Secure Network Credential Distribution via Public Key Encryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face the burden of manually setting up new wireless-enabled devices to connect to secure networks, which can lead to errors in selecting the correct network and is time-consuming, especially with the increasing number of Internet-of-Things devices.
Innovation Solution
A method where a new device automatically connects to a secure wireless network by broadcasting its identifier, allowing an already authenticated device to retrieve a public key, encrypt network credentials, and transmit them securely for decryption and authentication, reducing the need for user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a user manually inputs authentication credentials for each new device to connect to a secure wireless network, then the device can be authenticated to the network, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by having a first device (already connected to the network) pre-encrypt the network credentials using the public key of the second device before the second device needs to connect. This eliminates the need for manual credential input and reduces setup time while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary encryption mechanism using public-key cryptography. The credentials are encrypted using the second device's public key as an intermediary, allowing secure automatic transmission of authentication information without direct user intervention or exposure of plain-text credentials.
2Productivity
If a device automatically connects to a wireless network based on received-signal strength, then connection speed is improved, but the device may inadvertently connect to an incorrect network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses encrypted credential transmission as an intermediary verification mechanism. Before connecting, the second device receives and verifies encrypted credentials from the first device, ensuring it connects to the correct network intended by the user, not just the strongest signal available.
Data Source
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AI summary
Technology described in this document can be embodied in a method for facilitating automatic connection to a network. The method includes receiving, at a first device that is authenticated to the network, an identifier of a second device, and retrieving, by the first device based on the identifier, a public key for the second device. The data encrypted using the public key is decryptable using a private key of the second device. The method also includes encrypting, using the public key for the second device, credential information usable by the second device for authenticating to the network, and transmitting, to the second device, the encrypted credential information