IP Library Granted Patent US 9,578,513
Granted Patent B2
US 9,578,513 · App. 14/488,158 · Granted Feb 21, 2017

Identifying untrusted network access points

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,578,513
App. No.
14/488,158
Granted
Feb 21, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus, method and program product are provided that determines a location associated with a network access point, the network access point being identified by an access point identifier, receives access point data from a mapping service, the access point data corresponding to the location of the network access point, and connects the network adaptor to the network access point in response to verifying that the access point data comprises an access point identifier that matches the access point identifier associated with the network access point.

Claims (33)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a network adaptor that connects to a network access point;

a processor operatively coupled to the network adaptor;

a memory that stores code executable by the processor, the code comprising:

code that determines a location associated with a network access point, the network access point being identified by a first access point identifier;

code that receives access point data from a mapping service, the access point data corresponding to the location of the network access point;

code that determines usage data for the network access point, the usage data comprising a number of users connected to the network access point; and

code that connects the network adaptor to the network access point in response to the number of users connected to the network access point exceeding a predetermined threshold and in response to verifying that the access point data does not comprise a second access point identifier that matches the first access point identifier associated with the network access point.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising code that associates the second access point identifier with a user's location, wherein the network adapter is connected to a network access point at the user's location in response to the first access point identifier matching the second access point identifier associated with the user's location.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising code that determines an amount of time that the first access point identifier has been active at the location associated with the network access point, wherein the network adapter is connected to the network access point in response to the amount of time exceeding a predetermined threshold.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mapping service comprises access point data for a plurality of trusted network access points, a trusted network access point being registered with the mapping service.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising code that downloads access point data from the mapping service such that the access point data is accessible while not connected to a data network.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the access point data is received from the mapping service using a secondary data network, the secondary data network comprising a cellular data network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first access point identifier comprises a service set identifier (SSID).

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first access point identifier comprises a media access control (MAC) address.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the location is selected from the group consisting of a global positioning system (GPS) coordinate, a latitude/longitude pair, and an address.

10. A method comprising:

determining, by use of a processor, a location associated with a network access point, the network access point being identified by a first access point identifier;

receiving access point data from a mapping service, the access point data corresponding to the location of the network access point;

determining usage data for the network access point, the usage data comprising a number of users connected to the network access point; and

connecting a network adapter to the network access point in response to the number of users connected to the network access point exceeding a predetermined threshold and in response to verifying that the access point data does not comprise a second access point identifier that matches the first access point identifier associated with the network access point.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising associating the second access point identifier with a user's location, wherein the network adapter is connected to a network access point at the user's location in response to the first access point identifier matching the second access point identifier associated with the user's location.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining an amount of time that the first access point identifier has been active at the location associated with the network access point, wherein the network adapter is connected to the network access point in response to the amount of time exceeding a predetermined threshold.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the mapping service comprises access point data for a plurality of trusted network access points, a trusted network access point being registered with the mapping service.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising downloading access point data from the mapping service such that the access point data is accessible while not connected to a data network.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the access point data is received from the mapping service using a secondary data network, the secondary data network comprising a cellular data network.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first access point identifier comprises one or more of a service set identifier (SSID) and a media access control (MAC) address.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores code executable by a processor, the executable code comprising code to perform:

determining a location associated with a network access point, the network access point being identified by a first access point identifier;

receiving access point data from a mapping service, the access point data corresponding to the location of the network access point;

determining usage data for the network access point, the usage data comprising a number of users connected to the network access point; and

connecting a network adapter to the network access point in response to the number of users connected to the network access point exceeding a predetermined threshold and in response to verifying that the access point data does not comprise a second access point identifier that matches the first access point identifier associated with the network access point.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the first access point identifier comprises one or more of a service set identifier (SSID) and a media access control (MAC) address.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2019
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 049690/0879 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2014
From: VANBLON, RUSSELL SPEIGHT; MESE, JOHN CARL; PETERSON, NATHAN J.; WEKSLER, ARNOLD S.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 033752/0881 →