# US 12,192,763 B1 · Systems and methods for virtual personal Wi-Fi network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,192,763 B1 - Document ID: US12192763B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/507,282 - Filed: 2023-11-13 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-08 - Assignees: Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. - Applicants: Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. - Inventors: Belal Hamzeh; Bernardo Huberman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12192763B1 ## CPC - H04W 12/08: Access security - H04L 63/0272: {Virtual private networks} - H04W 12/033: of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic - H04W 12/04: Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA] - H04W 12/73: Access point logical identity - H04W 76/11: Allocation or use of connection identifiers - H04W 76/14: Direct-mode setup - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W 88/04: adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A wireless communication network includes a plurality of first electronic devices configured for wireless communication, at least one second electronic device configured for wireless communication, and at least one access point configured to wirelessly receive client data from, and transmit network data to, the plurality of first electronic devices and the at least one second electronic device. The wireless communication network further includes a virtual private wireless communication sub-network that includes the plurality of first electronic devices and excludes the at least one second electronic device. The virtual private wireless communication sub-network is configured to enable each of the plurality of first electronic devices to automatically connect with the wireless communication network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of implementing a virtual private wireless network (VPWN) within a wireless communication network, the method implemented by a first Wi-Fi-enabled device having a processor and memory, the method comprising the steps of: storing a user-defined service set identifier (SSID) and a user-defined security key in the memory; transmitting the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key to the wireless communication network; instructing the wireless communication network to enable the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key at a target access point (AP) configured to wirelessly communicate according to a communication protocol of the first Wi-Fi-enabled device; pushing the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key to a second Wi-Fi-enabled device associated with a user of the first Wi-Fi-enabled device; and authorizing the second Wi-Fi-enabled device to automatically discover the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key enabled at the target AP. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing comprises a substep of configuring a preferred SSID and a preferred security key as the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key, respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the step of authorizing, a step of automatically connecting the second Wi-Fi-enabled device to the target AP upon discovery of the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key at the target AP. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of instructing comprises a substep of disabling the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key on the target AP when the first and second Wi-Fi-enabled devices are disconnected from the target AP. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of instructing comprises a substep of disabling the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key on the target AP after a predetermined duration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a first secure connection between the target AP and the first Wi-Fi enabled device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein a third Wi-Fi enabled device connected to the target AP is unable to detect the first secure connection. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein a third Wi-Fi enabled device connected to the target AP is unable to decrypt the first secure connection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first Wi-Fi enabled device and the second Wi-Fi-enabled device are each included within the VPWN. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein: a third Wi-Fi enabled device is connected to the target AP; and the third Wi-Fi enabled device is excluded from the VPWN. ### Claim 11 A first Wi-Fi-enabled device comprising a processor and memory, the processor being configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to implement a virtual private wireless network (VPWN) within a wireless communication network, at least partially by performing the following steps: storing a user-defined service set identifier (SSID) and a user-defined security key in the memory; transmitting the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key to the wireless communication network; instructing the wireless communication network to enable the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key at a target access point (AP) configured to wirelessly communicate according to a communication protocol of the first Wi-Fi-enabled device; pushing the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key to a second Wi-Fi-enabled device associated with a user of the first Wi-Fi-enabled device; and authorizing the second Wi-Fi-enabled device to automatically discover the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key enabled at the target AP. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 11, wherein the step of storing comprises a substep of configuring a preferred SSID and a preferred security key as the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key, respectively. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to automatically connect the second Wi-Fi-enabled device to the target AP upon discovery of the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key at the target AP, after the step of authorizing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 11, wherein the step of instructing comprises a substep of disabling the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key on the target AP when the first and second Wi-Fi-enabled devices are disconnected from the target AP. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 11, wherein the step of instructing comprises a substep of disabling the user-defined SSID and the user-defined security key on the target AP after a predetermined duration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to establish a first secure connection between the target AP and the first Wi-Fi enabled device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 16, wherein a third Wi-Fi enabled device connected to the target AP is unable to detect the first secure connection. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 16, wherein a third Wi-Fi enabled device connected to the target AP is unable to decrypt the first secure connection. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 11, wherein the first Wi-Fi enabled device and the second Wi-Fi-enabled device are each included within the VPWN. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The first Wi-Fi-enabled device of claim 19, wherein: a third Wi-Fi enabled device is connected to the target AP; and the third Wi-Fi enabled device is excluded from the VPWN.