IP Library Granted Patent US 11,184,767
Granted Patent B2
US 11,184,767 · App. 15/787,436 · Granted Nov 23, 2021

Methods and systems for automatically connecting to a network

Inventors: Sreekant Kotay (Philadelphia, PA); John Robinson (South Riding, VA); Jacob Gladish (Blue Bell, PA); Robert Seamon (Sicklerville, NJ)
Assignee: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
H04W12/06H04L63/0428H04W12/04H04W12/08H04W12/35
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,184,767
App. No.
15/787,436
Granted
Nov 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are described for connecting a user device to a wireless network despite the user device lacking the correct network credentials to access the wireless network. If the user device is unable to connect to a first network due to an incorrect network credential, the user device can automatically connect to a second network to obtain the correct network credentials associated with the first network. The network credentials associated with the first network can enable the user device to then connect and/or reconnect to the first network.

Claims (42)

1. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

determine a failed attempt to connect to a first network via an access point based on a first identifier broadcast by the access point;

connect to a second network via the access point based on a second identifier broadcast by the access point, wherein the second network is configured to provide a secure connection for provisioning services;

send, to a network device, an identifier of the apparatus;

receive, based on the identifier of the apparatus, a token;

send, to the network device via the second network, the token for validation, wherein the token associates the apparatus to the first network;

receive, based on the token being validated, a network credential associated with the first network; and

connect, based on the network credential, to the first network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the failed attempt to connect to the first network is based on a configuration comprising at least one of: an updated identifier, a new identifier, an updated security element, or a new security element.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

store the token; and

determine, based on the token being stored, that the token is available.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network credential comprises configuration data associated with the first network.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first network and the second network are independent networks supported by the access point.

6. A method comprising:

determining, by a user device, a failed attempt to connect to a first network via an access point based on a first identifier broadcast by the access point;

connecting, to a second network via a second identifier broadcast by the access point, wherein the second network is configured to provide a secure connection for provisioning services;

receiving, from a network device via the second network, based on an identifier of the user device being sent to the network device, a token, wherein the token associates the user device to the first network;

sending to the network device via the second network, the token for validation; and

receiving, based on the token being validated, a network credential, wherein the network credential facilitates a connection to the first network.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the failed attempt to connect to the first network is based on a configuration comprising at least one of: an updated identifier, a new identifier, an updated security element, or a new security element.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first network and the second network are independent networks supported by the access point.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining, based on the token being stored by the user device, that the token is available.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the token comprises at least one of: user identification data, security data, account data, or contact information data.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the network credential comprises configuration data associated with the first network.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the configuration data comprises at least one of: an updated first identifier or a security element.

13. A method comprising:

connecting, based on a failed attempt to connect to a first network via an access point and a first identifier broadcast by the access point, to a second network via a second identifier broadcast by the access point wherein the second network is configured to provide a secure connection for provisioning services;

sending, to a network device via the second network, an identifier of a user device;

sending, to the network device, a request to validate a token, wherein the token is received based on a verification of the identifier of the user device, wherein the token associates the user device with the first network; and

receiving, based on the token being validated, a network credential, wherein the network credential facilitates a connection to the first network.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the failed attempt to connect to the first network is based on a configuration comprising at least one of: an updated identifier, a new identifier, an updated security element, or a new security element.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein sending the request to validate the token is based on determining that a validated token is not stored by the user device.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the token comprises at least one of: user identification data, security data, account data, or contact information data.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the network credential comprises configuration data associated with the first network.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the configuration data comprises at least one of: an updated first identifier or a security element.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein sending the identifier of the user device comprises sending an encrypted identifier of the user device.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein sending the request to validate the token comprises:

determining that the token is stored by the user device; and

sending, based on the determining that the token is stored, the request to validate the token.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62411277 · Oct 21, 2016
Related Publication 20180115892A1 · Apr 26, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,256,215