# US 12,003,498 B2 · Establishing access to a secure network based on user-created credential indicia > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,498 B2 - Document ID: US12003498B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/180,687 - Filed: 2021-02-19 - Published: 2021-06-10 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-11 - Assignees: Netgear, Inc. - Applicants: NETGEAR, Inc. - Inventors: Ye Zhang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003498B2 ## CPC - H04L 63/083: {using passwords (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226)} - G06F 21/00: Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity - G06F 21/42: using separate channels for security data - G06F 21/45: Structures or tools for the administration of authentication - G06K 7/10544: {by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum} - G06K 19/06028: {using bar codes} - G06K 19/06037: {multi-dimensional coding} - H04L 63/0428: {wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload} - H04L 63/08: {for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32)} - H04L 63/102: {Entity profiles} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract In various aspects, code-based indicia contain secured network access credentials. In some aspects, a computer processor receives user input that specifies secured network access credentials, and the computer processor creates or modifies credentials for establishing a secured network connection. In these aspects, the computer processor generates code-based indicia that contain at least part of the secured network access credentials. In other aspects, a computer processor scans the code-based indicia and extracts the network access credentials. In these aspects, the computer processor employs the network access credentials to establish the secured network connection. In additional aspects, a network router apparatus renders the code-based indicia to an active display. In further aspects, a network router apparatus conditions grant of network access to a device on receipt from the device of an answer to a security question included in the secured network access credentials. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for establishing a secured network connection, the apparatus comprising: an active display of a network router; a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a network connection application and code-based indicia containing network access credentials for establishing a secured network connection between an electronic device and a secure network, where the code-based indicia corresponds to a two-dimensional matrix code, and where the network access credentials include encrypted network access credentials for the secure network, a security question for accessing the encrypted network access credentials, and a network identifier for the secure network; and one or more processors coupled to the non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein execution of the network connection application by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to: receive a notification to establish the secured network connection; and render the code-based indicia to the active display based on receipt of the notification, wherein the network access credentials are extracted by the electronic device from a scan of the rendered code-based indicia, wherein an answer to the security question is received and used by the electronic device as a decryption key to decrypt at least part of the encrypted network access credentials and establish the secured network connection with the electronic device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, where the encrypted network access credentials include a password. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, where the code-based indicia is persistently rendered to the active display. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, where the code-based indicia is rendered responsive to selection of a button integrated in the active display or displayed by the active display. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a network interface configured to receive the code-based indicia from a computing device based on user generation or modification of the network access credentials. ### Claim 6 A method for establishing a secured network connection, the method comprising: receiving, by one or more processors of a network router, a notification to establish a secured network connection; accessing, by the one or more processors, a non-transitory computer readable medium storing code-based indicia containing secured network access credentials for establishing a secured network connection between an electronic device and a secure network, where the code-based indicia corresponds to a two-dimensional matrix code, and where the secured network access credentials include encrypted network access credentials for the secure network, a security question for accessing the encrypted network access credentials, and a network identifier for the secure network; and rendering, by the one or more processors, the code-based indicia to an active display of the network router based on receipt of the notification, wherein the network access credentials are extracted by the electronic device from a scan of the rendered code-based indicia, wherein an answer to the security question is received and used by the electronic device as a decryption key to decrypt at least part of the encrypted network access credentials and establish the secured network connection with the electronic device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving, by the one or more processors, the code-based indicia from a computing device based on user generation or modification of the secured network access credentials. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors, an extracted password from the electronic device; and establishing the secured network connection with the electronic device based on the extracted password matching a password stored at the non-transitory computer readable medium. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, where the encrypted network access credentials include a password. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, where rendering the code-based indicia comprises persistently rendering the code-based indicia to the active display. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, where rendering the code-based indicia is responsive to selection of a button integrated in the active display or displayed by the active display. ### Claim 12 An apparatus for establishing secured network access credentials, the apparatus comprising: a network interface; a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a network connection application; and one or more processors coupled to the non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein execution of the network connection application by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to: generate code-based indicia containing secured network access credentials for establishing a secured network connection between an electronic device and a secure network, where the code-based indicia corresponds to a two-dimensional matrix code, and where the secured network access credentials include encrypted network access credentials for the secure network, a security question for accessing the encrypted network access credentials, and a network identifier for the secure network; and initiate transmission, via the network interface, of the code-based indicia to an active display of a network router, wherein the network access credentials are extracted by the electronic device from a scan of the code-based indicia on the active display, wherein an answer to the security question is received and used by the electronic device as a decryption key to decrypt at least part of the encrypted network access credentials and establish a secured network connection with the electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, where execution of the network connection application further causes the one or more processors to: receive user input indicating the security question, an answer to the security question, a password, and the network identifier; and generate the secured network access credentials based on the user input. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, where generation and transmission of the code-based indicia are initiated based on receipt of the user input. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, where execution of the network connection application further causes the one or more processors to determine whether the network router is capable of displaying the code-based indicia, and where the code-based indicia are transmitted to the network router based on a successful determination.