Wireless Network Provisioning via Commissioning Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for connecting electronic devices to a wireless network are cumbersome, requiring extensive user interactions, costly user interfaces, and lack sufficient security, especially when connecting multiple devices or devices that are difficult to access physically.
Innovation Solution
A provisioning system and method that uses a commissioning device to accept user-input network credentials, verify ownership of endpoints, and securely transmit encrypted credentials to connect multiple endpoints to a wireless network, minimizing user interaction and ensuring security through unique encryption keys and checksum verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional user interface methods are used on each device, then users can manually input network information, but it becomes costly to physically install user interfaces on every electronic device and time-consuming when connecting multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a commissioning device as an intermediary that mediates between the user and multiple endpoints. The commissioning device collects network credentials from the user once, discovers endpoints, and automatically provisions them all, eliminating the need for physical user interfaces on each endpoint device.
Solution Approach 2:
Endpoints are provisioned automatically through the commissioning device without requiring manual user interaction at each endpoint. The system performs self-service provisioning by automatically discovering endpoints, verifying ownership, and distributing credentials without human intervention at the endpoint level.
2Productivity
If manual credential input is required for each device, then network connection can be established, but the time required compounds significantly when connecting multiple electronic devices
Solution Approach 1:
The commissioning device performs preliminary actions by collecting network credentials from the user in advance, before endpoint discovery and provisioning begins. This preliminary credential collection eliminates the need for repeated manual input during the provisioning of multiple endpoints, significantly reducing total connection time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the credential input operation into a single action performed once by the commissioning device, rather than requiring separate credential input for each endpoint. This consolidation of operations allows multiple endpoints to be provisioned simultaneously using the same credentials, dramatically improving productivity.
3Reliability
If wireless credentials are transmitted without encryption, then device connection is simplified, but security is compromised allowing unauthorized access to user information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the credential transmission process by applying encryption parameters to the credentials before transmission. The commissioning device encrypts network credentials using the endpoint's public key, changing the state of the credentials from plaintext to encrypted form, thereby ensuring security while maintaining the automated provisioning workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cryptographic key exchange and verification before credential transmission. The commissioning device verifies the endpoint's ownership and establishes secure encryption parameters in advance, allowing secure credential transmission without requiring complex real-time security negotiations during provisioning.
4Ease of operation
If physical access to device components is required for connection, then network credentials can be configured, but users cannot access devices that are installed in hard-to-reach locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/physical interaction with wireless communication. Instead of requiring physical access to device buttons, ports, or displays for credential configuration, the commissioning device communicates wirelessly with endpoints to discover them and provision credentials automatically, making physical accessibility irrelevant.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for provisioning multiple devices including a commissioning device, one or more endpoints, and a server. The system and method includes the following. The commissioning device accepts user-input network credentials of a wireless network from a user. The commissioning device searches for one or more endpoints unconnected to the wireless network. The commissioning device then verifies the ownership of the one or more endpoints. In response to a positive verification, the commissioning device securely the network credentials to the one or more endpoints. After receiving the network credentials, the one or more endpoints verify the integrity and authenticity of the communication from the commissioning device. After the one or more endpoints verifies the communication, the one or more endpoints access the wireless network based on the securely transferred wireless credentials.