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US 9,521,116 B2Granted
Apparatus, method, and system for securing a public wireless network
AssigneeVerizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
InventorMark Durbin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An approach for automatically securing a public wireless network is disclosed. A VPN connection platform maintains a list of available trusted wireless access identifiers to connect to a public wireless network from a mobile device. The trusted wireless access identifiers are provided to an application associated with the mobile device that selectively initiates a virtual private connection when the mobile device cannot utilize anyone of the trusted wireless access identifiers.
Claims21
A method comprising:
- maintaining a plurality of trusted wireless access identifiers that are available for use to connect to a public wireless network via a plurality of corresponding wireless access points;
- providing the plurality of trusted wireless access identifiers to an application associated with a mobile device for establishing a trusted wireless connection,
- wherein the application compares the trusted wireless access identifiers to a plurality of detected wireless access identifiers that correspond to one or more wireless networks in which the mobile device is in range,
- wherein the application determines, based on the comparing, which, if any, of the detected wireless access identifiers correspond to the plurality of trusted wireless access identifiers,
- wherein the application determines that a first set of wireless access identifiers, of the plurality of detected wireless access identifiers, which do not correspond to any of the trusted wireless access identifiers, are untrusted wireless access identifiers,
- wherein the application determines that a second set of wireless access identifiers, of the plurality of detected wireless access identifiers, which correspond to one or more of the trusted wireless access identifiers, are trusted wireless access identifiers,
- wherein the application presents information regarding the first set of untrusted wireless access identifiers, including an indication that the one or more untrusted wireless access identifiers are not trusted;
- receiving an indication, from the application, that a particular untrusted wireless access identifier, of the first set of untrusted wireless access identifiers, has been selected for use by the mobile device;
- and
- in response to receiving the indication from the application, initiating a virtual private connection for the mobile device, the virtual private connection being initiated based on the indication that the selected wireless access identifier is an untrusted wireless access identifier.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- executing an application associated with a mobile device for establishing a trusted wireless connection;
- receiving a plurality of trusted wireless access identifiers that are available for use to connect to a public wireless network via a plurality of corresponding wireless access points;
- detecting one or more wireless access identifiers;
- determining which, if any, of the detected wireless access identifiers correspond to the plurality of trusted wireless access identifiers, the determining comprising:
- comparing the detected wireless access identifiers to the received plurality of trusted wireless access identifiers, and
- identifying, based on the comparing, at least one of:
- one or more trusted wireless access identifiers, of the detected wireless access identifiers, or
- one or more untrusted wireless access identifiers, of the detected wireless access identifiers;
- presenting, via the application, information identifying the detected wireless identifiers, the presented information including at least one of:
- information regarding the one or more trusted wireless access identifiers, including an indication that the one or more trusted wireless access identifiers are trusted, or
- information regarding the one or more untrusted wireless access identifiers, including an indication that the one or more untrusted wireless access identifiers are not trusted;
- receiving, via the application, a selection of a particular untrusted wireless access identifier, of the one or more untrusted wireless access identifiers, and
- launching, based on the selection of the particular untrusted wireless access identifier, a session establishment process for a virtual private connection.
10 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,
- the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
- maintain a plurality of trusted wireless access identifiers that are available for use to connect to a public wireless network via a plurality of corresponding wireless access points;
- provide the plurality of trusted wireless access identifiers to an application associated with a mobile device for establishing a trusted wireless connection, wherein the application:
- compares the trusted wireless access identifiers to a plurality of detected wireless access identifiers that correspond to one or more wireless networks in which the mobile device is in range,
- determines, based on the comparing, which, if any, of the detected wireless access identifiers correspond to the plurality of trusted wireless access identifiers,
- determines that a first set of wireless access identifiers, of the plurality of detected wireless access identifiers, which do not correspond to any of the trusted wireless access identifiers, are untrusted wireless access identifiers,
- determines that a second set of wireless access identifiers, of the plurality of detected wireless access identifiers, which correspond to one or more of the trusted wireless access identifiers, are trusted wireless access identifiers,
- presents information regarding the second set of trusted wireless access identifiers, including an indication that the second set of trusted wireless access identifiers are trusted, and
- presents information regarding the first set of untrusted wireless access identifiers, including an indication that the first set of untrusted wireless access identifiers are not trusted;
- receive an indication, from the application, that a particular untrusted wireless access identifier, of the first set of untrusted wireless access identifiers, has been selected for use by the mobile device;
- and
- in response to receiving the indication from the application, initiate a virtual private connection for the mobile device, via a particular wireless access point that corresponds to the selected untrusted wireless access identifier.
12 more elements
A system comprising:
- an automated public wireless network securing platform configured to:
- maintain a plurality of trusted wireless access identifiers that are available for use to connect to a public wireless network via a plurality of corresponding wireless access points;
- provide the plurality of trusted wireless access identifiers to an application associated with a mobile device for establishing a trusted wireless connection, wherein the application:
- compares the trusted wireless access identifiers to a plurality of detected wireless access identifiers that correspond to one or more wireless networks in which the mobile device is in range,
- determines, based on the comparing, which, if any, of the detected wireless access identifiers correspond to the plurality of trusted wireless access identifiers,
- determines that a first set of wireless access identifiers, of the plurality of detected wireless access identifiers, which do not correspond to any of the trusted wireless access identifiers, are untrusted wireless access identifiers,
- determines that a second set of wireless access identifiers, of the plurality of detected wireless access identifiers, which correspond to one or more of the trusted wireless access identifiers, are trusted wireless access identifiers,
- presents information regarding the second set of trusted wireless access identifiers, including an indication that the second set of trusted wireless access identifiers are trusted, and
- presents information regarding the first set of untrusted wireless access identifiers, including an indication that the first set of untrusted wireless access identifiers are not trusted;
- receive an indication, from the application, that a particular untrusted wireless access identifier, of the first set of untrusted wireless access identifiers, has been selected for use by the mobile device;
- and
- in response to receiving the indication from the application, initiate a virtual private connection for the mobile device, via a particular wireless access point that corresponds to the selected untrusted wireless access identifier.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.