Method and apparatus for providing a relay for use in wireless settings

Abstract

A relay device configured to cooperate with a configurator according to a configuration protocol that enables setting a wireless network and at least one wireless communication device to be associated with the wireless network is disclosed. The configuration protocol uses a wired and / or wireless network connection, and the relay device is configured to communicate with at least one wireless communication device via a transceiver according to a wireless communication protocol. The relay device has a processor configured to provide an indication of the setting of the transceiver to the configurator via a setting connection. The configurator device receives the indication of the setting and performs one or both of issuing commands to the relay device to select an appropriate relay and modify the setting of the transceiver based on the indication and information regarding the enrollee device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for providing and configuring a wireless network.

Background Art

[0002] A wireless device uses a DPP configurator device to configure a wireless communication device that communicates according to a wireless communication protocol such as Wi-Fi in order to access a wireless network provided by a network access device, for example, a Wi-Fi access point (AP) (identified by a service set identifier SSID). A protocol for securely connecting to a wireless network (see, for example, the Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP) [DPP]). A device such as a wireless device attempting to obtain access to a network is called an "Enrollee" and, in the case of DPP, a "DPP Enrollee". The device used to perform the enrollee's configuration so that the enrollee can obtain access is called a "configurator" or sometimes a "commissioner". Note that in this application, the acronym DPP means any version of DPP, for example, DPP R1, DPP R2 and any subsequent release. Recently, the Wi-Fi Alliance decided to replace the name DPP with Wi-Fi Easy Connect. These names are used interchangeably in this text. It should also be understood that the devices and methods disclosed herein are applicable to other commissioning protocols and other wireless technologies, such as IEEE 802.15.4, cellular technologies, or indeed others.

[0003] The DPP specification [DPP] specifies certain Wi-Fi frames for the exchange of DPP messages. Almost all DPP messages use 802.11 public action frames, except for DPP setup request / response frames that include a similar header format, but are exchanged using vendor-specific Generic Advertisement Service (GAS) public action frames. In this text, the use of DPP with these specific Wi-Fi frames is referred to as "DPP over Wi-Fi". Another commissioning protocol is similar to that of DPP, but can also use specific Wi-Fi frames with appropriate differences, namely "commissioning over Wi-Fi". These specific Wi-Fi frames can be transmitted by one Wi-Fi device to any other Wi-Fi device within the radio range (RF range). Note that these specific Wi-Fi frames do not require the transmitting and receiving devices to be associated with an AP. Also, neither of the two devices needs to be an AP. This is in contrast to the transfer of TCP / IP packets over Wi-Fi where the Wi-Fi device first needs to be associated with an AP and connect to the network (or SSID) provided by the AP. TCP / IP packets are the packets used by much of the Internet traffic such as web browsing, for example. TCP / IP packets can be addressed to any IP address and can move from device to device over multiple hops. A hop is the link between these devices. These links can use link layer technologies such as Ethernet or Wi-Fi. In other words, specific Wi-Fi frames are messages on so-called link layer or layer 2 messages, while TCP / IP packets are transferred on the network layer or layer 3 of the network's ISO Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model.

[0004] The implementation of the DPP protocol requires access to the lower-layer software in Wi-Fi-enabled devices. This may not be a problem for devices running open operating systems such as Linux, but it is very difficult or impossible for an app on a smartphone to access this lower-layer software. This will make it difficult to use devices such as network access devices (e.g., soft AP) or configurators with commissioning protocols such as DPP.

[0005] In addition to Release 2 of the DPP standard, there is a standard for how the above-mentioned specific Wi-Fi frames are tunneled via a TCP / IP connection. In this text, this is referred to as "DPP over TCP / IP". This addition enables devices that do not support DPP over Wi-Fi to configure other DPP devices. In addition to Release 2 of the DPP standard, there is also a standard for DPP over TCP / IP relay. Devices that support DPP over Wi-Fi can make this relay available. The relay converts incoming "DPP over TCP / IP" packets into "DPP over Wi-Fi" frames and transmits them as Wi-Fi frames using its Wi-Fi radio. The relay also converts received "DPP over Wi-Fi" frames into "DPP over TCP / IP" frames and transfers them as TCP / IP packets via its Ethernet connection and via the Wi-Fi network (or SSID) associated as a Wi-Fi non-AP device or the Wi-Fi network (or SSID) provided as an AP. A convenient approach is to provide the relay function as part of the function of the network access device. It should be understood that similar problems and solutions may exist for use with other commissioning protocols, especially for wireless networks other than Wi-Fi.

[0006] A network access device, such as an AP, can create a normally open Wi-Fi network (or service set identifier (SSID)) through which a server implementing a user interface (UI) that can be configured operates, without additional configuration. The IP address of this UI server is usually the gateway address of the device's TCP / IP stack. The gateway address of a router such as an AP is the interface through which packets are sent from its local network to the Internet, usually. Through the UI, for example, a network that is initially open can be configured to be secured using a Wi-Fi passphrase or pre-shared key (PSK). The UI server itself can be protected by a combination of user ID / password. An AP can support multiple SSIDs using only one radio using a technique called VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) tagging (see [802.1Q]).

[0007] The AP can provide TCP / IP access for configuration via a connection to an open Wi-Fi network executed by the AP, such as Wi-Fi Enhanced Open [WiFi_EO], or a legacy network without encryption. The AP can also provide TCP / IP access for configuration via a combination of a local area network such as Ethernet, or a wireless link such as Wi-Fi between an Ethernet link and the AP and a Wi-Fi device associated with that AP.

[0008] In the present disclosure, the term "configurator" can be replaced with "commissioning device".

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] The inventor of the present invention has recognized that the above-described network configuration has a problem in that a configurator accessing a wireless network via a relay imposes certain restrictions on the access.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for configuring a network that mitigate at least one of the above-described problems. According to one aspect, a relay device is provided, the relay device being configured to cooperate with a configurator according to a configuration protocol that sets up a wireless network and enables at least one wireless communication device to be associated with the wireless network, the configuration protocol using a wired and / or wireless configuration connection, the relay device being configured to communicate with the at least one wireless communication device via a transceiver according to a wireless communication protocol, and the relay device having a processor configured to provide an indicator of the configuration of the transceiver to the configurator via the configuration connection.

