WO2016130140A1

WO2016130140A1 - Network device registration

Info

Publication number: WO2016130140A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/015793
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anil Gupta; Bijon BASU; Robert N FOWLER
Original assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development Lp
Priority date: 2015-02-13
Filing date: 2015-02-13
Publication date: 2016-08-18

Abstract

Techniques for systems, methods, and devices for configuring a wireless network device in particular network environment are described herein. A computing device can ping nearby wireless network devices with a request message that includes a request for device specific information. The computing device can send the device specific information to a remote computer system to register it with an account associated with the network environment. Based on the device specific information, the remote computer system can determine device specific configuration settings for the wireless network device in the wireless network environment. The device specific configuration settings can then be sent to the wireless network device.

Description

NETWORK DEVICE REGISTRATION

BACKGROUND

[0001] Local area networks (LANs) provide access to many forms of data, services, and products. LANs can connect multiple computers, printers, cameras, building environmental controls, home automation devices {e.g., lighting, door locks, security systems, etc.). and the like, such that data, control, and access can be shared over the network. LANs can also be connected to a wide area network (WAN), such as a network that includes a connection between multiple business sites or the Internet, to provide iocal and remote devices the ability to share resources on the LAN and the WAN.

[0002] Wireless networking devices, such as access points and wireless networking routers, can be connected to a LAN to provide wireless enabled devices with access to both the LAN and the WAN. Such devices can be configured to operat according to the topology, security, and access specifications of the local networking environment. Configuration of wireiess networking devices can handled by !ocai or remote controllers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates example networks with remotely configurable wireless network devices.

[0004] FIG. 2 illustrates registration and configuration of wireless network devices in a local area network using a computing device according to an example implementation of the present disclosure.

[00053 FiG- 3 illustrates an example computing device.

[0006] FiG. 4 is flowchart of an example method for registering a wireiess network device.

[0007] FIG. 5 illustrates an example data flow for registering and configuring wireless network devices In a Socai area network.

10008] FIG. 8 illustrates an example data flow for registering and configuring wireless network devices in a iocal area network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0009] Overvie

[0010] The present disclosure describes techniques for systems, methods, and devices for configuring a wireless network device for use in a particular network or network environment. In one example implementation, a wireless network device, such as an access point, a wireless router, a range extender, or the like, can be installed in a network environment. The network

environment can include an existing network infrastructure that includes wired and/or wireless connections. In other scenarios, the network environment may not yet exist and installing the wireless network device can include setting up a new network. At the time of installation, the wireless network device may or may not be configured wit a set of default network settings. In such instances, the wireless network device may operate in a state in which it is waiting for an external command or signal. For example, the wireless network device can be placed in a state in which it will not accept networking connections with wireless network enabled devices. Such a state can include a mode of operation in which the wireless network device listens for one or more specific wireless signals or messages.

[0011] A computing device, such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or the like, can implement functionality for automatically detecting, registering, and/or configuring the wireless network devices. In one example implementation, the computing device can transmit a local wireless request signal to a newly installed or previously installed wireless network devices in the local network environment. For example, the computing device can generate and transmit a probe request message according to the IEEE 802.11 electronic communication protocol. In such implementations, the probe request can include a request fo wireless network device specific information, such as a serial number, a media access control (MAC) address, a model number, a firmware version, and the like.

£0012] In response to the probe request, the wireless network device can transmit a probe respons message. The probe response message can include the wireless network device specific information requested by the computing device in the probe request. In various implementations, the probe request and probe response messages can include information in all or part of the vender specific information element of the 802, 11 probe request/response message format,

|0013J The computing device can process the wireless network device specific information and generate a registration message. The computing device can send the registration message to a controller in a remote computing system, in some examples, the registration message can also include credentials, such as user login information, associated with a particular user or network environment As used herein, the term "controller" can refer to any entity or device resident not resident in the wireless network device that can provide configuration information for the wireless network device.

[0014] In response to the registration message, the controlle can register the wireless network device with an account associated with the credentials and generate a set of configuration settings specific to the networking environment in which the wireless network device is installed . The controller can send the configuration settings back to th wireless network device through the computing device or another network, such as the internet.

