Patent ID: 7929513
Filing Date: 2011-04-19
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A wireless local area network access point comprising: a transceiver that is configured to communicate messages with an end-point communication device through a wireless air interface in a defined frequency band; a controller that is configured to receive through the transceiver a connection request message containing a password from the end-point communication device, to authenticate the received password, and to respond to the authentication by transmitting through the transceiver to the end-point communication device an encryption key as a connection response message; a security unit that is configured to measure a first time between receipt of the connection request message and a subsequent onset of at least one interfering signal having at least a threshold magnitude in the defined frequency band, wherein the security unit is configured to measure a second time between transmission of the connection response message and receipt of the connection response message, and to generate a security alert based on one of the first and second measured times being less than a threshold time, and wherein the security unit is configured to generate a security alert based on detecting at least one disassociation message received from another device that contains an identifier associated with the wireless local area network access point and therefore incorrectly appears to have originated from the wireless local area network access point; and an interface that is configured to be communicatively connected to the Internet through a broadband modem, wherein the security unit is further configured to communicate information relating to the security alert through the interface to a network management center.