17949933. Privacy Enhanced BSS Discovery for Non-associated Stations simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)

Privacy Enhanced BSS Discovery for Non-associated Stations

Organization Name

Apple Inc.

Inventor(s)

Jarkko L Kneckt of Los Gatos CA (US)

Charles F. Dominguez of Redwood City CA (US)

Daniel R. Borges of Fremont CA (US)

Debashis Dash of San Jose CA (US)

Elliot S. Briggs of Santa Cruz CA (US)

Sidharth R. Thakur of San Jose CA (US)

Su Khiong Yong of Palo Alto CA (US)

Yong Liu of Campbell CA (US)

Privacy Enhanced BSS Discovery for Non-associated Stations - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17949933 titled 'Privacy Enhanced BSS Discovery for Non-associated Stations

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes a privacy-enhanced basic service set (BSS) for wireless networks. It includes privacy enhancements for access points and wireless stations, as well as for authentication, association, and discovery operations. The technology is also backward compatible with legacy wireless stations.

• Privacy enhancements for both access points and wireless stations
• Privacy enhancements for authentication, association, and discovery operations
• Backward compatibility with legacy wireless stations
• Non-associated PE stations can receive discovery beacons from PE access points advertising PE BSSs
• Non-associated PE stations can request pre-association security protection from PE access points
• Non-associated PE stations can transmit protected request frames and receive protected responses from PE access points

Potential Applications

• Wireless network security
• Privacy protection in wireless communications
• Enhanced authentication and association processes in wireless networks

Problems Solved

• Lack of privacy in basic service set (BSS) operations
• Vulnerabilities in authentication and association processes
• Compatibility issues with legacy wireless stations

Benefits

• Improved privacy and security in wireless networks
• Enhanced authentication and association processes
• Compatibility with existing wireless stations

Original Abstract Submitted

Systems, methods, and mechanisms for a privacy enhanced basic service set (BSS), including privacy enhancements for both access points and wireless stations as well as privacy enchantments for authentication, association, and discovery operations. Further, the systems, methods, and mechanisms disclosed may continue to support legacy wireless stations and are thus, backward compatible. A non-associated PE station may receive, from a PE access point, one or more discovery beacons advertising PE BSSs hosted by the PE access point and transmit, to the PE access point, a request to setup pre-association security protection. The non-associated PE station may, upon setup of pre-association security protection, transmit, to the PE access point, a protected request frame and receive, from the PE access point, a protected response that includes PE access point parameters.