Methods and apparatus for wireless networking connection
View Patent ↗Systems and techniques for wireless client authentication are described. A wireless client seeking access to a network requiring authentication transmits a management frame following a signaling sequence that accomplishes scanning, network discovery, and authentication. An access point receiving the management frame forwards information contained in the management frame to a network and receives and forwards to a client an authentication response frame received from a network.
1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor;
memory storing a program of instructions;
wherein the memory storing the program of instructions is configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
control a client device to transmit to a wireless network access point a single management frame comprising information defining a signaling sequence directing scanning, network discovery, and authentication, wherein the management frame structure comprises probe request information, generic advertising service request information, and extended access protocol-response identity information;
determine whether the client has a subscription to a network from which the authentication response frame is received;
control the client device to respond to the authentication response frame sent by the access point, wherein the authentication response frame comprises authenticating information extracted from the management frame by following authentication procedures of the network, wherein the management frame provides information allowing the access point to determine the identity of the client device and to determine from the client identity if the client device has the subscription to the network, and wherein sending of the authentication response frame comprises delivery of the authentication frame to the access point by an authentication server,
wherein responding to receiving the management frame comprises examining client identity information and forwarding the information contained in the management frame only if the client has the subscription to the network to which the information contained in the management frame is to be forwarded; and
in response to determining that the client does not have the subscription to the network from which the authentication response frame is received, cause the apparatus to send a valid response, wherein the response is a generic advertisement service response.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein responding to the authentication response frame comprises responding to an authentication response frame forwarded to the apparatus by the access point.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the authentication response frame is sent by an authentication server in response to a start message sent by the access point.
4. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor;
memory storing a program of instructions;
wherein the memory storing the program of instructions is configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
detect receiving at a wireless network access point from a client device seeking access to a network, a management frame comprising information defining a signaling sequence directing scanning, network discovery and authentication, wherein the management frame comprises probe request information, generic advertising service request information, and extended access protocol-response identity information; and
respond to receiving the management frame by forwarding information contained in the management frame to the network;
detect receiving an authentication response frame from the network, wherein the authentication response frame comprises authenticating information extracted from the management frame, by following authentication procedures of the network, wherein the management frame provides information allowing the access point to determine the identity of the client device and to determine from the client identity if the client device has a subscription to the network, and wherein sending of the authentication response frame comprises delivery of the authentication frame to the access point by an authentication server; and
in response to determining that the client does not have the subscription to the network from which the authentication response frame is received, send a valid response, wherein the response is a generic advertisement service response.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein responding to receiving the management frame comprises examining client identity information and forwarding the information contained in the management frame only if the client has the subscription to the network to which the information contained in the management frame is to be forwarded.
6. A method comprising:
controlling a client device to transmit a single management frame comprising information defining a signaling sequence directing scanning, network discovery, and authentication, wherein the management frame comprises probe request information, generic advertising service request information, and extended access protocol-response identity information;
determining whether the client has a subscription to a network from which the authentication response frame is received;
responding to the authentication response frame sent by the access point, wherein the authentication response frame comprises authentication information extracted from the management frame by following authentication procedures of the network, wherein the management frame provides information allowing the access point to determine the identity of the client device and to determine from the client identity if the client device has the subscription to the network, and wherein sending of the authentication response frame comprises delivery of the authentication frame to the access point by an authentication server, wherein responding to receiving the management frame comprises examining client identity information and forwarding the information contained in the management frame only if the client has the subscription to the network to which the information contained in the management frame is to be forwarded; and
in response to determining that the client does not have the subscription to the network from which the authentication response frame is received, sending a valid response wherein the response is a generic advertisement service response.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein responding to the authentication response frame comprises responding to an authentication response frame forwarded by the access point receiving the frame from the network.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the authentication response frame is sent by the authentication server in response to a start message sent by the access point.
9. A method comprising:
detecting receiving at a wireless network access point from a client device seeking access to a network, a management frame comprising information defining a signaling sequence directing scanning, network discovery and authentication, wherein the management frame comprises probe request information, generic advertising service request information, and extended access protocol-response identity information; and
responding to receiving the management frame by forwarding information contained in the management frame to a network;
detecting receiving an authentication response frame from the network, wherein the authentication response frame comprises authenticating information extracted from the management frame, by following authentication procedures of the network, wherein the management frame provides information allowing the access point to determine the identity of the client device and to determine from the client identity if the client device has a subscription to the network, and wherein sending of the authentication response frame comprises delivery of the authentication frame to the access point by an authentication server; and
in response to determining that the client does not have the subscription to the network from which the authentication response frame is received, sending a valid response wherein the response is a generic advertisement service response.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein responding to receiving the management frame comprises examining client identity information and forwarding the information contained in the management frame only if the client has the subscription to the network to which the information is to be forwarded.