Methods and apparatuses for introducing devices with simple user interfaces into a secure network community
AssigneeThomson Licensing
InventorOlivier Courtay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for introducing devices with simple user interfaces into a network community. A user pushes a button on a first device that listens for messages from central points for two seconds and, if no such message is received, becomes a central point and starts sending broadcast ID messages. The user the pushes a button on a second device to be insert, which after interaction with the central point enters a selected state. Noticing this on the user interface of the second device, the user pushes the button on the first device again, and after further communication between the devices, they enter an associated state, which can be verified on the user interface of the first device. Also provided is a first device.
Claims22
A method of introducing at least one device (120) into a secure network (100) comprising a central point (110) instructed to insert the at least one device into the secure network, the method being suitable to be performed when the at least one device (120) and the central point (110) have no previous knowledge of the other, comprising the steps of:
- instructing (314) by a user (140) the at least one device to request from the central point insertion into the secure network;
- requesting (320) by the at least one device from the central point insertion into the secure network;
- inserting (338) by the central point the at least one device into the secure network;
- characterised by the steps, prior to the insertion step, of:
- verifying (331) by the central point that an expected number of devices have requested insertion into the secure network.
A central point (110) adapted to introduce at least one device (120) into a secure network (100), the central point being instructed to insert at least one device into the secure network, wherein the central point not necessarily has any previous knowledge of the at least one device, the central point comprising:
- a communication unit (119) adapted to communicate with the at least one device, and to receive from the at least one device a request (320) for insertion into the secure network;
- a processor (114) adapted to communicate with the communication unit and to insert the at least one device into the secure network;
- and
- characterised by that the processor (114) is further adapted to verify that an expected number of devices have requested insertion into the secure network before inserting the at least one device into the network.
An apparatus in a secure network, the apparatus being characterised by that it is adapted to, upon instruction by a user, act as a central point adapted to insert at least one device into the secure network, without previous knowledge of the at least one device, if the secure network comprises no active central point and to act as a device if the secure network comprises an active central point.
A method of configuring an apparatus in a secure network, the method comprising the steps of:
- upon reception of an instruction from a user, verifying if there is a central point in the network;
- and
- if this is not the case, begin acting as a central point adapted to insert at least one device into the secure network, without previous knowledge of the at least one device.
A system for introducing at least one device (120) into a secure network (100) comprising a central point (110) instructed to insert the at least one device into the secure network, wherein the at least one device (120) and the central point (110) need not have any previous knowledge of one another:
- the at least one device being adapted to:
- receive an instruction (314) from a user (140) to request from the central point insertion into the secure network;
- and
- request (320) from the central point insertion into the secure network;
- the central point being adapted to:
- insert (338) the at least one device into the secure network;
- characterised by that the central point is further adapted to verify (331) that an expected number of devices have requested insertion into the secure network, before inserting the at least one device into the secure network.
A method of introducing by a central point (110) a given number of devices (120) into a secure network (100), the central point being instructed to introduce a given number of devices into the secure network, the central point not necessarily having any previous knowledge of the given number of devices, the method comprising the steps, at the central point, of:
- receiving a request for insertion into the secure network (320) from at least one device;
- verifying (331) that the given number of devices have requested insertion into the secure network;
- and
- inserting (338) the given number of devices into the secure network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.