[0011] In many cases, the relay device is already set up for a wireless communication network and can be coupled to a transceiver that is already set up to use a particular channel and / or frequency. A new enrollee device may not be listening on these channels / frequencies. In such a situation, the setup attempt will not succeed unless the transceiver used by the relay device changes channels / frequencies. This is because at some point, the enrollee device will fail to respond to a message transmitted via the transceiver.

[0012] The DPP relay is often part of the AP. The most important goal of the AP is to enable the highest throughput for the associated Wi-Fi devices ("STAs"). Therefore, the AP desires to stay on the same channel for each of its radios (the AP has two or more radios, each operating on a different channel in the same or different frequency bands).

[0013] For example, when the enroller knows the channels on which it is listening and the configurator desires to select at least one relay device actually using at least one of the channels on which the enroller is listening, the configurator may do so from the channel ABNF rules in the DPP bootstrap URI (section 5.2.1 of [DPP]).

[0014] However, the configurator does not know which channels the radio of the relay device is using.

[0015] By receiving information regarding the settings, the configurator can select a relay device coupled to a properly configured transceiver (when multiple options for the relay device - transceiver are available). Also, when the function to control the transceiver permits, the configurator can change the settings of the transceiver to ones that are compatible with the enroller device.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the processor is configured to convert messages between a first format of a configuration protocol and a second format of a wireless communication protocol. Thereby, a configurator using only IP - based protocols can configure an enroller of a wireless communication protocol.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the setting metrics include metrics of at least one parameter value, at least one parameter is at least one from a set of wireless channels and frequencies, the parameter value corresponds to the settings of the transceiver, and the configurator can compare the channel and / or frequency settings of the transceiver with the settings of the enroller device.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the processor is configured to receive a command including settings for the transceiver, and in response to the command, cause the transceiver to use settings for communication using a wireless communication protocol. Thus, the configurator can ensure that the transceiver uses the channel / frequency on which the enrollee device is listening.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the indicator is provided using mDNS advertisement. This enables the configurator to be easily used using an IP-based protocol.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the configuration protocol is a Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP) over TCP / IP.

[0021] According to one aspect, a network access device is provided, the network access device comprising a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a wireless communication device according to a wireless communication protocol and comprising at least one relay device.

[0022] According to one aspect, there is provided a configurator configured to cooperate with a relay device according to a setting protocol that enables a wireless network to be set in the configurator and at least one wireless communication device to be associated with the wireless network. The configurator has a communication unit configured to communicate according to a wired and / or wireless network communication protocol, and a processor system configured to establish a setting connection with the relay device via the communication unit according to a wired and / or wireless network communication protocol. The configurator is configured to receive, while cooperating with the relay device, an indication of the setting of the transceiver from the network access device, and to receive information from at least one wireless communication device operating as the enrollment reader device via an out-of-band channel. The enrollment reader device has an enrollment transceiver configured for wireless communication using the wireless communication protocol of the relay device, and the information includes an indication of the parameter value of the enrollment transceiver.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the configurator is configured to select a relay device from a plurality of relay devices, and this selection is based on a correspondence relationship between an indication of the setting of the enrollment transceiver and an indication of the setting of the transceiver.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the processor is configured to send a command to the network access device via the setting connection, and this command includes a parameter value for the transceiver of the network access device.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the configurator is configured to participate in the setting of the wireless communication device so as to enable the association of the wireless communication device with the wireless network while cooperating with the relay device via the setting connection.

[0026] According to one aspect, a method for use in a relay device is provided, the relay device being configured to cooperate with a configurator according to a configuration protocol that enables setting up a wireless network and configuring a wireless communication device to be associated with the wireless network, and being configured to communicate with a network access device, the network access device having a transceiver configured to communicate with the wireless communication device according to a wireless communication protocol, the method comprising establishing a configuration connection according to a network communication protocol by associating the configurator with a configuration network, and providing an indicator of parameters of the transceiver to the configurator via the configuration network.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the method includes converting messages between a first format of the configuration protocol and a second format of the wireless communication protocol. According to an embodiment, the provision of the indicator of the transceiver configuration to the configurator is performed using an mDNS advertisement.

[0028] According to an embodiment, the method includes receiving from the configurator a command for changing the parameters of the transceiver to values provided by the configurator.

[0029] According to one aspect, a method for use with a configurator device as defined above is provided, the configurator being configured to cooperate with a relay device as defined above to configure a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device having a wireless device transceiver configured to communicate with the relay device using a wireless communication protocol, the method comprising receiving a first indicator from the relay device, the indicator including an indicator of a parameter of the transceiver, obtaining a second indicator of a parameter of the wireless device transceiver via an out-of-band channel, and sending a command to the relay device to adapt the parameters of the transceiver to a network access device according to a value provided by the configurator.

[0030] According to one aspect, a configurator device is provided, the configurator being configured to cooperate with a relay device to configure a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device having a wireless device transceiver configured to communicate with the relay device using a wireless communication protocol, the method comprising - receiving a first indicator from a plurality of relay devices, the indicator including an indicator of a parameter of the transceiver, - obtaining a second indicator of a parameter of the wireless device transceiver via an out-of-band channel, selecting a relay device according to a correspondence relationship between the first indicator and the second indicator to be used for configuring the wireless network device.

[0031] According to an embodiment, the method includes sending a command to the network access device to adapt the parameters of the transceiver to the network access device according to a value provided by the configurator.

[0032] According to an embodiment, the provisioning protocol is Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP) over TCP / IP.

[0033] According to one aspect, a computer program product on a computer-readable medium is provided, and when the computer program product is executed on a processor of a device, the device is configured to cause the above-described method to be executed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0034] These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments described by way of example with reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, and will be further described with reference thereto.