[001 SJ Configuration of Network Devices

|00161 FSG- depicts two example systems for remote wireless network device configuration, in each of example systems 100 and 101 , a wireless network device 120 can be installed in the network environment 123. As shown, installing the wireless network device 120 into the network

environment 123 can include connecting the wireless network device 120 to an existing local area network (LAN) 1 11 using a connection 1 13, LAN 111 can connect multiple devices 115 (e.g., N devices) using both wired networking protocols (e.g., Ethernet, fiber net, etc.) and wireless networking protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, ZigBee, etc.). Accordingly, devices 115 can include various types of networking and network enabled devices such as wired and wireless routers, switches, access points, smart phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, desktop computers, and the like. In the specific example shown, devices 1 5-1 and 115-2 can be connected to the wireless LAN 1 1 through a wireless networking communication connection or a wired network connection. Devices 115-3, 115-4, and 1 15-N can be connected to the LAN 111 through corresponding wired network connections,

[0017J impiementations of the present disclosure may be used in circumstances in which the wireless network device 120 cannot yet accept connections with the wireless enabled devices, such as devices 1 5-1 or 1 15- 2. Similarly, various impiementations can be used in circumstances in which the wireless network device 120 is not yet connected to the existing LAN 111 , in such impiementations, the wireiess network device 120 can connect to a network 110, such as a WAN or the Internet, using a corresponding networking connection 1 12. For example, the wireless network device 120 may include default settings for automatically connecting to the network 110 through connection 1 12 that includes a cable or DSL modem. In other implementations, the wireless network device 120 and the wireless network device 120 can include functionality for connecting to the network 1 10 through connection 1 12 that includes a licensed wireless data network, such as a general packet radio service (GPRS) system, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (Wi AX) type system, or the like. In yet another example implementation, the wireless network device 120 be powered on and not necessarily connected to the LAN 11 or the network 110. Communication between the wireiess network device 120 and any other entity or device can be conducted through or brokered by an intermediary device, such as a computing device described herein,

[00183 The controller 105 can send configuration settings to the wireless network device 120 through the network 0. As illustrated in system 100 the controller 105 can be implemented in a computing system {e.g. a server computer) that is separate from, but connected to, network 1 10. In system 10 , the controller 105 can be implemented in an instance of a virtual server in a cloud computing environment, in such implementations, the controlier 105 can be integrated into the network 1 10, !n either such impiementations, the controller 105 can send configuration settings specific to the wireiess network device 120 and/or network environment 123 or the LAN 11 1.

[0019J To determine the configuration settings for the wireiess network device 120 or the IAN 11 1 , the controller 105 can register the wireless network device 120 with a particular account or profile. The account can be associated with a particuiar user or business. Accordingly, the account can be set up and/or accessed by a user based on a set of user credentials. For example, a user may set up a user account using a website provided by or affiliated with the controller 105.

[0020] The user can register the wireless network device 120 and/or any of the devices 115 with his account. Each wireless network device 120 or device 15 that a user registers with the account can be identified by a unique device identifier (e.g. a serial number, MAC address, etc.). Each device identifier can be associated with other device specific information, such as, mode! number, firmware revision number, date of manufacture, operating conditions, and the like. In addition, each device identifier can be associated with a user supplied definition or description of the networking environment 123 in which it is or will be installed. For example, each device identifier can be associated with a particular site identifier. The site identifier can be associated with a particular set of networking settings specific to the networking environment 123 associated with the site identifier. Such networking settings can include settings for securit protocols, encryption protocols, operating frequencies, firewall rules, and other operating policies with which the wireless network device 120 will comply to operate in the corresponding network environment.

00213 Gathering the device identifiers and other device specific information manually can be prone to error. In additional, retrieving and correctly entering or implementing the corresponding network configuration settings into the wireless network device 120 can be complicated and prone to mistakes. This is particularly true in networks 111 in which multiple wireless network devices 120 are installed and the user is layperson, as is common in home networking environments 123.

£0022] FIG. 2 illustrates networking environment 123 associated with a particuiar user 101 or location in which various implementations of the present disclosure can be used. As shown, networking environment 123 can include multiple wireless network devices 120. In the particuiar example shown, as many as L wireless network devices 120 may be present. Some of the wireiess network devices 120 may represent existing or previously installed access points, wireiess routers, wireless network range extenders, and the like, in some instances, some of the wireless network devices 120 may represent newly installed devices or devices that were recently reset to factory default settings. Accordingly, networking environment 123 can include wireless network devices 120 with original factory settings (e.g., newly installed wireiess network devices), wireless network devices 120 previously configured with user-defined settings, or a combination of each.

