METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MoCA NETWORK WITH PROTECTED SET-UP

A network comprising:

• a first node;
• and
• a second node, wherein:
• the first node comprises a user-actuated trigger and at least one circuit operable to, at least:
• receive a trigger indication that a user has actuated the user-actuated trigger;
• in response to the received trigger indication, send a first message comprising an information element indicating that the first node has been triggered by a user;
• and
• the second node comprises at least one circuit operable to, at least:
• receive the first message;
• in response to the received first message, at least:
• operate a timer, the expiration of which will result in cancellation of a protected set-up session;
• and
• set a local state variable, separate from the operation of the timer, to indicate that the protected set-up session is in progress;
• while the protected set-up session is in progress, receive a second message from a third node that is not a member of the network, the second message comprising an information element indicating a plurality of protected set-up parameters, different from encryption information, of the third node;
• and
• determine, based at least in part on protected set-up parameters of the second node and on the protected set-up parameters of the third node, whether to share security information with the third node;
• and
• if it is determined, based at least in part on protected set-up parameters of the second node and on the protected set-up parameters of the third node, to share security information with the third node, then share security information with the third node.

A network node, the node comprising:

• at least one circuit operable to, at least:
• receive a first message from a first other node that is a member of a network, the first message comprising an information element indicating that the first other node has been triggered by a user;
• in response to the received first message, at least:
• operate a timer, the expiration of which will result in cancellation of a protected set-up session;
• and
• set a local state variable, separate from the operation of the timer, to indicate that the protected set-up session is in progress;
• while the protected set-up session is in progress, receive a second message from a second other node that is not a member of the network, the second message comprising an information element indicating a plurality of protected set-up parameters, different from encryption information, of the second other node;
• and
• determine, based at least in part on protected set-up parameters of the node and on the protected set-up parameters of the second other node, whether to share security information with the second other node;
• and
• if it is determined, based at least in part on protected set-up parameters of the node and on the protected set-up parameters of the second other node, to share security information with the second other node, then share security information with the second other node.

A network node, the node comprising:

• a user-actuated trigger;
• and
• at least one circuit operable to, at least:
• receive a trigger indication that a user has actuated the user-actuated trigger;
• and
• in response to the received trigger indication:
• determine, based at least in part on a single-bit state parameter maintained by the node, whether to send a message to a second node, the message comprising an information element indicating that the node has been triggered by a user, wherein the single-bit state parameter indicates whether the node has been admitted to a network;
• and
• if it is determined to send the message, then send the message to the second node.