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[0035] The drawings are schematic and not drawn to scale. In the drawings, elements corresponding to elements already described may have the same reference numerals.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a communication system 100 including a first device 110, a second device 120, and a third device 130. An external network 152, such as the Internet, is also shown. Each of these devices has transceivers 111, 121, 131 with appropriate transmitters and receivers for wireless communication via a physical channel such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, or any other suitable technology. The devices can have an input / output unit for communicating via a wired physical channel and can include at least one antenna 113, 123, 133 serving as an input / output for the wireless physical channel. Each of the devices operates under the control of processors 112, 122, 132. The transceivers, processors, and further elements of the devices can be integrated on a single system-on-chip. The communication between the transceivers and the processors is schematically shown by solid-line arrows. Each of the devices can have a user interface having at least one user control element (not shown). For example, the user control elements can include a touch screen, various buttons, a mouse, a touch pad, etc. The buttons can be conventional physical buttons, touch sensors, or icons activated via, for example, virtual buttons on a touch screen or a mouse. The user interface can be a remote user interface.

[0037] The second device can be a network access device 130, such as an access point, router, etc., for providing a wireless network. The first device can be a wireless communication device 110, such as a mobile phone, laptop, or tablet having an end user. It can also be an IoT (Internet of Things) type device. The user of the first device may be interested in establishing a connection to a network access device for accessing one or more resources provided via the second device to access an external network 152, such as the Internet. The wireless communication device 110 may be referred to as an enrollee desiring to connect to a wireless network.

[0038] The third device can be a configurator 120 for configuring a wireless network according to a configuration protocol that enables setting the wireless network and a wireless communication device to be connected to the wireless network. The network access device 130 is configured to cooperate with the configurator 120 according to the configuration protocol.

[0039] In this example, a relay device 164 having the function of a relay (i.e., converting DPP / Commissioning over TCP / IP packets into DPP / Commissioning over Wi-Fi frames and vice versa) exists within the network device 130. Such a case often occurs for mere convenience since communication with the network 152 using TCP / IP and the AP is already prepared for communication using Wi-Fi when the devices 110 and 120 are associated with the AP. Further, the AP can also provide one or more Ethernet ports that provide a local area network (LAN), and through this Ethernet port, TCP / IP connections can be made between devices on the LAN and between a device on the LAN and a device associated with the AP. However, it is possible to have a fourth device (not shown) that functions as a relay. In the accompanying drawings, the relay device 164 is shown inside the network access device 130. However, this is merely an example and should not be understood to mean that the relay device 164 must be inside or located at the same place as the network access device 130. If the relay device 164 is part of the access point, the function of the processor for the relay can be provided by the processor 132 in the network access device 130. If the relay device 164 is separate from the network access device 130, a part of the function of the processor 132 will exist within the relay device 164, and the transceiver 131 will be used by the relay device for Wi-Fi communication (e.g., for sending and receiving DPP / Commissioning over Wi-Fi frames with a DPP enrollee and for sending and receiving TCP / IP packets with the access point), and any (not shown) Ethernet port will be used, for example, for TCP / IP packets. Also, for a relay device 164 separate from the network access device 130, the relay device 164 may have or use a transceiver separate from that of the network access device 130.

[0040] Also, it should be understood that the relay can convert DPP over TCP / IP packets into "DPP over radio" frames, where the radio is other than Wi-Fi and the DPP protocol is adapted thereto.

[0041] In the network access device, the processor 132 can be configured to accommodate a first wireless network as the operating network 161. The operating network can be configured to enable access to the external network 152 using a network communication protocol, such as TCP / IP. Further, the processor can be configured to accommodate a second wireless network 162 that operates as a configuration network 162 through which the TCP / IP input / output of the relay device 164 can be connected. This second network can include the relay device 164, the configurator 120, and ultimately the configured wireless network device 110. The configuration network 162 can be configured not to provide access to the external network 152 after the configuration of the operating network. In a practical example, both wireless networks have their respective network identifiers, such as SSIDs, and a virtual local area network (VLAN) can be applied to create both SSIDs through a single transceiver.

[0042] Also, the processor is configured to be able to establish a configuration connection 154 in accordance with the network communication protocol (TCP / IP) by associating the configurator 120 with the configuration network. This connection can be by any physical means, such as wireless, wired, optical, or any combination thereof. As an option, the network access device can be configured to provide out-of-band (OOB) information regarding the configured network using an out-of-band channel to enable a configurator to cooperate with the network access device. For example, the OOB information may be a QR code including a network identifier SSID and additional access data, port address, security data, etc. The network access device can be further configured to enable the association between the wireless communication device and the operating network by adapting the configuration of the operating network and the configuration of the wireless communication device while cooperating with the configurator via the configured network.

[0043] In the following embodiments, the network access device may be referred to as an access point AP, and the configuration protocol may be a device provisioning protocol (DPP) (see [DPP]). The wireless communication protocol may be Wi-Fi, and the network communication protocol may be TCP / IP. In the case of TCP / IP, one of the communication devices is a TCP client and the other is a TCP server. It will be understood that other devices can also function as both a TCP client and a TCP server. When the network communication protocol is TCP / IP, the port address or port information can include whether the device is a TCP server or a TCP client.

[0044] The provision of TCP / IP access to the basic configurator by the AP can be done, at least initially, through a connection to an open wireless network, typically called an association, without encryption (e.g., Wi-Fi Enhanced Open (see [WiFi_EO])). The network created by the open Wi-Fi connection is identified by the configured SSID. Later, another SSID is created by the same AP for operational communication and is identified by the operational SSID. The configured SSID can be deleted or stopped after configuration. Otherwise, it is necessary to separate both networks (SSIDs) from each other. To achieve this separation, the AP can use VLAN tagging by creating VLAN1 for the configured SSID and a subsequent VLAN2 for the operational SSID. If the configured SSID has stopped when the operational SSID is started, there is no need to use VLANs for the configured SSID.

[0045] For example, in the case of DPP configuration, the AP needs to make available two destinations on the configured SSID, namely, · The IP address / port number configured via DPP over TCP / IP itself · The IP address / port number of the DPP over TCP / IP relay The port number used in both cases can be 8908, and that number is fixed in the DPP standard for the DPP over TCP / IP relay. In that case, the port number does not need to be included in the OOB information. Further, an explanation of how the IP address is transmitted is provided. The AP can further indicate in the OOB information for each IP address / port number included in the OOB information whether it is a TCP client or a TCP server.

[0046] In addition, the AP can make the remote UI available on the configured SSID for all non-DPP over TCP / IP functions, for example, on port 80 of its gateway address, for being set by the user. Making the remote UI available by a device on the network may mean, for example, that the device provides one or more web pages for the user to interact with, for example, using a browser on another device to control the first device. The gateway address can also be used for setting via DPP over TCP / IP itself or for DPP over TCP / IP relay. However, the gateway address cannot be used together for both purposes to share the same port number 8908.

