System and method for enabling wireless connectivity of a device

1. A method for enabling an in-band communication between an unauthenticated communication device and a local gateway device that provides access to a public network by using an out-of-band communication path between the unauthenticated communication device and a portable communication device, the method comprising:

reading information identifying the unauthenticated communication device from the unauthenticated communication device through the out-of-band communication path using a data reader of the portable communication device, the unauthenticated communication device being located downstream of the local gateway device;

uploading, without using the out-of-band communication path to the unauthenticated communication device, the read identification information from the portable communication device to a computer system located upstream of the local gateway device and connected to the public network;

storing the uploaded identification information in a location accessible by the computer system;

transmitting, by the computer system, authentication data associated with the stored identification information over the public network to the local gateway device so as to enable, through the in-band communication path, a communications link between the unauthenticated communication device and the local gateway device using the transmitted authentication data to establish a wireless connection between the unauthenticated communication device and the local gateway device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the authentication data based on the stored identification information so as to allow the local gateway device to recognize the unauthenticated communication device through the in-band communication path.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the authentication data for the unauthenticated communication device in a database for access by the local gateway device.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

the database receiving a query from the local gateway device regarding an authentication of the unauthenticated communication device; and

allowing the local gateway device to request access to the authentication data stored in the database for purposes of authenticating the unauthenticated communication device through the in-band communication path.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of transmitting authentication data includes transmitting authentication data for establishing a WIFI connection between the unauthenticated communication device and the local gateway device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the step of reading information includes reading a user name and password associated with the unauthenticated communication device; and

the step of transmitting authentication data includes transmitting the read user name and password as part of the authentication data to the local gateway device for use by the local gateway to establish the communications link.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of reading information includes reading the information contained in an NFC tag.

8. A system for enabling an in-band communication between an unauthenticated communication device and a local gateway device that provides access to a public network by using an out-of-band communication path between the unauthenticated communication device and a portable communication device, the system comprising:

an application program adapted to be executed in a portable communication device to read identification information from the unauthenticated communication device through the out-of-band communication path and to upload, without using the out-of-band communication path to the unauthenticated communication device, the read identification information through the public network, the unauthenticated communication device being located downstream of the local gateway device; and

a back end system including at least one computer system located upstream of the local gateway device and connected to the public network, the computer system operable to receive and store the uploaded identification information in a storage, and to transmit authentication data associated with the stored identification information to the local gateway device over the public network so as to allow the local gateway device to enable, through the in-band communication path, a communications link between the unauthenticated communication device and the local gateway device to establish a wireless connection between the unauthenticated communication device and the local gateway device.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the computer system is operable to obtain the authentication data based on the stored identification information so as to allow the local gateway device to recognize the unauthenticated communication device through the in-band communication path.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the computer system stores the authentication data for the unauthenticated communication device in a database for access by the local gateway device for purposes of authenticating the unauthenticated communication device through the in-band communication path.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the database is operable to receive a query from the local gateway device regarding an authentication of the unauthenticated communication device, and allow the local gateway device to request access to the authentication data stored in the database in response to the received query for purposes of authenticating the unauthenticated communication device through the in-band communication path.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the computer system transmits the authentication data to the local gateway device for establishing a WIFI connection between the unauthenticated communication device and the local gateway device.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein:

the application program being executed in the portable communication device is operable to read a user name and password associated with the unauthenticated communication device; and

the computer system transmits the read user name and password as part of the authentication data to the local gateway device for use by the local gateway to establish the communications link.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the application program being executed in the portable communication device is operable to read information contained in an NFC tag.