Onboarding and configuring Wi-Fi enabled devices
A method of activating and configuring a Wi-Fi enabled device to connect with a Wi-Fi Access Point (AP) by a cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager is disclosed. A unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device and a unique identifier of the Wi-Fi AP are received by the cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager. The unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device is used as a seed for a predetermined algorithm to generate a temporary service set identifier (SSID) and a temporary passphrase. The temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase are sent to the Wi-Fi AP for configuring the Wi-Fi AP with the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase.
1. A method of activating and configuring a Wi-Fi enabled device to connect with a Wi-Fi Access Point (AP) by a cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager, comprising:
receiving a unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device and a unique identifier of the Wi-Fi AP by the cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager which is deployed in a cloud and configured to manage a plurality of Wi-Fi networks remotely through the Internet;
using the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device as a seed for a predetermined algorithm to generate a temporary service set identifier (SSID) and a temporary passphrase;
sending the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase to the Wi-Fi AP for configuring the Wi-Fi AP with the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase such that the Wi-Fi AP broadcasts the temporary SSID in addition to an original SSID configured for the Wi-Fi-AP, wherein the temporary SSID is broadcast by the Wi-Fi AP until the Wi-Fi enabled device associates and/or for a predetermined period of time;
determining that the Wi-Fi enabled device has associated with the Wi-Fi AP using the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase;
in response to the determination, sending the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP to the Wi-Fi enabled device for configuring the Wi-Fi enabled device with the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP;
receiving a new SSID or a new passphrase for the Wi-Fi AP; and
configuring the new SSID or the new passphrase for the Wi-Fi AP on the Wi-Fi enabled device first and subsequently configuring the new SSID or the new passphrase on the Wi-Fi AP.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined algorithm and the seed are used by the Wi-Fi enabled device to generate the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase, and wherein the Wi-Fi enabled device is configured to listen to the temporary SSID and associate with an AP broadcasting the temporary SSID using the temporary passphrase.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the Wi-Fi enabled device has associated with the Wi-Fi AP using the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP; and
in response to the determination, requesting the Wi-Fi AP to stop using the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP are stored by the Wi-Fi enabled device in a memory, and in the event of a reboot of the Wi-Fi enabled device, the Wi-Fi enabled device is configured again with the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device by the cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager in a memory;
in the event of a reboot of the Wi-Fi enabled device:
using the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device as the seed for the predetermined algorithm to generate the temporary service set identifier (SSID) and the temporary passphrase; and
sending the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase to the Wi-Fi AP for configuring the Wi-Fi AP with the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device is selected from the group consisting of: a Universal Product Code, a manufacturer's serial number, and a media access control (MAC) address of the Wi-Fi enabled device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device and the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi AP by the cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager comprises:
receiving the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device and the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi AP from a user interface accessible by a mobile application.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device and the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi AP are scanned in by an administrator using the user interface.
9. A method of activating and configuring a Wi-Fi enabled device to connect with a Wi-Fi Access Point (AP) by a cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager, comprising
receiving a unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device and a unique identifier of the Wi-Fi AP by the cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager which is deployed in a cloud and configured to manage a plurality of Wi-Fi networks remotely through the Internet; and
sending the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device to the Wi-Fi AP, wherein the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device is used by the AP as a seed for a predetermined algorithm to generate a temporary service set identifier (SSID) and a temporary passphrase, wherein the Wi-Fi AP broadcasts the temporary SSID in addition to an original SSID configured for the Wi-Fi-AP, and wherein the temporary SSID is broadcast by the Wi-Fi AP until the Wi-Fi enabled device associates and/or for a predetermined period of time; and
wherein the Wi-Fi AP is configured with the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase;
determining that the Wi-Fi enabled device has associated with the Wi-Fi AP using the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase;
in response to the determination, sending the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP to the Wi-Fi enabled device for configuring the Wi-Fi enabled device with the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP;
receiving a new SSID or a new passphrase for the Wi-Fi AP; and
configuring the new SSID or the new passphrase for the Wi-Fi AP on the Wi-Fi enabled device first before configuring the new SSID or the new passphrase on the Wi-Fi AP.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined algorithm and the seed are used by the Wi-Fi enabled device to generate the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase, and wherein the Wi-Fi enabled device is configured to listen to the temporary SSID and associate with an AP broadcasting the temporary SSID using the temporary passphrase.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining that the Wi-Fi enabled device has associated with the Wi-Fi AP using the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP; and
in response to the determination, requesting the Wi-Fi AP to stop using the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase.
