US 11,962,588 B2Granted

Dynamic mac address change mechanism for wireless communications

AssigneeZte Corporation

InventorYonggang Fang

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices relate to digital wireless communication, and more specifically, to techniques relate to dynamic change MAC address of the station for subsequent transmissions. In one exemplary aspect, a method of dynamic change MAC address includes specifying a MAC address change mode and a new MAC address to be used by the station. In another exemplary aspect, a method of dual MAC address change mode in the dynamic change MAC address mechanism includes separating the unchanged MAC address of the station from the changeable MAC address of the station, and keep the mapping between them. In another exemplary aspect, a method includes transmitting a MAC address change request message from the station (or the access point) to initiate the MAC address change procedure. In another exemplary aspect, a method includes receiving a MAC address change response message from the access point (or the station).

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for wireless communication, comprising:

transmitting a request message from a wireless device to a network device by which the wireless device requests a change from a first medium access control (MAC) address that is currently associated with the wireless device, to a second MAC address;
receiving, by the wireless device from the network device, a response message that includes a third MAC address that the network device provides for use by the wireless device, upon determination by the network device that the second MAC address is being used by another wireless device different from the wireless device;
determining, by the wireless device, whether the third MAC address is being used by another wireless device;
and
performing further communication with the network device using the third MAC address selected based on the response message, upon determining that the third MAC address is not being currently used by another wireless device,
wherein the request message includes a field used for indicating a capability of the wireless device for changing a MAC address of the wireless device using at least one of a single MAC address mode in which a single MAC address controls an identity of the wireless device and encryption and decryption of messages communicated with the network device or a dual MAC address mode in which a fourth MAC address controls the identity of the wireless device and a fifth MAC address, different from the fourth MAC address, controls the encryption and decryption of messages communicated with the network device, wherein the fifth MAC address is an unchanged MAC address that is used in an authentication and association procedure and bundled with a security key generation procedure.

3 more elements

A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving a request message from a wireless device at a network device by which the wireless device requests a change from a first medium access control (MAC) address that is currently associated with the wireless device, to a second MAC address;
determining, based on the request message, a suitability of a second MAC address for the wireless device including whether the second MAC address is being used by another wireless device different from the wireless device;
transmitting, upon determination that the second MAC address is being used by another wireless device different from the wireless device, a third MAC address to the wireless device;
and
performing further communication with the wireless device using the third MAC address upon determination by the wireless device that the third MAC address is not being currently used by another wireless device,
wherein the request message includes a field used for indicating a capability of the wireless device for changing a MAC address of the wireless device using at least one of a single MAC address mode in which a single MAC address controls an identity of the wireless device and encryption and decryption of messages communicated with the network device or a dual MAC address mode in which a fourth MAC address controls the identity of the wireless device and a fifth MAC address, different from the fourth MAC address, controls the encryption and decryption of messages communicated with the network device, wherein the fifth MAC address is an unchanged MAC address that is used in an authentication and association procedure and bundled with a security key generation procedure.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/168,046Filed 13 Feb 2023 · continuation
Priority: 3 May 2019
Published: US 2023/0300131 A121 Sep 2023
Granted: 16 Apr 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

H04L 61/5038
Address allocation: for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
H04L 61/103
Of different types: across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP]
H04L 61/2596
Of the same type: translation of addresses of the same type other than IP, e.g. translation from MAC to MAC addresses
H04L 61/5046
Address allocation: resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses

Family

Application16/403,483Parent of this continuation · filed 3 May 2019
US 2023/0300131 A1Pre-grant publication · published 21 Sep 2023
US 11,582,230 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2020/0351648 A1Published application
US 11,962,588 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.