Wireless Gateway Credential Distribution for Seamless Device Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintaining wireless network security across multiple devices is cumbersome and reduces the effectiveness of security measures, as users must manually update Wi-Fi network names and passwords when new devices or gateway devices are introduced, leading to inefficiencies in credential management.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that allows users to back up and push SSIDs and Wi-Fi passwords from existing devices to new devices, using a user account to store and manage network configuration and credential data, enabling automatic, semi-automatic, or manual backups and facilitating seamless data transfer through authentication processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually update Wi-Fi network names and passwords when new devices are introduced, then security credentials can be updated on individual devices, but the process becomes cumbersome and reduces the effectiveness of security measures
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing new devices to automatically obtain network credentials through authentication with the gateway device. The gateway device stores credential data and automatically provides it to authorized devices without requiring manual user intervention for each device configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device serves as an intermediary that centralizes credential storage and management. Instead of users manually configuring each device, the gateway mediates the credential distribution process by authenticating devices and providing appropriate network credentials automatically.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are added to the wireless network, then network coverage and connectivity options increase, but the complexity of maintaining security measures across all devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device provides universal credential management functionality that works across multiple device types and wireless network standards. A single credential storage and distribution system serves all connected devices regardless of their specific type or requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines credential storage, authentication, and distribution functions into a single integrated gateway device. This merging eliminates the need for separate security management processes for each device, simplifying overall system complexity while supporting multiple devices.
3Productivity
If credential data is stored centrally in the gateway device, then seamless data transfer between devices is enabled, but the risk of unauthorized access to centralized credential storage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device performs preliminary authentication verification before providing credential data to any device. By checking device authorization in advance, the system prevents unauthorized access to centralized credentials while enabling efficient data transfer to authenticated devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through authentication mechanisms that verify device legitimacy before credential distribution. The gateway device receives authentication requests, verifies them against stored credentials, and provides feedback in the form of authorized or denied access decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
Configuration and credential data associated with a wireless network can be stored by the wireless network or by a gateway device associated with the wireless network. The configuration and credential data can be accessed via a user profile and pushed to unauthenticated wireless devices to authenticate the unauthenticated wireless devices for the wireless network. The configuration and credential data can be backed up via a manual, automatic, or semi-automatic back-up process.