12. A system for activating and configuring a Wi-Fi enabled device to connect with a Wi-Fi Access point (AP), comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device and a unique identifier of the Wi-Fi AP;
use the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device as a seed for a predetermined algorithm to generate a temporary service set identifier (SSID) and a temporary passphrase;
send the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase to the Wi-Fi AP for configuring the Wi-Fi AP with the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase such that the Wi-Fi AP broadcasts the temporary SSID in addition to an original SSID configured for the Wi-Fi-AP, wherein the temporary SSID is broadcast by the Wi-Fi AP until the Wi-Fi enabled device associates and/or for a predetermined period of time;
determine that the Wi-Fi enabled device has associated with the Wi-Fi AP using the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase;
in response to the determination, send the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP to the Wi-Fi enabled device for configuring the Wi-Fi enabled device with the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP;
receive a new SSID or a new passphrase for the Wi-Fi AP; and
configure the new SSID or the new passphrase for the Wi-Fi AP on the Wi-Fi enabled device first before configuring the new SSID or the new passphrase on the Wi-Fi AP; and
a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions,
wherein the system comprises a cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager which is deployed in a cloud and configured to manage a plurality of Wi-Fi networks remotely through the Internet.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined algorithm and the seed are used by the Wi-Fi enabled device to generate the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase, and wherein the Wi-Fi enabled device is configured to listen to the temporary SSID and associate with an AP broadcasting the temporary SSID using the temporary passphrase.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine that the Wi-Fi enabled device has associated with the Wi-Fi AP using the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP; and
in response to the determination, request the Wi-Fi AP to stop using the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP are stored by the Wi-Fi enabled device in a memory, and in the event of a reboot of the Wi-Fi enabled device, the Wi-Fi enabled device is configured again with the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
store the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device in a memory;
in the event of a reboot of the Wi-Fi enabled device:
use the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device as the seed for the predetermined algorithm to generate the temporary service set identifier (SSID) and the temporary passphrase; and
send the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase to the Wi-Fi AP for configuring the Wi-Fi AP with the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase.
17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device is selected from the group consisting of: a Universal Product Code, a manufacturer's serial number, and a media access control (MAC) address of the Wi-Fi enabled device.
18. The system of claim 12 , wherein receiving the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device and the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi AP comprises:
receiving the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device and the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi AP from a user interface accessible by a mobile application.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device and the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi AP are scanned in by an administrator using the user interface.
20. A system for activating and configuring a Wi-Fi enabled device to connect with a Wi-Fi Access Point (AP), comprising:
a wireless device; and
a processor configured to:
receive a unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device and a unique identifier of the Wi-Fi AP via the wireless device; and
send the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device to the Wi-Fi AP via the wireless device, wherein the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device is used by the AP as a seed for a predetermined algorithm to generate a temporary service set identifier (SSID) and a temporary passphrase, wherein the Wi-Fi AP broadcasts the temporary SSID in addition to an original SSID configured for the Wi-Fi-AP, and wherein the temporary SSID is broadcast by the Wi-Fi AP until the Wi-Fi enabled device associates and/or for a predetermined period of time;
determine that the Wi-Fi enabled device has associated with the Wi-Fi AP using the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase;
in response to the determination, send the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP to the Wi-Fi enabled device for configuring the Wi-Fi enabled device with the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP;
receive a new SSID or a new passphrase for the Wi-Fi AP; and
configure the new SSID or the new passphrase on the Wi-Fi AP to the Wi-Fi enabled device first before configuring the new SSID or the new passphrase on the Wi-Fi AP,
wherein the system comprises a cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager which is deployed in a cloud and configured to manage a plurality of Wi-Fi networks remotely through the Internet.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the predetermined algorithm and the seed are used by the Wi-Fi enabled device to generate the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase, and wherein the Wi-Fi enabled device is configured to listen to the temporary SSID and associate with an AP broadcasting the temporary SSID using the temporary passphrase.
22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine that the Wi-Fi enabled device has associated with the Wi-Fi AP using the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP; and
in response to the determination, request the Wi-Fi AP to stop using the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase.
23. A computer program product for activating and configuring a Wi-Fi enabled device to connect with a Wi-Fi Access Point (AP) by a cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
receiving a unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device and a unique identifier of the Wi-Fi AP;
using the unique identifier of the Wi-Fi enabled device as a seed for a predetermined algorithm to generate a temporary service set identifier (SSID) and a temporary passphrase;
sending the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase to the Wi-Fi AP for configuring the Wi-Fi AP with the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase such that the Wi-Fi AP broadcasts the temporary SSID in addition to an original SSID configured for the Wi-Fi-AP, wherein the temporary SSID is broadcast by the Wi-Fi AP until the Wi-Fi enabled device associates and/or for a predetermined period of time;
determining that the Wi-Fi enabled device has associated with the Wi-Fi AP using the temporary SSID and the temporary passphrase;
in response to the determination, sending the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP to the Wi-Fi enabled device for configuring the Wi-Fi enabled device with the original SSID and passphrase of the Wi-Fi AP;
receiving a new SSID or a new passphrase for the Wi-Fi AP; and
configuring the new SSID or the new passphrase for the Wi-Fi AP on the Wi-Fi enabled device first before configuring the new SSID or the new passphrase on the Wi-Fi AP,
wherein the cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager is deployed in a cloud and configured to manage a plurality of Wi-Fi networks remotely through the Internet.