Patent ID: 6782474
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A network device for connecting to a network, said network device requiring certain configuration parameters to be stored therein for proper functioning, comprisinga physical network interface, a device identifier observation circuit in said network device for reading device identifiers from received packets and recognizing packets containing a device identifier of said network device as being directed to said network device, and a computing block; and wherein said computing block is structured or programmed to authenticated received packets as coming from a reliable source authorized to configure said network device by computing computed device identifiers from cryptographic keys derived from recognized packets and to compare said computed device identifiers against locally stored known device identifiers which identify authentic transmitting parties authorized to configure said network device, said locally stored known device identifiers being compared by said computing block to said computed device identifiers for authentication of transmitting parties, and if a received packet is authenticated in this way, using configuration data therein to configure said network device.