# US 12,003,482 B2 · Client device based solution for handling MAC randomization > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,482 B2 - Document ID: US12003482B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/124,690 - Filed: 2023-03-22 - Published: 2023-07-13 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-17 - Assignees: ARRIS Enterprises LLC - Applicants: ARRIS Enterprises LLC - Inventors: Jagdeep Shivajirao; Muralidharan Narayanan; Sathish Arumugam Chandrasekaran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003482B2 ## CPC - H04L 61/5092: by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use - H04W 12/69: Identity-dependent - H04L 41/0806: for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play - H04L 61/3015: Name registration, generation or assignment - H04L 61/3025: {Domain name generation or assignment} - H04L 61/4588: containing mobile subscriber information, e.g. home subscriber server [HSS] - H04L 61/50: Address allocation - H04L 61/5038: for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN] - H04L 61/5076: Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS - H04L 2101/365: Application layer names, e.g. buddy names, unstructured names chosen by a user or home appliance name - H04L 2101/622: Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A system and method are provided for a network device for use with a client device having a hostname and a MAC address. The network device contains a memory that has a second hostname and a second MAC address stored within the memory. The second MAC address corresponds to the second hostname. The memory also contains a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory to cause the network device to: receive, from the client device, the hostname and the MAC address; determine whether the MAC address is randomized; provide an instruction to the client device to inform a user of the client device that the client device hostname is registered when the hostname matches the second hostname and the MAC address is randomized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A network device for use with a client device of one or more client devices in a network that supports media access control (MAC) randomization, the network device comprising: a memory; and a processor configured to execute one or more instructions stored on the memory to cause the network device to: receive, from the client device, a hostname and a MAC address; determine that the MAC address is not randomized; and identify the client device on the network based on the MAC address, wherein the MAC address is a manufacturer assigned MAC address based on one or more bits of the MAC address. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The network device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions stored on the memory to additionally cause the network device to permit the client device to have a first set of privileges with the network device, wherein the received hostname matches a hostname in the memory. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The network device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions stored on the memory to additionally cause the network device, when the received hostname is not known to the network, to set the client device as a new device on the network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The network device of claim 1, wherein the determining that the MAC address is not randomized is based on a second bit within a first octet of the MAC address. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The network device of claim 4, wherein the second bit within the first octet of the MAC address is not a 1. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The network device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions stored on the memory to additionally cause the network device, when the received hostname is not known to the network, to prompt a user of the network device to confirm trust in the client device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The network device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the one or more instructions stored on the memory to additionally cause the network device, when the received hostname is not known to the network, to prompt a user of the network device to either keep the received hostname or select a new hostname for the client device. ### Claim 8 A method of using a network device with a client device of one or more client devices in a network, the method comprising: receiving, from the client device, a hostname and a MAC address; determining that the MAC address is not randomized; and identifying the client device on the network based on the MAC address, wherein the MAC address is a manufacturer assigned MAC address based on one or more bits of the MAC address. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising permitting the client device to have a first set of privileges with the network device, wherein the received hostname matches a hostname in the memory. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising setting the client device as a new device on the network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the determining that the MAC address is not randomized is based on a second bit within a first octet of the MAC address. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the second bit within the first octet of the MAC address is not a 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising prompting a user of the network device to confirm trust in the client device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising prompting a user of the network device to either keep the received hostname or select a new hostname for the client device. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory, computer-readable medium of a network device storing one or more computer-readable instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform one or more operations comprising: receiving, from the client device, a hostname and a MAC address; determining that the MAC address is not randomized; and identifying the client device on the network based on the MAC address, wherein the MAC address is a manufacturer assigned MAC address based on one or more bits of the MAC address. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the one or more operations further comprising permitting the client device to have a first set of privileges with the network device, wherein the received hostname matches a hostname in the memory. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the one or more operations further comprising setting the client device as a new device on the network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the determining that the MAC address is not randomized is based on a second bit within a first octet of the MAC address. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second bit within the first octet of the MAC address is not a 1. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the one or more operations further comprising prompting a user of the network device to at least one of: confirm trust in the client device; and either keep the received hostname or select a new hostname for the client device.