[0023] In any such scenarios, the wireless network device 120 can be set to a response only mode in which no new networking connections wi!! be made with other wireless network enabled devices. While In the response only mode, the wireiess network device 120 can be set to wait for a specific request message signal 205. fn some implementations, the response only mode of operation can include the wireiess network device 1 0 transmitting an occasional or periodic beacon signal. The beacon signal can include a device identifier and/or an indication of the configuration status of the wireiess network device {e.g. , "configured" or "not configured").

[0024] in some implementations, the request message signal 205 can include a probe request message signal in an IEEE 802.1 1 wireless networking communication protocol, in one example implementation, the computing device 2 0, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, or the like, can execute computer readable instructions (e.g. an application, computer executable code, code segment, etc.) to generate a request message signal 205, such as the probe request message signal, to ping nearby wireless network devices 120 in the networking environment 123. The generation of the request message signal 205 can be in response to the computing device 210 detecting a beacon signal from a wireiess network device 120 indicating that if is configured or not configured. The request message signal 205 can include a request message for device specific information.

[002S3 In response to the request message signal 205, a wireless network device 120 can generate and transmit a response message signal 215. The response message signal 215 can include a response message that includes th device specific information requested in the request message signal 205. The functionality of the wtreiess network device 120 described herein can be implemented as a combination of software, firmware, and/or hardware.

Accordingly, wireless network device 1 0 can include a processor, a microcontroller, a non-transitory computer readable medium, a transceiver, and other digital or analog logic circuits that can be used to store and/or execute operations defined by executable code or code segments.

|0026| The device specific information can include any information that the controller 105 can use to remotely determine configuration settings for a particular wireless network device 120. For example, the device specific information requested in the request message of the request message signal 205 or supplied in the response message of the response message signal 215 can include indications of any combination of wireless network device identifiers,, model numbers, operating conditions, current network settings, user credentials, account information, date of manufacture, service history, update history, cumulative time of operation, Internet Protocol (IP) address, error codes, and the like,

JOQ27J The computing device 210 can receive the response message signal 215 and determine the device specific information, in some

implementations, the computing device 210 can receive device specific information from multiple wireless network devices 120 during a particular session. Accordingly, any or all of the wireless network devices 120 in a particular networking environment 123 associated with user 101 can respond with corresponding device specific information to a request message signai 205 broadcast by the computing device 210. Such implementations can allow a user 01 to gather device specific information from the wireless network devices 120 in a single operation or series of operations implemented as a stand-alone application or integrated info the operating system executed on the computing device 210.

100283 Once computing device 210 has gathered device specific information from the wireless network devices 20, it can perform a de- dupiication process to remove any redundant device specific information resulting from a particular wireless network device 120 sending more than one response message signal 215 in response to a particular request message signal 205. in some implementations, the computing device 210 may also receive user credentials, such as some combination of username, password, encryption code, and the like, from the user 101, The user credentials may also include identification of a particular location or site (e.g., building name, campus designation, floor number, etc.) associated with the networking environment 123,

|0029| The computing device 210 can bundle the user credentials and the device specific information and send it to the controller 100 over a network connection 112. The network connection 112 can include a secure or unsecured connection that Include various types of proprietary or open standard encryption or communication protocols.

[0030] Based on the user credentials and the device specific information, controller 105 can determine device specific configuration information for a particular wireless network device 120. The device specific configuration information can be based on user preferences stored in an account associated wit the user 101. In some implementations, the device specific configuration information may also be based on information about

predetermined or known operating characteristics of the networking

environment 123. For example, controlier 105 may access a database regarding the encryption or security protocols specified for the networking environment 123, Such information may include required wireless network access passwords, encryption keys, IP address lease times, or the like.

[00311 Controller 105 can transmit the device specific configuration information back to the computing device 210 or directly to an individual wireless network device 120 ove connection 112. in implementations in which the controller 105 communicates directly with a particular wireless network device 120, the wireiess network device 120 may be found based on the Mac address and/or IP address included in the device specific information. Accordingly, the wireless network device 120 may be connected to another networking device within the networking environment 123 that already has access to the network 110. s

[0032] In implementations in which the controller 105 sends the device specific configuration information to the computing device 210, the computing device 210 can process the device specific configuration information and transmit it to the corresponding wireless network device 120. The wireless network device 120 can then use the device specific configuration information to update or change it settings, in some implementations, updating or changing the settings in the wireless network device 120 can include saving the new settings to a nonvolatile memory in the wireless network device 120. Once the wireless network device is configured it can be begin operating according to the configuration settings.