[0047] The AP can limit the functions available on the configured SSID to the above three, namely, the IP address / port number for its own setting, DPP over TCP / IP relay, and remote UI. In particular, access to the external network can be completely provided or limited to at least a temporary one or limited to specific purposes regarding the setting. Otherwise, there is a possibility that the Wi-Fi device can connect to the Internet or the like.

[0048] If the AP is configured to later provide a DPP Wi-Fi network or SSID, the AP can make available an IP address / port number on this DPP SSID of its DPP over TCP / IP relay, or on a further instance thereof, for a configurator that supports the DPP Wi-Fi stack. In effect, the configurator can configure an enrollee that supports only the Wi-Fi band (e.g., 802.11ah) that the AP supports, but that the configurator itself does not support. Existing configurators can have different capabilities, such as a configurator that can run DPP over TCP / IP, called a legacy configurator, and a configurator that can run DPP over Wi-Fi, called a Wi-Fi-enabled configurator. See also the following description.

[0049] The AP can support an IP address / port number for its own configuration by DPP over TCP / IP on a DPP Wi-Fi network (or SSID). Optionally, the AP can be configured by DPP over Wi-Fi and DPP over TCP / IP, and providing both can be beneficial as each of the two types of configurators can configure it. The configurator can connect to the IP address / port for the AP's own DPP configuration with the configured SSID of VLAN1, if necessary. An AP that provides an IP address / port number for its own configuration by DPP over TCP / IP on a DPP Wi-Fi network (or SSID) increases the flexibility of the configurator.

[0050] An AP may need to have its relay function configured. For this purpose, the AP can provide out-of-band (OOB) information, for example, by displaying the DPP bootstrap URI on a display or sticker, or making it available using NFC, Bluetooth, or other suitable out-of-band technologies. Advantageously, the bootstrap URI can include the configured SSID and the IP address for which it is itself configured by DPP over TCP / IP. This DPP bootstrap URI also enables this AP to be configured using a DPP configurator that supports DPP over Wi-Fi, but DPP over Wi-Fi is not further described herein (see [DPP]).

[0051] In optional step 201, "Capture DPP URI (OOB)", the configurator scans or obtains the AP's DPP bootstrap URI via NFC. In step 202, "Associate with configured SSID", the configurator connects (associates) to the configured SSID indicated by the SSID attribute within the AP's DPP bootstrap URI. By associating with the configured SSID, the legacy configurator can set up a TCP / IP connection with a combination of an IP address and port number reachable on the network of the configured SSID. Also, the configurator can learn the IP address and port number of the DPP over TCP / IP relay on the configured SSID from either the beacon or bootstrap URI of the configured SSID, or from other means such as mDNS advertisements shown above or below.

[0052] In step 204, the configurator uses the combination of the IP address indicated by either the HOST attribute in the (DPP) bootstrap URI of the AP or the other manner described above and the DPP port number 8908 to configure the AP itself, for example, by creating an operating network using DPP over TCP / IP via the configured SSID. The new network may be a DPP network, which is assumed in the remainder of these steps, and these steps are described below with reference to the following figures. Steps 201-204 can only be applied when the AP has a relay associated with it (e.g., the AP is hosting relay device 164) and when the AP needs to be configured before the configuration of the wireless network device 110 can be started. It should be understood that in the case of a stand-alone relay, the creation of the TCP / IP connection between device 130 and configurator 120 should be done in a different manner, an example of which is given above.

[0053] Figure 3 shows a communication system having a configurator and the results of the initial setting steps of the above numbers 201, 202, and 204. This figure schematically shows an apparatus as described in FIG. 1 and a setting network 162 such as a setting SSID on VLAN1. Further, the setting network 162 has a setting tunnel 163, which enables messages conforming to the setting protocol to be transferred via a setting connection 154, for example, a DPP over TCP / IP setting port, and via this tunnel, the AP itself can be set. The setting network 162 further provides a setting port for the relay 164 to access, for example, the TCP / IP input / output of a DPP over TCP / IP relay. The relay is configured to relay setting messages between the setting connections 154, 155, or 173 and wireless communication. For example, the relay can convert messages on the setting network between special Wi-Frames transmitted / received via a Wi-Fi transceiver. Then, the messages according to the setting protocol are then transferred using a wireless communication protocol, for example, DPP over Wi-Fi. In addition, the setting relay 164 has a portion that communicates using TCP / IP packets in the setting SSID or on Ethernet and a portion that communicates using specific Wi-Fi frames outside the setting SSID, and that portion is shown to extend beyond the dashed box 162. In FIG. 3, the arrow 153 shows the results of the above steps 201 to 204, provides DPP over TCP / IP through association with the setting SSID, and this arrow connects the configurator to the setting tunnel.

[0054] Figure 4 shows the results of further setting steps. This figure schematically shows an apparatus as described in FIG. 3 and an operation network 161 such as a DPP SSID on VLAN2. Here, the configurator has set up an operation network, which is a DPP network, that is, a network in which an AP and a device associated therewith exchange DPP connectors using the network introduction protocol defined in Section 6.6 of [DPP].

[0055] As shown by arrow 151, the operation network provides access to an external network 152, for example, via a wired Ethernet connection. In addition, the operation network can have a further relay 165, for example, a DPP over TCP / IP relay. Arrow 155 schematically indicates that a TCP / IP connection is possible through association with a configured SSID. In step 204, "Configure the AP using DPP over TCP / IP", the AP is configured.

[0056] In step 206, "Start the DPP SSID", the operation network 161 is started. For example, the AP starts a DPP network as configured by a configurator. VLAN tagging can be used to keep the DPP SSID separate from the configured SSID, thereby preventing any device associated with the AP's configured SSID from being able to connect to an external network, such as the Internet. FIG. 5 shows the result of further configuration steps. This figure schematically shows the device described in FIG. 4. In step 207, "Capture the DPP URI (OOB)", the configurator bootstraps the DPP enrollee 110, for example, by capturing a QR code that includes the DPP bootstrap URI of its enrollee, and starts the DPP protocol with the enrollee via relay 164, for example, the enrollee as a responder.

