Soft Access Point Wireless Provisioning Legacy Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many wireless networks do not have access points that support wireless provisioning protocols, leading to a frustrating user experience when trying to seamlessly integrate wireless devices, especially when using legacy access points that do not support the required protocols.
Innovation Solution
A computing device is configured as a 'soft access point' to broadcast a signal indicating support for wireless provisioning protocols, allowing it to transmit network profiles to wireless devices, enabling them to connect to networks with legacy access points that do not support the necessary protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wireless device is added to a network using a legacy access point that does not support wireless provisioning protocols, then the device cannot be seamlessly integrated into the network, but the user experience becomes frustrating and complex provisioning procedures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a soft access point as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between modern wireless devices supporting provisioning protocols and legacy access points that do not. The soft access point receives provisioning requests, obtains network profiles, and transmits them to the wireless device, enabling seamless integration even when the infrastructure access point lacks provisioning capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The soft access point is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as a provisioning server for devices needing network profiles, functions as a network client to communicate with the infrastructure, and serves as a bridge between different protocol versions. This multi-functionality allows a single device to handle both legacy and modern network scenarios
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless provisioning is implemented using a soft access point, then devices can connect to networks with legacy access points, but additional device complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The soft access point automatically performs provisioning operations without requiring manual user intervention. It self-configures by obtaining network profiles from the infrastructure network and automatically transmits them to wireless devices, reducing the need for complex manual setup procedures while maintaining adaptability to legacy systems
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device for provisioning a wireless device for connection to a wireless network via a legacy access point. The wireless device supports a wireless protected setup protocol for obtaining the network profile of the network. A user requests the computing device discover wireless devices for provisioning. In response to the user input, the computing device is configured as a soft access point and broadcasts a beacon signal indicating that the access point supports a wireless protected setup protocol, such as Wi-Fi Protected Setup. A request for provisioning is then received by the computing device from the wireless device. A network profile is transmitted from the computing device to the wireless device in accordance with the wireless protected setup protocol. The wireless device may use the profile to connect to the network via the legacy access point using the network profile.