IoT Device Self-Onboarding Through Trusted Network Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
IoT devices require manual onboarding to connect to wireless networks, which is cumbersome, prone to failure, and discourages user adoption, especially when network passwords change or devices are moved.
Innovation Solution
A self-onboarding method for IoT devices that autonomously identifies trusted devices and wireless networks, establishes a connection with an onboarding server, receives provisioning information, and securely logs into networks using encrypted credentials without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual onboarding is used for IoT devices, then user control and visibility are improved, but onboarding complexity and failure rate increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling IoT devices to automatically discover wireless networks, obtain credentials from an onboarding server, and connect without user intervention. The device autonomously performs network scanning, credential retrieval, and connection establishment, eliminating the need for manual password entry and reducing onboarding steps from 8+ user interactions to automatic background processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an onboarding server as an intermediary between the IoT device and the wireless network. The server stores network credentials securely and provides them to devices during onboarding, acting as a mediator that simplifies the connection process while maintaining security. This intermediary enables automatic authentication and credential management without requiring users to manually handle sensitive information.
2Ease of manufacture
If manual onboarding is used for IoT devices, then initial setup is possible, but reconfiguration effort increases when networks change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the onboarding server pre-store wireless network credentials before the IoT device needs them. When a device needs to connect or reconfigure, it automatically retrieves pre-prepared credentials from the server without requiring user intervention. This preliminary preparation of credentials enables both initial setup and seamless reconfiguration when networks change, eliminating the need for manual re-entry of passwords.
3Reliability
If secure network access is implemented, then security is improved, but onboarding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex security credential management from the IoT device and places it on the onboarding server. The device only needs to request and receive credentials automatically, while the server handles secure storage, encryption, and distribution of network credentials. This extraction maintains high security through centralized credential management while simplifying the device-side onboarding process to automatic background operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a self-onboarding method for an IoT device. The method includes: identifying, by the IoT device, a trusted device and at least one wireless network in a vicinity of the IoT device; based on identifying the trusted device in the vicinity of the IoT device, establishing, by the IoT device, a connection with an onboarding server through the trusted device; based on identifying the at least one wireless network in the vicinity of the IoT device, sending, by the IoT device, a list of the at least one wireless network to the onboarding server using the connection; receiving, by the IoT device, self-provisioning information from the onboarding server; and onboarding, by the IoT device, through the at least one wireless network based on the self-provisioning information.