[0057] The start of the configuration protocol can use the IP address / port 8908 of the DPP over TCP / IP relay and then use DPP over Wi-Fi to communicate via a TCP / IP connection on the configured SSID of the AP. In step 208, "Configure the DPP enrollee using DPP over TCP / IP", the configurator configures the DPP enrollee through the DPP over TCP / IP relay of the AP, as indicated by arrow 173. Subsequently, in step 209, "DPP over Wi-Fi", the message is transferred using the wireless network protocol, as indicated by arrow 174. Note that the communication via arrow 174 may use transceiver 131, and the communication via arrow 173 may use transceiver 131 or an (not shown) Ethernet port of device 130.

[0058] Figure 6 shows the result of further configuration steps. This figure schematically shows the device described in Figure 5. In the final step 210, "Associate with the DPP SSID", the enrollee configured by the configurator in the previous steps 208 and 209 is here connected to the operating network by association. Arrow 156 indicates that a TCP / IP connection is possible via the said association with the DPP SSID. Note that the reference to "DPP SSID" here is purely for example and can be replaced by an equivalent entity for a non-DPP Wi-Fi-based network.

[0059] Steps 207 to 210 are considered in more detail below. These correspond to the configuration of the enrollee.

[0060] Generally, the commissioning process starts with a commissioning device (a configurator in the case of DPP), and the enrollee device, i.e., the configurator, can start the commissioning process as an initiator. In step 207, in the case of DPP and actually other protocols, it first obtains the enrollee's bootstrap information (e.g., DPP Bootstrapping URI). The enrollee's DPP Bootstrapping URI contains at least the enrollee's public bootstrap key. It can also include, for example, one or more Wi-Fi channels from the channel ABNF rules ([DPP] section 5.2.1) on which the enrollee is listening.

[0061] If the enrollee's bootstrap URI is in the form of a QR code, the associated Wi-Fi channels can be encoded in the QR code.

[0062] When bootstrap information is obtained via another wireless technology such as NFC, the Wi-Fi channel can be in the form of a record received via the other wireless technology. In the case of DPP, this is referred to as an Alternative Carrier Record. Generally, an Alternative Carrier Record refers to a Carrier Configuration record that includes an application-defined MIME type. In the case of DPP, the Alternative Carrier Record refers to a Carrier Configuration record that includes "application / vnd.wfa.dpp" to indicate a DPP and DPP Bootstrap Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that can include a public bootstrap key, a MAC address, and a Wi-Fi-specific channel list (see [RTD-URI]). Alternative Carrier Records can be used to indicate other technologies such as Wi-Fi P2P [P2P], Wi-Fi Simple Configuration [WSC], Bluetooth [BT], 802.15.4 [802.15.4], ZigBee [ZIGBEE], Thread [TR-ZIG]. Thread is an IPv6 networking protocol built on open standards and designed for secure, low-power 802.15.4 mesh networks. The Wi-Fi standard 802.15.4 (see reference [802.15]) is the MAC / PHY layer for both ZigBee (http: / / www.zigbee.org / ) and Thread (https: / / www.threadgroup.org / ).

[0063] In step 208, when the configurator obtains the bootstrap URI of the enrollee, it can start the configuration process. In the case of DPP, the first phase of configuration starts with the DPP authentication protocol where the configurator sends a DPP authentication request message to the MAC address of the enrollee if the configurator knows the MAC address from, for example, the DPP bootstrap URI of the enrollee, or to the broadcast address. In the case of a direct connection between the configurator and the enrollee, the configurator can try each of the one or more channels on which the enrollee is listening, for example, if it knows from the DPP bootstrap URI of the enrollee, until it gets a response from the enrollee. Otherwise, the configurator needs to try all the Wi-Fi channels it supports. However, if a relay is being used, the configurator is limited to trying the channel (or frequency) used by the wireless side of the relay.

[0064] This system handles many aspects of individual device connections. However, despite this fact, the inventor has recognized that the system still has many unexpected problems.

[0065] Devices functioning as relays are most often configured to use a specific Wi-Fi channel / frequency.

[0066] Currently, the commissioner / configurator has no means of knowing which channel / frequency is being used by the relay device. This is because the configurator is connected to the IP side rather than the wireless side of the relay.

[0067] A first situation in which a problem may occur is when there are multiple relays available and there is at least one relay coupled to a transceiver that uses the wireless side channel corresponding to the channel the enrollee is listening to. It would be most convenient if the commissioner / configurator could select a relay that uses the same channel as the enrollee is listening to, even if not intentionally. First, assuming there is a relay that uses the channel the enrollee is actually listening to, if the configurator selects a relay that does not use the channel the enrollee is listening to, the enrollee will not respond to the message and the setup process will stop. In the case of DPP, the enrollee will not respond to the DPP setup request. In this case, the configurator needs to try another relay or notify the user of the problem.

[0068] If the relay device is part of the AP, the problem is more severe because the AP is generally configured to maximize the throughput of the STAs associated with it. Therefore, the AP will "prefer" to stay on a given channel rather than change channels. There may be multiple relays housed in the same AP, especially if the AP has multiple radios that can be configured to use different frequencies. The same constraint, i.e., not changing the channel / frequency, applies to each. Having the configurator try relays one after another may work, but this is undesirably inefficient, even if the relays are co-located within one AP.

[0069] According to an embodiment, the relay device designates one or more wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) channels used by the transceiver in mDNS advertisements. The relay service is published as the "_relay" sub-service of the DPP service ("_DPP._tcp"), such as "_relay_sub._DPP._tcp". So-called TXT records can provide more information about a service or sub-service. In addition to TXT records providing information such as the IP address and port number used by the relay for its TCP / IP input / output, DPP Relay can include, for example, the following TXT records: ·channels=81 / 1,115 / 36 (meaning channel 1 in the 2.4 GHz band and channel 36 in the 5 GHz band) ·channels=81 / 1,6,11 (meaning channels 1, 6, 11 in the 2.4 GHz band) ·frequencies=2412,2437,2462 (frequencies in MHz, channels 1, 6, 11 in the 2.4 GHz band).

