Methods and apparatus for authenticating devices

Abstract

A network management agent is provided to enable a secure connection to a network to be established. The network management agent confirms the identity of a device upon receipt of a device identifier from the device, via a first communication channel, and responds with a security token, via the first communication channel, which the device uses to confirm the identity of the network management agent. The network management agent is able to trust the device and the device is able to trust the network management agent, such that the device may be granted access to a network which it trusts. The network management agent may be provided, via a second communication channel, with a device identifier and a device security token for the device from which the security token to be transmitted over the first channel is derived.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.