# US 9,521,642 B2 · Configuration of a new enrollee device for use in a communication network

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,521,642 B2
- Document ID: US9521642B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/139,797
- Filed: 2016-04-27
- Published: 2016-08-18
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2012-08-20
- Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Inventors: Olivier Jean Benoit; Peerapol Tinnakornsrisuphap; Etan Gur Cohen; Anand Palanigounder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521642B2

## CPC

- H04W 60/00: Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
- G06K 19/06037: {multi-dimensional coding}
- H04L 12/2809: {indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network (monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51)}
- H04L 41/0806: for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
- H04L 41/0809: {Plug-and-play configuration}
- H04W 12/06: Authentication
- H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
- H04L 41/28: Restricting access to network management systems or functions, e.g. using authorisation function to access network configuration
- H04L 63/00: {Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00; network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorised activity G06F21/00)}
- H04L 63/08: {for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32)}
- H04L 63/083: {using passwords (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226)}
- H04L 63/10: {for controlling access to devices or network resources}
- H04W 12/77: Graphical identity
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A new enrollee device is configured for a communication network using an electronic device and a network registrar. The new enrollee device is a headless device that lacks a first user interface for configuring the new enrollee device for the communication network. The electronic device obtains, at a sensor, sensor information that is indicative of a device key associated with the new enrollee device. The electronic device determines the device key based on the sensor information. The device key is provided to the network registrar to cause the network registrar to configure the new enrollee device for the communication network.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for configuring a new enrollee device in a communication network, the method comprising:
obtaining, via a sensor of an electronic device, sensor information that is indicative of a device key associated with the new enrollee device to be configured for the communication network, wherein the new enrollee device is a headless device that lacks a first user interface for configuring the new enrollee device for the communication network;
determining the device key based, at least in part, on the sensor information; and
providing, by the electronic device, the device key to a network registrar to cause the network registrar to configure the new enrollee device for the communication network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a camera, a microphone, a photo sensor, a radio frequency identifier tag reader, a near-field communications (NFC) tag sensor, a short range radio frequency communications component, and an electromagnetic sensor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining the sensor information comprises, detecting, using a scanning device associated with the electronic device, a predetermined code associated with the new enrollee device, or
capturing, using a camera associated with the electronic device, an image having the predetermined code associated with the new enrollee device encoded therein,
wherein the predetermined code is representative of the device key.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the image is a barcode or a Quick Response (QR) code image associated with the new enrollee device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein said determining the device key comprises, decoding the predetermined code to obtain the device key.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining the sensor information comprises at least one member of a group consisting of:
decoding a visual tag associated with the new enrollee device to obtain the device key,
detecting a near-field communications (NFC) tag that contains the device key,
receiving the device key via a short range radio frequency connection with the new enrollee device,
receiving the device key via an electromagnetic interface of the electronic device, and
receiving an electronic message having the device key.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said providing:
receiving an indication from the network registrar indicating whether the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network using the device key;
presenting based, at least in part, on the indication, user feedback via a user interface of the electronic device, wherein the user feedback indicates that the new enrollee device has not been successfully configured for the communication network; and
prompting, via the user interface, for a new device key associated with the new enrollee device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said providing:
receiving, from the network registrar, device information for controlling the new enrollee device, wherein the device information indicates that the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the device information comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a network address, a device name, a device model number, and a management address for managing the new enrollee device via the communication network.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
enabling, at the electronic device, a user interface associated with controlling the new enrollee device using the device information.

### Claim 11

An electronic device, comprising:
a first network interface configured for communications with a network registrar via a communication network;
a processor;
a sensor; and
a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to,
obtain, via the sensor, sensor information that is indicative of a device key, the device key associated with a new enrollee device to be configured for the communication network, wherein the new enrollee device is a headless device that lacks a first user interface for configuring the new enrollee device for the communication network,
determining the device key based, at least in part, on the sensor information, and
provide the device key to the network registrar to cause the network registrar to configure the new enrollee device for the communication network.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising:
a user interface device, and
wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to detect a presence of the new enrollee device via the user interface device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to,
receive an indication from the network registrar indicating whether the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network using the device key,
present based, at least in part, on the indication, user feedback that indicates whether the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network, and
prompt for a new device key associated with the new enrollee device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to,
receive, from the network registrar, device information for controlling the new enrollee device, wherein the device information indicates that the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising:
a user interface device,
wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to,
control the new enrollee device using the device information.

### Claim 16

A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations that comprise:
obtaining, via a sensor of an electronic device, sensor information that is indicative of a device key, the device key associated with a new enrollee device to be configured for a communication network, wherein the new enrollee device is a headless device that lacks a first user interface for configuring the new enrollee device for the communication network;
determining the device key based, at least in part, on the sensor information; and
providing the device key to a network registrar to cause the network registrar to configure the new enrollee device for the communication network.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations for obtaining the sensor information comprise operations for:
detecting, using a scanning device associated with the electronic device, a predetermined code associated with the new enrollee device, or
capturing, using a camera associated with the electronic device, an image having the predetermined code associated with the new enrollee device encoded therein,
wherein the predetermined code is representative of the device key.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations for obtaining the sensor information comprise operations for at least one member of a group consisting of:
decoding a visual tag associated with the new enrollee device to obtain the device key,
detecting a near-field communications (NFC) tag that contains the device key,
receiving the device key via a short range radio frequency connection with the new enrollee device,
receiving the device key via an electromagnetic interface of the electronic device, and
receiving an electronic message having the device key.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving an indication from the network registrar indicating whether the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network using the device key,
presenting based, at least in part, on the indication, user feedback via a user interface of the electronic device, wherein the user feedback indicates that the new enrollee device has not been successfully configured for the communication network, and
prompting, via the user interface, for a new device key associated with the new enrollee device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving, from the network registrar, device information for controlling the new enrollee device, wherein the device information indicates that the new enrollee device has been successfully configured for the communication network.