[0070] Then, the commissioner / configurator can compare the channels / frequencies announced by the relay device with the channels / frequencies found by the enrollee in, for example, the bootstrap URI. If there are multiple available relays, the commissioner / configurator can select the relay device using the channels / frequencies listened to by the enrollee.

[0071] The second problem occurs when there is no available relay using the wireless channel listened to by the enrollee. Currently, the setup process cannot start, and the user has to find another solution that involves changing the configurator.

[0072] In such a situation, the configurator can issue commands to the relay via the TCP / IP connection to switch one of its radios to the channel indicated by the enrollee bootstrap URI. The configurator can do this after obtaining the bootstrap URI from which it can find the channel / frequency on which the enrollee is listening.

[0073] A relay device that supports being commanded to switch to another channel can include an IP address / port number in its relay mDNS advertisement, and a REST API for obtaining commands to the relay device through them is supported. This REST API can support, for example, a POST to the resource " / relay / command", which includes the command as data. The Content-Type of the HTTP POST request can be, for example, "application / x-www-form-urlencode".

[0074] The IP address / port number specified by the relay device in its relay mDNS advertisement is, for example, in the form of a TXT record as follows. ·command_URI=192.168.0.234:8912 (IPv4 address 192.168.0.234, port 8912) Using the above example, the command to the relay to switch channels would be, for example, ·a POST to 192.168.0.234:8912 / relay / command would be.

[0075] The command could be, for example, the following text in the body of the HTTP POST ·set_relay_channel=81 / 1 ·<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <relay_commands> <!―Next is a command to switch channels--> <channel> 81 / 1< / channel> <!―Next is a command to wait 10 seconds after which the relay device should no longer wait for an answer to the Wi-Fi message sent on behalf of the Configurator --> <wait_time>10< / wait_time> < / relay_commands> etc.

[0076] The relay can provide secure POSTs in the form of HTTPS POST. Secure POST can use the following: · Use server-side only authentication, where the relay device provides a certificate to the Configurator, so that the Configurator knows that it is dealing with a legitimate relay device; or · In addition, use client-side authentication, where the relay device knows that it is dealing with a legitimate Configurator; or · Non-certificate authentication using RFC 8492 (TLS-pwd) or RFC 5054 (TLS-SRP), etc.

[0077] The use of RFC 8492 (TLS-pwd) has the advantage that the password can be set by these owners on the relay device and the Configurator, so that the owner is guaranteed that the relay device only accepts commands from the Configurator.

[0078] If the network is a mesh network, other relays and their mDNS advertisements are reachable via the mesh even if they are in different physical locations. However, if the wireless technology is not Wi-Fi, or if the network is composed of subnetworks with bridges, other relays may not be reachable via the network itself, and the configurator may have to physically move to that location to establish an IP connection with that relay. This requires notifying the user and causing the user to take appropriate action, which is also an undesirable burden for the user. And the user will choose to instruct the configurator to change its settings to the current relay.

[0079] FIG. 7a shows a computer-readable medium 1000 having a writable portion 1010 that includes a computer program 1020, the computer program 1020 including instructions for causing a processor system to execute one or more of the above methods, as described with reference to FIGS. 1-6. The computer program 1020 may be implemented on the computer-readable medium 1000 as a physical mark or by magnetization of the computer-readable medium 1000. However, any other suitable implementation is also contemplated. Further, although the computer-readable medium 1000 is shown here as an optical disk, it will be understood that the computer-readable medium 1000 may be any suitable computer-readable medium such as a hard disk, solid state memory, flash memory, etc., and may be non-recordable or recordable. The computer program 1020 includes instructions for causing a processor system to execute the above method.

[0080] Typically, the devices that execute the above processes each include a processor coupled to a memory containing appropriate software code stored in the device. For example, the software may be downloaded and / or stored in a corresponding memory, such as volatile memory like RAM or non-volatile memory like flash (not shown). The device can include, for example, a microprocessor and a memory (not shown). Alternatively, the device may be implemented, in whole or in part, as programmable logic, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The device and the server can be implemented, in whole or in part, as so-called application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), i.e., integrated circuits (ICs) customized for their specific use. For example, the circuit may be implemented in CMOS using a hardware description language such as Verilog, VHDL, etc.

[0081] Figure 7b shows a schematic diagram of a processor system 1100 according to an embodiment of a network access device, a configurator, or a configurator interface or configurator controller as described with reference to FIGS. 1-6. The processor system can be embodied, for example, by one or more circuits 1110, each comprising one or more integrated circuits. Circuit 1110 includes a processing unit 1120, such as a CPU, for executing computer program components to execute a method according to an embodiment and / or implement its modules or units. Circuit 1110 includes a memory 1122 for storing program code, data, etc. A portion of memory 1122 may be read-only. Circuit 1110 can include a communication element 1126, such as an antenna, a connector, or a transceiver having both. Circuit 1110 may include an application specific integrated circuit 1124 for performing some or all of the processing defined by the method. Processor 1120, memory 1122, application specific IC 1124, and communication element 1126 can be coupled to each other via an interconnection 1130, such as a bus. Processor system 1110 may be arranged for contact and / or non-contact communication using an antenna and / or a connector, respectively.

[0082] Software may only include steps executed by specific sub-entities of the system. Software can be stored in a suitable storage medium such as a hard disk, floppy disk, memory, etc. Software can be transmitted as a signal, either wired, wirelessly, or using a data network (e.g., the Internet). Software may be made available for download and / or remote use on a server. The method according to the present invention can be executed using a bitstream configured to configure programmable logic, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), to execute this method. It should be understood that software can be in the form of source code, object code, intermediate source and object code in a form such as partially compiled, or any other form suitable for use in implementing the method according to the present invention. Embodiments related to computer programs comprise computer-executable instructions corresponding to each of at least one processing step of the described methods. These instructions may be divided into subroutines and / or stored in one or more files that may be statically or dynamically linked. Another embodiment related to computer programs comprises computer-executable instructions corresponding to each of at least one means of the described systems and / or products.

[0083] For clarity, it will be appreciated that the above description refers to different functional units and processors in describing embodiments of the invention. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units or processors may be used without departing from the invention. For example, functions shown to be performed by separate units, processors or controllers may be performed by the same processor or controller. Accordingly, references to specific functional units are to be regarded only as references to suitable means for providing the described functionality, and not as indicating any strict logical or physical structure or organization. The invention may be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof.

