IP Library Granted Patent US 8,925,042
Granted Patent B2
US 8,925,042 · App. 13/096,981 · Granted Dec 30, 2014

Connecting devices to an existing secure wireless network

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,925,042
App. No.
13/096,981
Granted
Dec 30, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An intermediary device may be used to connect a telecommunications device to an existing secure network that is accessed by a computing device. The intermediary device may simplify connections to the secure network by connecting to the secure network without setting up a new connection to the secure network. The telecommunications device may connect to the computing device, via the intermediary device, using a secondary network, which enables the telecommunications device to access the secure network through the computing device. In some instances, the computing device may operate to bridge a connection with the telecommunications device and perform some or all of the functions of the intermediary device.

Claims (32)

1. A method comprising:

broadcasting, by an intermediary device, an open access service set identifier (SSID) channel that is hidden and accessible without a password using a weak signal strength that is only accessible by devices that are less than a threshold distance from the intermediary device;

broadcasting, by the intermediary device, a secure access SSID channel that is inaccessible to unauthorized devices;

connecting, by the intermediary device, a device to the open access SSID channel, wherein the device is a telecommunications device;

receiving, by the intermediary device, a code from a computing device that is physically coupled to the intermediary device, wherein the computing device received the code from a telecommunication network;

receiving, by the intermediary device, the code from the telecommunications device using the open access SSID channel, the code to provide authorization to the telecommunications device to enable connection to the secure access SSID channel, wherein the telecommunications device received the code from a telecommunication network;

connecting, by the intermediary device, the telecommunications device to the secure access SSID channel; and

facilitating a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call from a Wi-Fi calling application executing on the telecommunications device via the secure access SSID channel.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the secure access SSID channel enables the device to access a secure network connection established by a computing device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the secure network connection is at least one of a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN).

4. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a radio to exchange signals with a device;

memory to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform acts; and

a web server stored in the memory and executable by the processor to:

broadcast an open access service set identifier (SSID) channel that is hidden and accessible without a password using a weak signal strength that is only accessible by devices that are less than a threshold distance from the apparatus; and

broadcast a secure access SSID channel that is inaccessible to unauthorized devices, the secure access SSID channel to enable network connectivity between a device and an existing secure network,

wherein the web server uses the open access SSID channel to authorize the device and enable access to the secure access SSID channel, and

wherein web server receives a code transmitted over the open access SSID channel by the device and, based at least in part on the code, authorizes the device to access the secure access SSID channel,

wherein the apparatus is an intermediary device that is connected to a computing device through a universal serial bus (USB) connection, the computing device providing access to the existing secure network for the device when the device is authorized to access the secure access SSID channel and while the intermediary device is connected to the computing device through the USB connection,

wherein the device is a telecommunications device; and

the web server further facilitates a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call from a Wi-Fi calling application executing on the telecommunications device via the secure access SSID channel.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein the existing secure network is at least one of a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN).

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein the memory further stores a firewall to prevent unauthorized access to the secure access SSID channel.

7. One or more computer-readable memory devices storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed on one or more processors of an intermediary device, performs acts comprising:

connecting a device to an open access service set identifier (SSID) channel that is hidden and accessible without a password using a weak signal strength that is only accessible by devices that are less than a threshold distance from the intermediary device, the open access SSID channel to provide local access between the device and the intermediary device;

receiving a code from a computing device that is physically coupled to the intermediary device, wherein the computing device received the code from a telecommunication network;

receiving the code from the device transmitted using the open access channel, the code to provide authorization to the device to enable connection to a secure access SSID channel, wherein the device is a telecommunications device that received the code from a telecommunication network;

connecting the telecommunications device to the secure access SSID channel to provide access between the telecommunications device and the intermediary device and, through the intermediary device, to an existing secure network connection of the computing device; and

facilitating a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call from a Wi-Fi calling application executing on the telecommunications device via the secure access SSID channel.

8. The one or more computer-readable memory devices as recited in claim 7 , wherein the existing secure network connection is at least one of a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN).

9. The one or more computer-readable memory devices as recited in claim 7 , wherein the connecting the device to the open access SSID channel and the secure access SSID channel is performed using a Wi-Fi wireless protocol.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; IBSV LLC
Reel/Frame 052969/0381 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; IBSV LLC; METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; METROPCS WIRELESS, INC.; T-MOBILE SUBSIDIARY IV CORPORATION; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.
Reel/Frame 052969/0314 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
Reel/Frame 041225/0910 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 17, 2015
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; T-MOBILE SUBSIDIARY IV CORPORATION
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037125/0885 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2011
From: DROVDAHL, MARK; CHOW, PAULO; TEMPLE, SINCLAIR M.
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 026745/0561 →