Systems and methods for authenticating devices by adding secure features to wi-fi tags

A device comprising:

• one or more memory comprising an operating system that includes one or more processor-executable instructions;
• a processor to implement the operating system by executing the one or more processor-executable instructions;
• an embedded location module comprising a microcontroller and embedded memory to store processor-executable instructions that are executable on the microcontroller to generate an authentication block comprising an identifier for the device and a time stamp;
• an encryption module to generate an encrypted authentication block;
• and
• a network interface module to incorporate the encrypted authentication block into an unencrypted periodic message provided to a network.

A method comprising:

• generating an encrypted identification block comprising an identifier for a device and an element associated with the identification block using a processor,
• appending the encrypted identification block with a recurring message comprising an unencrypted portion;
• providing the recurring message comprising an encrypted portion and the unencrypted portion to a location server using a wireless network interface device;
• and
• receiving an authentication acknowledgment of the encrypted portion of the recurring message at the device.

A method comprising:

• receiving a periodic message comprising an encrypted portion and an unencrypted portion;
• decrypting the encrypted portion comprising an identifier for a device that provided the periodic message using a processor;
• determining the identifier is associated with the device that provided the periodic message;
• determining a location associated with the device;
• and
• providing the location to the device using a wireless network interface device.

One or more tangible computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at least one computer processor, enable the at least one computer processor to implement a method comprising:

• generating an encrypted identification block comprising an identifier for a device and an element associated with the identification block using a processor;
• appending the encrypted identification block with a recurring message comprising an unencrypted portion;
• providing the recurring message comprising an encrypted portion and the unencrypted portion to a location server using a wireless network interface device;
• and
• receiving an acknowledgment of the recurring message at the device.

One or more tangible computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at least one computer processor, enable the at least one computer processor to implement a method comprising:

• receiving a periodic message comprising an secure portion and an unsecure portion;
• determining the secure portion comprises an identifier for a device that provided the periodic message using a processor;
• determining the identifier is associated with the device that provided the message;
• determining a location associated with the device;
• and
• providing the location to the device using a wireless network interface device.