EHN venue-specific application provisioning
In order to leverage an enterprise-hosted network (EHN) associated with an entity, a communication technique may dynamically customize an application on a portable electronic device. In particular, the portable electronic device may discover and then may connect to the EHN using a quarantine zone that restricts access to the EHN. After providing valid credentials to establish a level of trust with the EHN, the portable electronic device may receive a request for authentication and authorization information. In response to the request, the portable electronic device may provide a credential to the EHN. Next, the portable electronic device may receive provisioning information that customizes the application on the portable electronic device to a venue associated with the entity. The provisioning information may include a connection setting associated with the application on the portable electronic device, which allows the portable electronic device to connect to the EHN outside of the quarantine zone.
1. A portable electronic device, comprising:
an interface circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with other electronic devices in an enterprise-hosted network (EHN), wherein, the portable electronic device is configured to:
discover the EHN by receiving, at the interface circuit, a packet associated with the EHN, wherein the EHN comprises a network hosted by an entity that is other than an operator of a cellular-telephone network and is located at a venue, and wherein the discovery occurs when the portable electronic device is within wireless communication range of the EHN located at the venue;
connect to the EHN using a quarantine zone by providing and receiving second packets using the interface circuit, wherein the quarantine zone restricts access to the EHN;
provide, from the interface circuit, valid credentials for the EHN;
provide, from the interface circuit, a credential for the EHN; and
receive, at the interface circuit, provisioning information that customizes an application on the portable electronic device to the venue, wherein the provisioning information allows the portable electronic device to connect to the EHN outside of the quarantine zone.
2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the EHN comprises a small cell that communicates information using Long Term Evolution.
3. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the credentials comprise a username and a password.
4. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is configured to receive, at the interface circuit, a request for authentication and authorization information.
5. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the provisioning information comprises a connection setting associated with a connection-manager application on the portable electronic device; and
wherein the connection setting allows the portable electronic device to connect to the EHN outside of the quarantine zone via a customized extension of the portable electronic device.
6. The portable electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the connection setting comprises the customized extension of the portable electronic device.
7. The portable electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the portable electronic device is configured to receive, at the interface circuit, a policy credential associated with the connection-manager application; and
wherein the policy credential specifies conditions when the portable electronic device connects to the EHN via the customized extension.
8. The portable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the portable electronic device is configured to connect to the EHN by providing, from the interface circuit, the connection setting for the EHN.
9. The portable electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the connection setting comprises an encryption key.
10. The portable electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the customized connection comprises a customized telephone number; and
wherein the customized telephone number allows the portable electronic device to receive incoming calls and to provide outgoing calls via the customized telephone number.
11. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the provisioning information comprises a connection setting associated with a connection-manager application on the portable electronic device; and
wherein the connection setting repurposes a key on a keypad in a dialer user interface to dial a service associated with the venue.
12. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the provisioning information comprises a connection setting associated with an access application on the portable electronic device; and
wherein the connection setting defines an electronic room key that facilitates access to a room at the venue.
13. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the provisioning information comprises a connection setting associated with a hospitality application on the portable electronic device; and
wherein the connection setting enables remote check-in at the venue when the portable electronic device is proximate to the venue.
14. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device further comprises an antenna electrically coupled to the interface circuit.
15. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is configured to automatically launch the application when the portable electronic device connects to the EHN.
16. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device further comprises:
a processor; and
a memory, coupled to the processor, which stores program instructions, wherein, when executed by the processor, the program instructions cause the portable electronic device to perform one or more of: the discovering, the connecting, the providing, the providing, and the receiving.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device, the computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions, wherein, when executed by the portable electronic device, the program instructions cause the portable electronic device to receive provisioning information by performing one or more operations comprising:
discovering the EHN by receiving, at an interface circuit in the portable electronic device and via wireless communication, a packet associated with the EHN, wherein the EHN comprises a network hosted by an entity that is other than an operator of a cellular-telephone network and is located at a venue, and wherein the discovery occurs when the portable electronic device is within wireless communication range of the EHN located at the venue;
connecting to the EHN using a quarantine zone by providing and receiving second packets using the interface circuit, wherein the quarantine zone restricts access to the EHN;
providing, from the interface circuit, valid credentials for the EHN;
providing, from the interface circuit, a credential for the EHN; and
receiving, at the interface circuit, the provisioning information that customizes an application on the portable electronic device to the venue, wherein the provisioning information allows the portable electronic device to connect to the EHN outside of the quarantine zone.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the provisioning information comprises a connection setting associated with a connection-manager application on the portable electronic device; and
wherein the connection setting allows the portable electronic device to connect to the EHN outside of the quarantine zone via a customized extension of the portable electronic device.
19. A method for receiving provisioning information, comprising:
by a portable electronic device:
discovering the EHN by receiving a packet associated with the EHN via wireless communication, wherein the EHN comprises a network hosted by an entity that is other than an operator of a cellular-telephone network and is located at a venue;
connecting to the EHN using a quarantine zone by providing and receiving second packets, wherein the quarantine zone restricts access to the EHN, and wherein the discovery occurs when the portable electronic device is within wireless communication range of the EHN located at the venue;
providing valid credentials for the EHN;
providing a credential for the EHN; and
receiving the provisioning information that customizes an application on the portable electronic device to the venue, wherein the provisioning information allows the portable electronic device to connect to the EHN outside of the quarantine zone.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the provisioning information comprises a connection setting associated with a connection-manager application on the portable electronic device; and
wherein the connection setting allows the portable electronic device to connect to the EHN outside of the quarantine zone via a customized extension of the portable electronic device.