[0084] In this document, the word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed, the word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements, and any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims. The invention may be implemented by both hardware and software, and some "means" or "units" may be represented by the same item of hardware or software. It should be noted that a processor may, in some cases, cooperate with hardware elements to perform the functions of one or more units. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments, and the invention resides in all novel features or combinations of features described above or in different dependent claims. Also, "at least one of A, B and C" should be understood to mean "one or more elements from a group of elements including A, B and C".

[0085] In summary, the present disclosure relates to a relay, a configurator, and a network access device. There is a relay device, which is configured to cooperate with a configurator according to a configuration protocol that enables the relay device to set at least one wireless communication device for associating with a wireless network and a wireless network. The configuration protocol uses a configuration connection, and the relay device is configured to communicate with at least one wireless communication device via a transceiver according to a wireless communication protocol. The relay device has a processor configured to provide an indicator of the configuration of the transceiver to the configurator via the configuration connection.

[0086] Often, the relay device is already set up for a wireless communication network and can be coupled to a transceiver that is already set up to use a particular channel and / or frequency. A new enrollee device may not be listening on these channels / frequencies. In such a situation, the configuration attempt will not succeed unless the transceiver used by the relay device changes channels / frequencies. This is because at some point, the enrollee device will not respond to messages transmitted via the transceiver.

[0087] DPP Relay is often part of an AP. The most important goal of an AP is to enable the highest throughput for associated Wi-Fi devices ("STAs"). Therefore, the AP desires to stay on the same channel for each of its radios (an AP can have more than one radio, each operating on a different channel in the same or different frequency bands).

[0088] If the configurator knows the channels on which the enrollee is listening, for example, from the channel ABNF rules of the DPP bootstrap URI (section 5.2.1 of [DPP]), the configurator hopes to select at least one relay device that is actually using at least one of the channels on which the enrollee is listening. However, the configurator does not know which channels the radio of the relay is using.

[0089] By receiving information about the settings, the configurator can select a relay device that is coupled to a properly configured transceiver (multiple options of relay device transceivers are available). Also, if the function to control the transceiver permits, the configurator can change the settings of the transceiver to be compatible with the enrollee device.

[0090] According to an embodiment, the processor is configured to convert messages between a first format of a configuration protocol and a second format of a wireless communication protocol. Thereby, a configurator that uses only IP-based protocols can configure an enrollee of a wireless communication protocol.

[0091] According to an embodiment, the setting indicator includes an indicator of at least one parameter value, the at least one parameter being at least one from a set of wireless channels and frequencies, and the parameter value corresponding to the settings of the transceiver. And the configurator can compare the channel and / or frequency settings of the transceiver with the settings of the enrollee device.

[0092] According to an embodiment, the processor is configured to receive a command that includes settings for the transceiver, and in response to the command, cause the transceiver to use the settings for communication using the wireless communication protocol. Thus, the configurator can cause the transceiver to use the channels / frequencies on which the enrollee device is listening and ensure that.

[0093] According to an embodiment, the indicator is provided using an mDNS advertisement. This enables a configurator that knows how to use an IP-based protocol to be easily used.

[0094] According to an embodiment, the configuration protocol is Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP) over TCP / IP.

[0095] According to one aspect, a network access device is provided, the network access device having a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a wireless communication device according to a wireless communication protocol and having at least one relay device.

[0096] According to one aspect, a configurator is provided that is configured to cooperate with a relay device according to a configuration protocol that enables the configurator to configure at least one wireless communication device to be associated with a wireless network and the wireless network. The configurator includes a communication unit configured to communicate according to a wired and / or wireless network communication protocol, and a processor system configured to establish a configuration connection according to the wired and / or wireless network communication protocol to the relay device via the communication unit. The configurator is configured to receive an indicator of the transceiver's settings from the network access device while cooperating with the relay device, and to receive information from the wireless communication device operating as an enrollee device via an out-of-band channel. The enrollee device has an enrollee transceiver configured for wireless communication using the relay device's wireless communication protocol, and the information includes an indicator of parameter values of the enrollee transceiver.

[0097] According to an embodiment, the configurator is configured to select a relay device from a plurality of relay devices, and this selection is based on a correspondence relationship between an index of the settings of the enrollee transceiver and an index of the settings of the transceiver.

[0098] According to an embodiment, the processor is configured to send a command to the network access device via a configuration connection, and this command includes parameter values for the transceiver of the network access device.

[0099] According to an embodiment, the configurator is configured to participate in the settings of the wireless communication device so as to enable the association of the wireless communication device with the wireless network while cooperating with the relay device via a configuration connection.

[0100] According to one aspect, a method for use in a relay device is provided, the relay device being configured to cooperate with a configurator according to a configuration protocol that enables the relay device to configure a wireless network and a wireless communication device to be associated with the wireless network, the relay device being configured to communicate with a network access device, the network access device having a transceiver, and via the transceiver, the relay device being configured to communicate with the wireless communication device according to a wireless communication protocol, the method including establishing a configuration connection according to a network communication protocol by associating the configurator with a configuration network, and providing an index of the parameters of the transceiver to the configurator via the configuration network.

[0101] According to an embodiment, the method includes converting a message between a first format of the configuration protocol and a second format of the wireless communication protocol. According to an embodiment, the provision of the index of the settings of the transceiver to the configurator is performed using an mDNS advertisement.

[0102] According to an embodiment, the method includes receiving, from a configurator, a command for changing parameters of a transceiver to values provided by the configurator.

[0103] According to one aspect, a method for use in a configurator device as defined above is provided, the configurator being configured to cooperate with a relay device as defined above to configure a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device having a wireless device transceiver configured to communicate with the relay device using a wireless communication protocol, the method including receiving, from the relay device, a first indicator including an indicator of parameters of the transceiver, obtaining a second indicator of parameters of the wireless device transceiver via an out-of-band channel, and transmitting, to the relay device, a command for adapting the parameters of the transceiver to values provided by the configurator.

