Systems and methods for virtual personal Wi-Fi network
A wireless communication network includes a plurality of first electronic devices configured for wireless communication, at least one second electronic device configured for wireless communication, and at least one access point configured to wirelessly receive client data from, and transmit network data to, the plurality of first electronic devices and the at least one second electronic device. The wireless communication network further includes a virtual private wireless communication sub-network that includes the plurality of first electronic devices and excludes the at least one second electronic device. The virtual private wireless communication sub-network is configured to enable each of the plurality of first electronic devices to automatically connect with the wireless communication network.
1. A method of implementing a virtual private wireless network (VPWN) within a wireless communication network, the method implemented by a first Wi-Fi-enabled device having a processor and memory, the method comprising the steps of:
storing a user-defined service set identifier (SSID) and a user-defined security key in the memory;
transmitting the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key to the wireless communication network;
instructing the wireless communication network to enable the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key at a target access point (AP) configured to wirelessly communicate according to a communication protocol of the first Wi-Fi-enabled device;
pushing the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key to a second Wi-Fi-enabled device associated with a user of the first Wi-Fi-enabled device; and
authorizing the second Wi-Fi-enabled device to automatically discover the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key enabled at the target AP.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of storing comprises a substep of configuring a preferred SSID and a preferred security key as the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key, respectively.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after the step of authorizing, a step of automatically connecting the second Wi-Fi-enabled device to the target AP upon discovery of the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key at the target AP.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of instructing comprises a substep of disabling the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key on the target AP when the first and second Wi-Fi-enabled devices are disconnected from the target AP.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of instructing comprises a substep of disabling the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key on the target AP after a predetermined duration.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising establishing a first secure connection between the target AP and the first Wi-Fi enabled device.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein a third Wi-Fi enabled device connected to the target AP is unable to detect the first secure connection.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein a third Wi-Fi enabled device connected to the target AP is unable to decrypt the first secure connection.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first Wi-Fi enabled device and the second Wi-Fi-enabled device are each included within the VPWN.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
a third Wi-Fi enabled device is connected to the target AP; and
the third Wi-Fi enabled device is excluded from the VPWN.
11. A first Wi-Fi-enabled device comprising a processor and memory, the processor being configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to implement a virtual private wireless network (VPWN) within a wireless communication network, at least partially by performing the following steps:
storing a user-defined service set identifier (SSID) and a user-defined security key in the memory;
transmitting the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key to the wireless communication network;
instructing the wireless communication network to enable the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key at a target access point (AP) configured to wirelessly communicate according to a communication protocol of the first Wi-Fi-enabled device;
pushing the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key to a second Wi-Fi-enabled device associated with a user of the first Wi-Fi-enabled device; and
authorizing the second Wi-Fi-enabled device to automatically discover the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key enabled at the target AP.
12. The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 11 , wherein the step of storing comprises a substep of configuring a preferred SSID and a preferred security key as the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key, respectively.
13. The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to automatically connect the second Wi-Fi-enabled device to the target AP upon discovery of the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key at the target AP, after the step of authorizing.
14. The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 11 , wherein the step of instructing comprises a substep of disabling the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key on the target AP when the first and second Wi-Fi-enabled devices are disconnected from the target AP.
15. The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 11 , wherein the step of instructing comprises a substep of disabling the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key on the target AP after a predetermined duration.
16. The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to establish a first secure connection between the target AP and the first Wi-Fi enabled device.
17. The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 16 , wherein a third Wi-Fi enabled device connected to the target AP is unable to detect the first secure connection.
18. The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 16 , wherein a third Wi-Fi enabled device connected to the target AP is unable to decrypt the first secure connection.
19. The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 11 , wherein the first Wi-Fi enabled device and the second Wi-Fi-enabled device are each included within the VPWN.
20. The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 19 , wherein:
a third Wi-Fi enabled device is connected to the target AP; and
the third Wi-Fi enabled device is excluded from the VPWN.