices to communicate with the control node when the one or more devices are connected to the switch.
10. The communication system of claim 9 , wherein the switch configured to automatically configure the one or more devices comprises the switch configured to recognize the one or more devices upon connection to the switch and allow the one or more devices to communicate with the control node over the secure communication path established by the switch over the broadband wireless link between the switch and the network.
11. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the network comprises an access network capable of providing access to an internet.
12. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the switch includes a plurality of memory ports.
13. The communication system of claim 12 , wherein the memory port comprises a USB port.
14. The communication system of claim 12 , wherein the memory port comprises a port capable of receiving non-volatile memory cards.
15. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the switch includes a security manager wherein the security manager establishes the secure communication path between the switch and the control node.
16. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the secure communication path comprises a virtual private network (VPN).
17. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the switch includes a wireless transceiver wherein the wireless transceiver allows wireless communication with the network.
18. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the switch is configured to, upon the one or more devices connecting to the switch, determine if the one or more devices has the configuration software, and if not, automatically transfer the configuration software to the one or more devices over the non-wireless link.
19. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the switch includes a device manager, wherein the device manager manages the one or more devices.
20. A method for automatically establishing a secure wireless communication link between a device and a control node of a network, the method comprising:
initiating a broadband wireless link between a switch and the network;
creating a secure communication path between the switch and the control node over the broadband wireless link between the switch and the network; and
connecting one or more devices to the switch over a non-wireless link wherein upon connecting the one or more devices to the switch, the one or more devices automatically exchange secure communications with the control node utilizing the broadband wireless link and the secure communication path created by the switch:
wherein the switch is configured to receive configuration software for the one or more devices transmitted from the control node over the secure communication path, store the configuration software in a memory device of the switch, and broadcast the configuration software for delivery to the one or more devices via a plurality of ports of the switch, wherein the ports each have a unique packet address associated with each of the one or more devices.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising automatically configuring the one or more devices when connecting the one or more devices to the switch.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein configuring the one or more devices includes obtaining IP addresses for the one or more devices.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein obtaining internet protocol addresses comprises providing the internet protocol addresses stored on the switch.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein obtaining internet protocol addresses comprises providing the internet protocol addresses from the control node.
25. The method of claim 21 , wherein configuring the one or more devices includes obtaining software for the one or more devices.
26. The method of claim 20 , wherein the one or more devices comprise a wireless repeater.
27. The method of claim 20 , wherein connecting a device to the switch includes using a USB connection.
28. The method of claim 20 , wherein connecting the device to the switch comprises using an Ethernet connection.
29. The method of claim 20 , wherein connecting to the switch includes using a PCMCIA connection.
30. The method of claim 20 , wherein the secure communication path comprises a virtual private network (VPN) link.