IP Library Granted Patent US 10,856,171
Granted Patent B2
US 10,856,171 · App. 16/431,997 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Controlled connection of a wireless device to a network

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,856,171
App. No.
16/431,997
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatus for connecting a wireless device to a network are disclosed. One method includes automatically associating, by the wireless device, to a cloud system through a router, retrieving, by the wireless device, after automatically associating, a list of approved networks from a cloud service of the cloud system, wherein the list of approved networks includes a prioritization of the approved networks, scanning, by the wireless device, a local wireless environment, comparing, by the wireless device, a list of available networks advertised from nearby routers from the scan of a local wireless environment with the list of approved networks when the wireless device is looking for networks to join, and choosing, by the wireless device, an available network from the list of available networks advertised based at least in part on the comparing and the prioritization of the approved networks.

Claims (46)

1. A method for connecting a wireless device to a network, comprising:

automatically associating, by the wireless device, to a cloud system through a router;

retrieving, by the wireless device, after automatically associating, a list of approved networks from a cloud service of the cloud system, wherein the list of approved networks includes a prioritization of the approved networks;

scanning, by the wireless device, a local wireless environment;

comparing, by the wireless device, a list of available networks advertised from nearby routers from the scan of a local wireless environment with the list of approved networks when the wireless device is looking for networks to join;

choosing, by the wireless device, an available network from the list of available networks advertised based at least in part on the comparing and the prioritization of the approved networks; and

prioritizing, by the wireless device, a secure personal network, but opting to use the network which is authorized by the cloud service of the cloud system if network performance of the secure personal network falls below a threshold level.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein choosing, by the wireless device, the available network comprises choosing a highest priority network that is available to be joined.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein after automatically associating with the cloud system, the wireless device receives connection bandwidths the wireless device is allowed to use, wherein the connection bandwidths includes at least one of upstream bandwidth, downstream bandwidth, total time on network or aggregate bandwidth over a period of time.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein after automatically associating with the cloud system, the wireless device receives connection bandwidths the wireless device is allowed to use, wherein the connection bandwidths are adaptively adjusted.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the connection bandwidths are adaptively adjusted based on one or more of business agreements, available bandwidth, a service level agreed with a device manufacturer, a service level agreed with a router operator, a service level agreed with an interne service subscriber, a time of day, an amount of data the wireless device has already used, historical data usage of the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the router is one of a plurality of routers that the wireless device is operable to attempt to associate with, and wherein the plurality of routers that wireless device is operable to associate with is adaptively updated at the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the router is one of a plurality of routers that the wireless device is allowed to authenticate against, and wherein the plurality of routers that the wireless device is allowed to authenticate against is adaptively updated in the cloud system.

8. A wireless device, comprising:

a wireless interface;

a controller, the controller operative to:

automatically associate to a cloud system through a router;

retrieve after automatically associating, a list of approved networks from a cloud service of the cloud system, wherein the list of approved networks includes a prioritization of the approved networks;

scan a local wireless environment;

compare a list of available networks advertised from nearby routers from the scan of a local wireless environment with the list of approved networks when the wireless device is looking for networks to join;

choose an available network from the list of available networks advertised based at least in part on the comparing and the prioritization of the approved networks; and

prioritize a secure personal network, but opting to use the network which is authorized by the cloud service of the cloud system if network performance of the secure personal network falls below a threshold level.

9. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein choosing the available network comprises choosing a highest priority network that is available to be joined.

10. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the response further includes connection bandwidths the wireless device is allowed to use, wherein the connection bandwidths includes at least one of upstream bandwidth, downstream bandwidth, total time on network or aggregate bandwidth over a period of time.

11. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the response further includes connection bandwidths the wireless device is allowed to use, wherein the connection bandwidths are adaptively adjusted.

12. The wireless device of claim 11 , wherein the connection bandwidths are adaptively adjusted based on one or more of business agreements, available bandwidth, a service level agreed with a device manufacturer, a service level agreed with a router operator, a service level agreed with an internet service subscriber, a time of day, an amount of data the wireless device has already used, historical data usage of the wireless device.

13. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the router is one of a plurality of routers that the wireless device is operable to attempt to associate with, and wherein the plurality of routers that wireless device is operable to associate with is adaptively updated at the wireless device.

14. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the router is one of a plurality of routers that the wireless device is allowed to authenticate against, and wherein the plurality of routers that the wireless device is allowed to authenticate against is adaptively updated in the cloud system.

15. A method for connecting a wireless device to a network, comprising:

automatically associating, by the wireless device, to a cloud system through a router;

retrieving, by the wireless device, after automatically associating, a list of approved networks from a cloud service of the cloud system, wherein the list of approved networks includes a prioritization of the approved networks;

scanning, by the wireless device, a local wireless environment;

comparing, by the wireless device, a list of available networks advertised from nearby routers from the scan of a local wireless environment with the list of approved networks when the wireless device is looking for networks to join;

choosing, by the wireless device, an available network from the list of available networks advertised based at least in part on the comparing and the prioritization of the approved networks;

selecting, by the wireless device, to send at least some data on a secure personal network, and send at least some other data on the authorized network;

dynamically partitioning, by the wireless device, between the sending of the at least some data on the secure personal network, and the sending the at least some other data on the network authorized by the cloud service of the cloud system.

16. A wireless device, comprising:

a wireless interface;

a controller, the controller operative to:

automatically associate to a cloud system through a router;

retrieve after automatically associating, a list of approved networks from a cloud service of the cloud system, wherein the list of approved networks includes a prioritization of the approved networks;

scan a local wireless environment;

compare a list of available networks advertised from nearby routers from the scan of a local wireless environment with the list of approved networks when the wireless device is looking for networks to join;

choose an available network from the list of available networks advertised based at least in part on the comparing and the prioritization of the approved networks;

select to send at least some data on a secure personal network, and send at least some other data on the network which is authorized by the cloud service of the cloud system; and

dynamically partition between the sending of the at least some data on the secure personal network, and the send the at least some other data on the network authorized by the cloud service of the cloud system.

Assignments (5)
MERGER Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AMERICAS CORP.
Reel/Frame 073571/0456 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 15, 2022
From: CIRRENT, INC.; CIRRENT, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060208/0138 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 059410/0438 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2019
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049917/0093 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2019
From: CONANT, ROBERT
To: CIRRENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 049377/0246 →