Wireless communication system and method

1. A method of commissioning wireless network devices in a communication network, comprising:

assigning a user-defined number to a wireless network device, the user-defined number to be provided by a user using an input device coupled to the wireless network device;

generating, by the wireless network device, an identification number based on the user-defined number using a first hashing algorithm;

generating, by the wireless network device, an encryption key based on the user-defined number using a second hashing algorithm; and

transmitting, by the wireless network device, a message that is encrypted using the encryption key for joining the wireless network device to the communication network.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the wireless network device through the communication network, a parameter to be used by at least one of the first hashing algorithm for generating the identification number and the second hashing algorithm for generating the encryption key.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising correlating data transmitted by the wireless network device with a characteristic of the wireless network device using an encoded portion of a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the wireless network device.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the characteristic of the wireless network device includes at least one of a physical location of the wireless network device and a description of the wireless network device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network device is a first wireless network device, and wherein the method further comprises:

assigning the user-defined number to a second wireless network device;

receiving, by the second wireless network device, the message transmitted by the first wireless network device;

determining, by the second wireless device, that the user-defined number is assigned to the first wireless network device based on data contained in the message; and

permitting the first wireless network device to join the communication network subsequent to determining that the user-defined number is assigned to the first wireless network device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network device is configured to be IEEE 802.15.4-compliant.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning the user-defined number to the wireless network device includes selecting, by the user, at least one digit of the network number using the input device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the identification number and the encryption key is a pseudo-random number.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message includes at least one of the identification number and a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the wireless network device.

10. A communication system for a communication network, the communication system comprising:

a wireless network device;

an input device coupled to the wireless network device and configured to enable a user to select a user-defined number to be associated with the wireless network device; and

a controller coupled to the input device, the controller configured to:

generate an identification number based on the user-defined number using a first hashing algorithm;

generate an encryption key based on the user-defined number using a second hashing algorithm; and

cause the wireless network device to transmit a message encrypted using the encryption key for joining the wireless network device to the communication network.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive a parameter to be used by at least one of the first hashing algorithm for generating the identification number and the second hashing algorithm for generating the encryption key.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the wireless network device is a first wireless network device, and wherein the system includes a second wireless network device associated with the user-defined number, the second wireless network device configured to receive the message and permit the first wireless network device to join the communication network based on data contained in the message.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the data identifies the first wireless device as being assigned the user-defined number.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the wireless network device is configured to be IEEE 802.15.4-compliant.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the communication network is an ad hoc network.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the message includes at least one of the identification number and a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the wireless device.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the identification number includes a 64-bit number and wherein the encryption key includes a 128-bit number.

18. A communication system for a communication network, the communication system comprising:

a wireless network device;

an input device integral to the wireless network device and configured to enable a user to select a user-defined number; and

means for generating, by the wireless network device, an identification number based on the user-defined number using a first hashing algorithm, and further generating an encryption key based on the user-defined number using a second hashing algorithm.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising means for receiving, by the processor, a parameter to be used by at least one of the first hashing algorithm for generating the identification number and the second hashing algorithm for generating the encryption key.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the wireless network device is a first wireless network device, wherein the system includes a second wireless network device associated with the user-defined number and wirelessly connected to the first wireless network device, and wherein the system further includes means for the second wireless network device to receive a message from the first wireless network device that is encrypted using the encryption key for joining the wireless network device to the communication network, and to permit the first wireless network device to join the communication network based on data contained in the message.