System and Method for Easy Configuration and Authentication of Network Devices

A device for managing a wireless mesh network, configured to:

• receive beacons transmitted by a plurality of unconfigured network devices indicating the ability of each device to join a wireless mesh network;
• identify, from among the plurality of unconfigured network devices, a plurality of said devices that are able to join the wireless mesh network;
• establish a temporary network connection with each of the plurality of unconfigured network devices that are able to join the wireless mesh network;
• generate a list of potential new nodes for the wireless mesh network comprising the plurality of unconfigured network devices that have established a temporary network connection with the primary device;
• transmit authentication credentials for the wireless mesh network to a selection of the unconfigured network devices to be added to the wireless mesh network;
• and
• authenticate the selected unconfigured network devices to join the wireless mesh network.

A communication system, comprising:

• a plurality of wireless routers communicatively coupled to each other to form a wireless mesh network;
• wherein one of the wireless routers is a primary router capable of detecting a plurality of unconfigured routers and adding them to the wireless mesh network;
• a client device communicatively coupled to the primary router;
• wherein the client device is capable of:
• providing an interface to a user to allow the user to select a plurality of unconfigured routers to be added to the wireless mesh network;
• instructing the primary router to add a plurality of unconfigured routers to the wireless mesh network;
• and
• wherein the primary router is configured to add only the unconfigured routers selected by the user to the wireless mesh network.