0033| F!G. 3 depicts a schematic of an example computing device 210. As described herein, the computing device 210 can include any type of computing device including, but not limited to, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistants, and the like. As illustrated, the computing device 210 can include a processor 212 coupled to a memory 211.

[0034] The processor can include a general purpose computer processor or application-specific integrated circuit (ASiC). The memory 211 can include any type of volatile or nonvolatile memory. Accordingly, the memory 211 can include a non -transitory computer readable medium accessible by the processor 212. The memory 211 can include instructions executable by the processor 212 to implement various functionality described herein. For example, the memory 211 can include instructions 213 for registering and/or configuring the wireless network device 120. The instructions 213 can include instructions for generating a request message signal 205, receiving the response message signal 215, processing the device specific information, communicating with the controller 05, and/or executing other functionality of the computing device 210 described herein.

|0O3SJ While not shown, computing device 210 may also include a user interface device, such as a touchscreen, a keypad, physical buttons, and the tike for receiving user input from a user 101. In addition, the computing device 210 may include a network interface device, a transceiver, or other communication device or interface for communicating with wireless network devices 120 and/or contro!!er 105 though corresponding communication media.

OO30| FIG- 4 is a flowchart of a method for registering a wireless network device using a computing device 210, As shown, the method can begin at box 410 in which the computing device 210 can transmit a probe request.

Transmitting the probe request can include generating a request message compliant with a particular communication protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.11 ).

According to various implementations of the present disclosure, the request message can include a request for device specific information that the controller 105 can use to determine a corresponding set of configuration information for the wireless network device 120. In such implementations, the request for the device specific information can be included in a particular segment of a predetermined probe request message format.

[0037] Transmitting the probe request may aiso inciude generating a signal 2:05 corresponding to the request message using a network interface or transceiver. In related implementations, the probe request can be broadcast on multiple frequencies and/or channels so that receiving wireless network devices 120 that may be operating under different settings might receive the probe request.

[00383 At box 420, the computi g device 210 can receive a probe response (e.g., response message signal 2 5) that includes device specific information from a particular wireless network device 120. Receiving the probe response can include processing the probe response to extract device specific information for a particular wireless network device 20. in

implementations in which the computing device 210 receives multiple probe responses, processing the probe responses can include deleting duplicate responses. Processing the probe response may also include bundling the device specific information into a device registration message. The device registration message can include user credentials received from a user 101

[0039J At box 430, the computing device 210 can send the device registration message to a remote computing device . For example, the computing device 210 can send the registration request message to a controller 105 that has access to a database of user accounts or network environments 123. Based on the database, the user credentiais, and the device specific information the controller 105 can determine device specific configuration settings. As described herein, the device specific configuration settings can then be sent back to the computing device 210 or directly to the corresponding wireless network device 120.

[0040] FiG. 5 depicts a data fiow 500 for registering and configuring multiple wireless networking devices 120. In the example shown, computing device 210 can register and configure N wireless network devices 120 in a particular networking environment 123. As shown, the computing device 210 can broadcast a request message signal 205 to multiple wireless network devices 20. While shown as individuai signals, the request message signais 205 can include a single broadcast request message signal 205,

[0041 J In response to the request message signals, each of the wireless network devices 120 can respond with a corresponding response message signal 215. The computing device 210 can process the device specific information in the response message signals 215 to generate a registration message 220. The computing device 2 0 can send the registration message 220 to the controller 105. As described herein, the registration message 220 may also include user credentiais and/or a network environment identifier. Based on the device specific information, user credentials, and/or the network environment identifier, the controller 105 can generate corresponding device specific configuration settings. Device specific configuration settings can then be sent to eac of the wireless network devices 120 in corresponding device specific configuration setting messages 225. As illustrated, data flow 500 contemplates that controller 105 communicate directly with each of the wireless network devices 120 to deliver the corresponding device specific configuration settings.

