WLAN Auto-Connection via Encrypted Credential Pre-Storing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for connecting to wireless local area networks (WLANs) via WiFi access points are manual and cumbersome, requiring users to search for signals and input passwords, lacking automation and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that automatically detect WiFi signals, compare them with prestored information, send encrypted password requests to an application server, and decrypt verification information to facilitate seamless network access, reducing the complexity and time required for connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual connection method is used, then user can control connection process, but connection complexity increases and automation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection automationVSAvoidconnection process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing WLAN information (including encrypted passwords) in the terminal before connection is needed. When a connection request occurs, the terminal automatically retrieves and uses the pre-stored information to complete authentication, eliminating the need for real-time password input and achieving automated connection while reducing process complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal performs self-service by automatically detecting WLAN signals, comparing them with pre-stored information, retrieving encrypted passwords, and completing authentication without user intervention. The system serves itself by managing the entire connection process autonomously, including automatic decryption and password submission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If password input is required, then security verification is achieved, but operation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection speedVSAvoidpassword input time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates password input time by pre-storing encrypted passwords in the terminal before connection is needed. When authentication is required, the system automatically retrieves the pre-stored encrypted password and submits it for verification, reducing the connection process from multiple manual steps to an automated single-action operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the password input task from the user's manual operations and transfers it to the system's automatic processes. The terminal extracts the encrypted password from its pre-stored information database and automatically submits it for authentication, completely removing the need for user interaction during connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If encrypted password transmission is used, then security is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an application server as an intermediary that manages the distribution of encrypted passwords to terminals. The server acts as a mediator between the WLAN authentication system and user devices, storing and providing encrypted credentials without requiring complex encryption/decryption infrastructure at the terminal level, thus maintaining security while simplifying the overall system architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses copying by distributing encrypted password copies from the application server to multiple terminals. Each terminal receives a copy of the encrypted authentication credentials needed for verification, eliminating the need for complex real-time encryption processes at each device while maintaining security through the use of encrypted copies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3072334B1Method, system and apparatus for automatically connecting to WLAN
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP3072334B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3072334B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3072334B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for automatically connecting to a wireless local area network (WLAN), including: automatically detecting, by a terminal, whether a wireless signal of the WLAN exists; sending, by the terminal, a safety verification information acquisition request to a wireless device corresponding to the WLAN when the wireless signal of the WLAN is detected and when the information of the WLAN matches information of a prestored WLAN, the acquisition request including application server information; acquiring, by the wireless device, safety verification information corresponding to the WLAN from an application server corresponding to the acquisition request, and sending the safety verification information to the terminal; and performing, by the terminal, safety verification on the WLAN according to the safety verification information, and accessing a network after the safety verification is passed.