Dual mode apparatus and method for wireless networking configuration

A first dual mode wireless networking device, comprising:

• a first radio transceiver configured to wirelessly exchange network configuration data with a second radio transceiver of a second dual mode wireless networking device;
• a first wireless network transceiver configured to establish a first connection between the first dual mode wireless networking device and the second dual mode wireless networking device, the first connection comprising a wireless communication/networking link with a second wireless network transceiver of the second dual mode networking device;
• and
• a controller coupled between the first radio transceiver and the first wireless network transceiver,
• wherein the controller is configured to initiate a wireless pairing between the first dual mode networking device and the second dual mode networking device via the first radio transceiver and the second radio transceiver and create a secure first wireless link between the first dual mode networking device and the second dual mode networking device via the first radio transceiver and the second radio transceiver,
• wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly exchange the network configuration data, the network configuration data comprising at least one of:
• (i) server set identification (SSID) information of a wireless network, (ii) channel information of the wireless network, (iii) security key information of the wireless network, (iv) subscriber information, and (v) subscriber service provider information, with the second dual mode networking device over the secure first wireless link before the first dual mode networking device accesses the wireless network, via the first radio transceiver when the first dual mode networking device is paired with the second dual mode networking device,
• wherein the controller is configured to transfer network configuration data to the first wireless network transceiver, including network configuration data received by the first radio transceiver from the second radio transceiver, and
• wherein the controller is configured to initiate an establishment of a second connection between the first dual mode wireless networking device and the second dual mode wireless networking device, the second connection comprising a second wireless communication/networking link between the first wireless network transceiver and the second wireless network transceiver, wherein the second wireless communication/networking link is based on the network configuration data and wherein after the second wireless communication/networking link is established, the first dual mode wireless networking device is authenticated by the second dual mode wireless networking device, and wherein in response to being authenticated by the second dual mode wireless networking device, the first dual mode wireless networking device accesses the wireless network.

A wireless network system, comprising:

• a first dual mode networking device having a first radio transceiver and a first wireless network transceiver;
• and
• a second dual mode networking device having a second radio transceiver and a second wireless network transceiver,
• wherein the first dual mode networking device and the second dual mode networking device are configured to establish a first connection between the first dual mode networking device and the second dual mode networking device, the first connection comprising a wireless pairing between the first radio transceiver and the second radio transceiver and creating a secure first wireless link between the first radio transceiver and the second radio transceiver,
• wherein the first radio transceiver and the second radio transceiver are configured to wirelessly exchange network configuration data therebetween comprising at least one of:
• (i) server set identification (SSID) information of a wireless network, (ii) channel information of the wireless network, (iii) security key information of the wireless network, (iv) subscriber information, and (v) subscriber service provider information, over the secure first wireless link when the wireless pairing has been established between the first dual mode networking device and the second dual mode networking device, before the first dual mode networking device accesses the wireless network,
• wherein the first dual mode networking device and the second dual mode networking device are configured to establish a second connection between the first dual mode networking device and the second dual mode networking device, the second connection comprising a second wireless communication/networking link between the first wireless network transceiver and the second wireless network transceiver, wherein the second wireless communication/networking link is based on network configuration data, including the network configuration data exchanged between the first radio transceiver and the second radio transceiver, and wherein after the second wireless communication/networking link is established, the first dual mode networking device is authenticated by the second dual mode networking device, and wherein in response to being authenticated by the second dual mode wireless networking device, the first dual mode wireless networking device accesses the wireless network.