[0104] According to one aspect, a configurator device is provided, the configurator being configured to cooperate with a relay device to configure a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device having a wireless device transceiver configured to communicate with the relay device using a wireless communication protocol, the method including: - receiving a first indicator from a plurality of relay devices, the indicator including an indicator of parameters of the transceiver; - obtaining a second indicator of parameters of the wireless device transceiver via an out-of-band channel; and selecting a relay device according to a correspondence relationship between the first indicator and the second indicator to be used for setting the wireless network device.

[0105] According to an embodiment, the method includes transmitting, to a network access device, a command for adapting parameters of a transceiver to values provided by the configurator.

[0106] According to an embodiment, the provisioning protocol is Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP) over TCP / IP.

[0107] According to one aspect, a computer program on a computer-readable medium is provided, which when executed on a processor of a device, is configured to cause the device to execute the method described above.

[0108] References [802.11] IEEE Computer Society, “IEEE Standard for Information Technology - Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems - Local and Metropolitan Area Networks - Specific requirements Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications,” (IEEE Std. 802.11-2016), December 2016. [802.1Q] IEEE Standard for Local and metropolitan area networks--Bridges and Bridged Networks, 2014. [DPP] Device Provisioning Protocol - Technical Specification - Version 2.0, Wi-Fi Alliance, 2020, (https: / / www.wi-fi.org / downloads-public / Wi-Fi_Easy_Connect_Specification_v2.0.pdf / 35330) [RFC 6763] RFC 6763, DNS-Based Service Discovery, February 2013, https: / / datatracker.ietf.org / doc / rfc6763. [WiFi_EO] Opportunistic Wireless Encryption Specification, Version 1.1, Wi-Fi Alliance, 2020, (https: / / www.wi-fi.org / file-member / opportunistic-wireless-encryption-specification) [WPA3] WPA3(TM) Specification, Version 3.0, December 14, 2020, Wi-Fi Alliance.

Claims

1. A relay device configured to cooperate with a configurator according to a configuration protocol that enables setting a wireless network and at least one wireless communication device to be associated with the wireless network, the configuration protocol using a configuration connection, the relay device being configured to communicate with the at least one wireless communication device via a transceiver according to a wireless communication protocol, and having a processor configured to provide an indication of the setting of the transceiver to the configurator via the configuration connection.

2. The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to convert messages between a first format of the configuration protocol and a second format of the wireless communication protocol.

3. The relay device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the indication of the setting includes an indication of the value of at least one parameter, the at least one parameter being at least one of a wireless channel and a frequency, and the value of the parameter corresponding to a setting value of the transceiver.

4. The relay device according to claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to receive a command including a setting value for the transceiver and, in response to the command, cause the transceiver to use the setting value for communication using the wireless communication protocol.

5. The relay device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the indication is provided using an mDNS advertisement.

6. The relay device according to any one of claims 2, 3 dependent on claim 2, 4 dependent on claim 3 dependent on claim 2, 5 dependent on claim 3 dependent on claim 2, and 5 dependent on claim 4 dependent on claim 3 dependent on claim 2, wherein the configuration protocol is Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP) over TCP / IP.

7. A network access device having a transceiver for wireless communication with a wireless communication device according to a wireless communication protocol and at least one relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A configurator configured to cooperate with the relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 according to a setting protocol that enables the configurator to set a wireless network and at least one wireless communication device to be associated with the wireless network, A communication unit configured to communicate according to a network communication protocol, A processor system configured to establish a setting connection according to a wired and / or wireless network communication protocol with the relay device via the communication unit, And having, during cooperation with the relay device, the configurator, Receives an indication of the setting of the transceiver from the network access device, Is configured to receive information from the at least one wireless communication device operating as an enrollee device via an out-of-band channel, the enrollee device having an enrollee transceiver configured for wireless communication using the wireless communication protocol of the relay device of claim 1, the information including an indication of parameter values of the enrollee transceiver, a configurator.

9. The configurator according to claim 8, configured to select a relay device from a plurality of relay devices, the selection being based on a correspondence between an indication of the setting of the enrollee transceiver and an indication of the setting of the transceiver.

10. The configurator according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the processor system is configured to transmit a command including parameter values for the transceiver of the network access device to the network access device via the setting connection.

11. The configurator according to any one of claims 8 to 10, configured to participate in the setting of the wireless communication device to enable association of the wireless communication device with the wireless network while cooperating with the relay device via the setting connection.

12. A method used in the relay device of claim 1, wherein the relay device is configured to cooperate with a configurator according to a configuration protocol that enables setting a wireless network and a wireless communication device to be associated with the wireless network, and is configured to communicate with the wireless communication device via a transceiver according to a wireless communication protocol, the method comprising: Establishing a setting connection according to a network communication protocol by associating the configurator with a setting network; Providing an indicator of parameters of the transceiver to the configurator via the setting network.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising converting a message between a first format of the configuration protocol and a second format of the wireless communication protocol.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the step of providing the indicator of the transceiver settings to the configurator is performed using mDNS advertisement.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising receiving a command from the configurator to change parameters of the transceiver to values provided by the configurator.

16. A method used in the configurator according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the configurator cooperates with the relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and is configured to set a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device having a wireless device transceiver configured to communicate with the relay device using a wireless communication protocol, the method comprising: Receiving a first indicator including an indicator of parameters of the transceiver from the relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 5; Obtaining a second indicator of parameters of the wireless device transceiver via an out-of-band channel; Transmitting a command to the relay device to adapt parameters of the transceiver to the network access device according to values provided by the configurator.

17. A method used in the configurator according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the configurator cooperates with the relay device according to claim 1 and is configured to set a wireless communication device, and the wireless communication device has a wireless device transceiver configured to communicate with the relay device using a wireless communication protocol, and the method comprises: receiving, from a plurality of relay devices, a first indicator including an indicator of parameters of the transceiver; obtaining a second indicator of parameters of the wireless device transceiver via an out-of-band channel; selecting a relay device to be used for setting the wireless network device according to a correspondence relationship between the first indicator and the second indicator.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising transmitting, to the network access device, a command for adapting parameters of the transceiver to the network access device according to a value provided by the configurator.

19. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the configuration protocol is Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP) over TCP / IP.

20. A computer program, executed by a processor of the device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, for causing the device to execute the method according to any one of claims 12 to 15.

21. A computer program, executed by a processor of the device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, for causing the device to execute the method according to any one of claims 16 to 19.

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