Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Microsoft Corporation

Rovi Technologies Corporation

Christopher J Corbett

Amer A Hassan

Pradeep Bahl

Warren Vincent Barkley

Mohamed Jawad Khaki

Scott Manchester

Salim S AbiEzzi

Christian F Huitema

Abhishek Abhishek

David A Roberts

Benjamin E Nick

David Peter McLauchlan

Mohammad Shakeri

David T Campbell

Scott A Manchester

Salim S Abiezzi

Network DNA may be determined for a computer network that taxonomically classifies the computer network. Network DNA may include derived network DNA components and raw network DNA components. Raw network DNA components may be acquired from local or remote sources. Derived network DNA components may be generated according to derived network DNA component specifications. Derived network DNA component specifications may reference raw network DNA components. Network DNA determined for the computer network may include a network species component capable of indicating network species classifications for computer networks. Network species classifications may include enterprise network, home network and public place network. Network species classifications may be determined as a function of network security, network management and network addressing. One or more network DNA stores may be configured to store network DNA for computer networks. Network DNA stores may store network DNA history as well as current network DNA.

Network classification

Network DNA

Secure network access is provided by connecting a secure network provisioning device to a security authority, acquiring one or more network profiles, configuring one or more network interfaces of the secure network provisioning device with data corresponding to attributes of the acquired network profiles, switching the secure network provisioning device from an acquisition mode to a gateway mode, and connecting the secure network provisioning device to a client device. The secure network provisioning device includes a first set of network communication interfaces requiring configuration blocks to enable access to associated networks, a second set of network communication interfaces free from a requirement for configuration prior to network access, a communication interface gateway module configured to gate network traffic between network communication interfaces and a network profile acquisition module configured to acquire network profiles containing data required to configure the communication interfaces of the first set.

System and method for providing secure network access

A Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive comprising a controller including a USB interface and a nonvolatile computer readable medium interface. The USB flash drive may also comprise a nonvolatile computer readable medium in communication with the nonvolatile computer readable medium interface and storing data and a USB connector in communication with the USB interface. The USB flash drive may also comprise a transmitter for transmitting at least a portion of data from the nonvolatile computer readable medium to an external device external to the USB flash drive. The transmitter may be substantially simultaneously operable with the USB connector, may send a modulated data signal, and/or may send the at least portion data in a compressed format.

Universal serial bus device including a USB connector and a transmitter

A process for secure, safe, and easy provisioning of a wireless device with credentials to connect to a wireless network. A connecting wireless device and an established wireless device both utilize low power transmission at close proximity to exchange wireless connection setting information and/or a password. The connecting wireless device is moved into proximity with the established wireless device and a low power setting is discovered at which the wireless devices may communicate with a sufficiently low error rate. The connecting wireless device is then passed the secret information by the established network device.

Low power transmission provisioning for wireless network devices

A system and method for secure wireless cryptographic communication among participants in a wireless computing network is presented. This secure communication method is based on a random modulation technique and a domino match. Once the initial modulation scheme is selected, each data transmission includes an indication of what modulation scheme should be used for the next data transmission. If a given number of bits are to be used, the modulation scheme for the final transmission may be limited to complete the bit transfer. The bit value assignments within particular modulation schemes may also be varied for each subsequent transmission.

Domino scheme for wireless cryptographic communication and communication method incorporating same

As part of a cryptographic protocol, or in addition to it, a computer may participate in a cryptographic key generation protocol. The cryptographic key generation protocol may be such that it generates a set of bits sufficient for a cryptographic key and, also, one or more additional bits. The cryptographic protocol may have one or more parameters, and the parameters of the cryptographic protocol may be varied as a function of the additional bits generated by the cryptographic key generation protocol. The cryptographic protocol may specify a set of one or more cryptographic key sizes. An overkey may be generated that is at least one bit greater than the set of cryptographic key sizes specified by the cryptographic protocol. The parameters of the cryptographic protocol may then be varied as a function of some subset of bits of the overkey. Cryptography-based security may thus be enhanced.

Method and system for enhancing cryptography-based security

A system and method for wireless cryptographic key exchange among participants in a wireless computing network is presented. This allows the authorized participants in the wireless communication session not have the same key before the wireless computing session begins. This wireless online key exchange/generation is based on a random modulation technique and a domino match. Once the initial modulation scheme is selected, each data transmission includes an indication of what modulation scheme should be used for the next data transmission. If a given number of bits are to be used, the modulation scheme for the final transmission may be limited to complete the bit transfer. The bit value assignments within particular modulation schemes may also be varied for each subsequent transmission.

Wireless online cryptographic key generation method

The principles of the present invention provide for using directional antennas to adaptively communicate in a wireless mesh network. A number of infrastructure components are included in a wireless mesh network environment. Each infrastructure component includes an omni-directional antenna and one or more directional antennas (e.g., electronically steered phased array antennas) that can be used to communicate with other infrastructure component and wireless devices. Directional antennas can utilize one or more directional beams that can be directed towards an infrastructure component or wireless device to communicate with the infrastructure component or wireless device. Infrastructure components can adapt to communicate with the same destination through different intermediary infrastructure components. Since the signal strength of a directional beam can be greater than that of an omni-directional antenna of the same gain, infrastructure components can be separated by greater distances.

Using directional antennas to enhance wireless mesh networks

The principles of the present invention provides for using directional antennas to increase signal strength and enhance throughput in a wireless network. An antenna device includes an omni-directional antenna and at least one directional antenna. Each directional antenna (e.g., an electronically steered phased array antenna) can have one or more feeds for directing beams to wireless devices. The antenna device utilizes the omni-directional antenna to send and receive control data that facilitates locating wireless devices and determining when a wireless device is to send program data to or receive program data from the antenna device. The antenna device utilizes the directional antenna to send program data to and receive program data from wireless devices. Since the directional antennas use directional beams, the range and barrier penetration of directional antennas is greater than that of the omni-directional antenna.

Using directional antennas to enhance throughput in wireless networks

A wireless device and method provides for adding nodes to a wireless mesh network by adjusting an antenna sensitivity pattern of one or more nodes in the wireless mesh network to exhibit spatial selectivity. The method transmits a query, and if a response is received within a predetermined time period, the wireless device receives the response and adds the responding wireless device to the mesh network. The wireless device can adjust the transmission pattern to enable the antenna sensitivity pattern to cover a predetermined spatial area, and the predetermined time period can be fixed. The wireless devices can adjust the antenna sensitivity pattern in a coordinated manner. A method for supporting data connections between three or more wireless devices includes adjusting the sensitivity pattern of an antenna on a first wireless device, communicating with a second wireless device, and further adjusting the sensitivity pattern of the antenna for more wireless devices.

Enhanced mode technique for growing mesh networks

The principles of the present invention provides for using directional antennas to mitigate the effects of interference in a wireless network. An antenna device includes an omni-directional antenna and at least one directional antenna. Each directional antenna (e.g., an electronically steered phased array antenna) can have one or more feeds for directing beams at wireless devices. The antenna device utilizes the omni-directional antenna to send and receive control data that facilitates locating wireless devices and determining when a wireless device is to send program data to or receive program data from the antenna device. The antenna device utilizes directional antennas to send program data to and receive program data from wireless devices. Since directional antennas use directional beams, directional antennas can be tuned channels with reduced interference based on the location of wireless devices relative to the antenna device.

Growing community of inventors

Duvall, WA, United States of America

Christopher J Corbett