Cloud-Based WLAN Self-Forming via Provisioner Portal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for connecting a station client to a home WLAN require manual user interaction, which can be complex and not self-forming, especially for devices that cannot enter credentials manually.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based provisioning system that uses a provisioner portal device to discover, verify, and negotiate WLAN credentials with a client provisionee device, creating a one-time provisioning network for secure and user-interaction-free connection to the home WLAN.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual user interaction is used for entering WLAN credentials, then connection security is maintained through user control, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to manual configuration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service provisioning where the provisionee device automatically discovers the provisioner portal device, negotiates credentials through cloud service, and configures itself to join the WLAN without manual user interaction. The device performs self-configuration by automatically establishing secure channels and obtaining credentials.
Solution Approach 2:
A cloud service acts as an intermediary between the provisioner portal device and the provisionee device. The cloud service facilitates credential negotiation, verification, and secure transmission, enabling automated connection while maintaining security through centralized credential management.
2Productivity
If automated self-forming is implemented without user interaction, then productivity and ease of operation improve, but reliability deteriorates due to potential security vulnerabilities in automated credential negotiation
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud service serves as a trusted intermediary that verifies device identities, validates credentials, and ensures secure authentication between the provisioner and provisionee devices. This intermediary layer maintains reliability by preventing unauthorized access while enabling automated provisioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the cloud service verifies credential negotiation success, confirms device authentication status, and provides validation feedback to ensure secure connection establishment. This feedback loop maintains reliability by detecting and preventing authentication failures.
3Ease of operation
If cloud-based credential negotiation is used, then ease of operation improves through automated provisioning, but loss of information increases due to dependency on cloud service connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The provisioner portal device and cloud service perform preliminary actions by pre-establishing secure channels and pre-negotiating credentials before the provisionee device needs to join the WLAN. This preliminary credential preparation reduces dependency on real-time cloud connectivity during the actual connection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates copies of credentials and configuration data that can be stored locally on devices. The provisionee device receives and stores credential copies from the cloud service, enabling it to connect to the WLAN even when cloud connectivity is interrupted after initial provisioning.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies for cloud-based secure WLAN group self-forming are described. One provisioner portal device receives, from a client provisionee device that desires to connect to a home WLAN, a first SSID and forwards, to a cloud service via a wireless AP device, the first SSID and a MAC address. The provisioner portal device receives, from the cloud service via the WAP device, a second SSID and a passphrase. The provisioner portal device sends, to the client provisionee device, a response that includes the second SSID. The provisioner portal device creates a one-time provisioning wireless network with the second SSID and the passphrase. Through the provisioner portal device, WAP credentials can be exchanged from the cloud server to the client provisionee device over a secure channel. The WAP credentials can be used to switch to the home WLAN without user interaction to manually enter the WAP credentials at the client provisionee device.