Time based access provisioning system and process
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus is provided for the time-based provisioning of wireless devices. A network access point monitors operation of wireless devices within a service region. When provisioning logic is activated at the network access point, the access point determines if the tracked parameter (such as power on or the onset of signal transmission) of the wireless device occurs within a designated time interval from the time of the provisioning activation. If the tracked device qualifies, the network access point proceeds with provisioning the device. In one system embodiment, the network access point tracks the power on time of wireless devices. When a wireless device to be authorized is powered on, the provisioning logic at the network access point notes the power on time. The user then activates the provisioning access at the network access point, and the network access point provisions the wireless device if it is recently powered on.
1. A provisioning process performed by a provisioning system having provisioning logic, comprising:
tracking, by the provisioning logic, an operating parameter of a first device, wherein the operating parameter of the first device comprises any of a power on of the first device, and an onset of a signal transmission of the first device; and
sending a signal to initiate provisioning of the first device with a network if the tracked operating parameter occurs within a designated time interval.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the first device is an IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless device.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the first device is a BLUETOOTH™ compliant device.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the initiation of provisioning is prevented if any of the tracked operating parameter occurs repeatedly, and the tracked operating parameter occurs outside the time interval, comprising any of before the time interval and after the time interval.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one other device is associated with the network.
6. The process of claim 5 , wherein the network comprises any of an intranet, a local area network, a wireless local area network, and a wireless personal area network.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the provisioning comprises any of receiving provisioning information and transmitting provisioning information to the first device, wherein the provisioning information includes any of setup information, handshaking information, and encryption information.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the provisioning comprises receiving a device identifier from the first device and provisioning the first device based on the device identifier address.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the provisioning comprises receiving a MAC address from the first device and storing the MAC address to an access control list.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the process is performed on a network access point.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter is an onset of a reverse link signal transmission.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the designated time interval is based on a user input received by the provisioning logic.
13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the designated time interval is a predetermined time period following reception of a user input by the provisioning logic.
14. A system, comprising:
means for tracking an operating parameter of a first device, wherein the operating parameter of the first device comprises any of a power on of the first device, and an onset of a signal transmission of the first device; and
means for sending a signal to initiate provisioning of the first device with a network if the tracked operating parameter occurs within a selected time interval.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first device is an IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless device.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first device is a BLUETOOTH™ compliant device.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the provisioning comprises reception of a MAC address from the first device and provisioning the first device based on the MAC address.
18. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
means for activating the selected time interval.
19. A network access device, comprising:
access control logic configured to:
track an operating parameter of a first device, wherein the operating parameter of the first device includes any of an indication of a power-on of the first device, and an onset of a signal transmission from the first device; and
send a signal to initiate provisioning of the first device with a network if the tracked operating parameter occurs within a designated time interval: and
a transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with the first device.
20. The network access device of claim 19 , further comprising:
an access control list configured to store identifiers of devices provisioned to wirelessly communicate with the network access device.
21. The network access device of claim 19 , further comprising:
an input configured to receive an indication of a beginning of the designated time interval, wherein the access control logic is further configured to selectively initiate the provisioning of the first device based on whether the tracked operating parameter occurs within a designated time period following reception of the indication.
22. The network access device of claim 19 , wherein the first device is an IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless device.
23. The network access device of claim 19 , wherein the first device is a BLUETOOTH™ compliant device.
24. The network access device of claim 19 , wherein the network is an IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless local area network.
25. The network access device of claim 19 , wherein the network is a wireless personal area network.
26. The network access device of claim 19 , wherein the operating parameter is an onset of a reverse link signal transmission.
27. A processor-readable storage medium storing non-transitory processor-readable instructions which cause a network access device to perform operations for initiating provisioning of a first device, the operations comprising:
tracking an operating parameter of the first device, wherein the operating parameter of the first device include any of an indication of a power-on of the first device, and an onset of a signal transmission of the first device; and
sending a signal to initiate provisioning of the first device with a network if the tracked operating parameter occurs within a designated time interval.
28. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 27 , wherein the first device is an IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless device.
29. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 27 , wherein the first device is a BLUETOOTH™ compliant device.
30. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 27 , wherein the provisioning comprises receiving a device identifier from the first device and provisioning the first device based on the device identifier address.
31. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 27 , wherein the operating parameter is an onset of a reverse link signal transmission.
32. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 27 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving an indication of a beginning of the designated time interval from an input switch; and
enabling initiation of device provisioning during the designated time interval.