Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Xiong Jiang

Hui Shen

Anirban Banerjee

Yi Lu

David A Roberts

John W Archer

Christopher David Gual

Michael Bell

Anirudh Anirudh

Taroon Mandhana

Hong Liu

Ani Anirudh

An access point that implements operating modes in which beacons may be selectively disabled. Beacons may be disabled when no device is actively associated through the access point. Beacons may be enabled in response to one or more triggers, which may include events such as a client forming an association through the access point following a probe request message identifying the access point. In addition, active beaconing may be triggered by user input or may occur during periodic brief intervals that allow client devices to discover the network identifier for the access point. Selective control of beaconing may lead to more effective wireless communication, particularly in areas where users congregate with computers implementing soft APs for personal networks.

Wireless network host in silent mode

A method of operating an access point (AP) configured to support multiple pre-shared keys at a given time to authenticate its associated client devices. Each client device associated with the AP is provisioned with a key. To authenticate the client device that attempts to connect to the AP, the AP determines which pre-shared key (PSK) of the multiple supported pre-shared keys (PSKs), if any, matches information including the key received from the client device. When the information matches, the client device is allowed to connect to the AP. Provisioning the AP with multiple PSKs allows selectively disconnecting associated client devices from the AP. The AP may be configured to support PSKs of different lifetime and complexity. Removing a PSK of the multiple PSKs supported by the AP and disconnecting a client device that uses this PSK does not disconnect other client devices using different keys to access the AP.

Support of multiple pre-shared keys in access point

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Xiong Jiang