[0042] In othe implementations, the controller 105, rather than

communicate directly with each of the wireless network devices 120, can communicate with the device 210. The data How 600 in FIG. 8 illustrates one such example implementation. As in the data flow 500 of FIG. 5, the computing device 210 broadcasts a request message signal 205 and, in response, receives the corresponding response message signals 215. Also as described above in reference to FIG. 5, the computing device can send the registration request message 220 to the controller 105. In contrast to the data flow 500, instead of directly communicating with each of the wireless network devices 120, controller 05 can respond to the computing device 210 with a configuration setting message 230. The configuration setting message 230 can include device specific configuration settings for corresponding wireless network devices 120. Accordingly, the computing device 210 can parse the configuration setting message 230 to extract the corresponding device specific configuration settings for each of the wireless network devices 120. Based on the device specific configuration settings, the computing device 2 0 can generate and transmit configuration command signals 235 that are transmitted to the corresponding wireless network devices 120. Based on information received in the configuration command signals 235, each of the wireless network devices 125 can be configured accordingly. In some implementations, a wireless network device 20 can auto configure and reboot in response to the configuration command signal 235.

0043| According to the foregoing, examples disclosed herein enable network operators to configure wireless network devices automatically and based on the individual specifications of particular LAN 1 11 or networking environment 123, A computing device 2 0 can automatically collect device specific information from new installed wireless network devices. Based on that device specific information and/or user credentials, the wireless network devices can be quickly and efficiently configured to work without the user having any particular expertise or experience. Accordingly, implementations of the present disclosure can simplify and expedite the installation of a wireless network device in a particular location,

|0044J These and other variations, modifications, additions, and

improvements may fall within the scope of the appended daims(s). As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, "a", "an", and "the" includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context cieariy diciaies otherwise.

Claims

What is c aimed is:

1 A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a non-transitory computer readable medium coupled to the processor and comprising instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

generate a request for network device specific information; receive, in response to the request, network device specific information; and

generate a registration message comprising the network device specific information and user credentials.

2. The computing device of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor; and

a network interface coupled to the processor and the wireless transceiver; wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

transmit the request for network device specific information through the wireless transceiver; and

transmit the registration message to a remote computer system through the network interface.

3. The computing device of ciaim 1 , wherein the registration message

comprises a request fo network device specific configuration information associated with the user credentials.

4. The computing device of ciaim 3, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

receive the network device specific configuration information from a remote computer system; and

transmit the network device specific configuration information to a local network device through the transceiver. 5, The computing device of ciaim 1 , wherein the request for network device specific information comprises a probe request message and the response to the request comprises a probe response message.

8. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a computing device, a probe request comprising a request for device specific information to a wireless network device;

receiving, by the computing device, a probe response comprising the device specific information from the wireless network device; and

sending, by the computing device, a device registration message comprising the device specific information and a network environment identifier to a remote computing device.

7, The method of ciaim 6, wherein the device registration message further comprises a request for device configuration information based on the device specific information and the network environment identifier.

8, The method of ciaim 7, further comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, device configuration information in response to the request for device configuration information; and

transmitting, by the computing device, a configuration command comprising the device configuration information to the wireless network device.

9, The method of ciaim 7 wherein the request for device configuration

information comprises a request for trie remote computing device to send the device configuration information directly to the wireless network device through a network.

10, Trie method of ciaim 6, further comprising detecting, by the computing device, a beacon signal from the wireless network device comprising an identifier and an indication of a configuration status of the wireiess network device. 1 1 A on -transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: generate a request for wireless network device specific information; transmit the request for wireless network device specific information; receive, in response to the request for wireless network device specific information, a pSura!ity of responses from a plurality of wireless network devices;

generate a registration message comprising at least some of the plurality of responses and user credentials; and

send the registration message to a remote registration system,

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of ciaim 1 1 , wherein the each response in the plurality of responses comprises a device identifier, a model number, location identifier, or a firmware version identifier.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 ,

wherein the instructions that cause the processor to generate the registration message further cause the processor to delete duplicate responses in the piuraiity of responses.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 1 ,

wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

receive a plurality of wireless network device specific configurations in response to the registration message from th remote registration system; and

send a configuration command comprising a corresponding network device specific configuration in the piuraiity of wireless network device specific configurations to each of the wireless network devices in the piuraiity of wireless network devices.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the plurality of wireless network device specific configurations corresponding to a wireless network environment associated with the user credentials.