Patent Publication Number: US-8543094-B2

Title: System and method for configuring devices for wireless communication

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/104,781 filed Apr. 17, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,974,606, the contents of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates in general to device configuration, and more particularly to a system and method for configuration of devices for wireless communication. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
     With recent advances in network technology and improved affordability of networking devices, information handling system users are increasingly implementing networks (e.g., local areas networks or LANs) that utilize wireless transmissions (e.g., wireless fidelity or “Wi-Fi”) and wire-line transmissions in their homes and/or businesses. For example, users may implement a home or business network including an information handling system, one or more wireless-capable network devices, and a wireless access point communicatively coupled to the information handling system and network devices. Such a network may allow an information handling system (or a user thereof) to communicate with the one or more network devices via the wireless access point or vice versa. 
     However, despite the increasing popularity of home and business networking systems, configuration complexity of such systems has prevented widespread acceptance. While network installation and setup for experienced users has been greatly simplified with setup wizards and advances in usability features included in operating systems, network configuration remains a difficult challenge for many users, particularly home consumers. These configuration challenges lead to negative customer experience and numerous technical support calls. For example, one company has reported that it receives in excess of 20,000 technical support calls per day related to digital home products, the majority attributable to wireless access point installation and setup. 
     Accordingly, a need has arisen for systems and methods that allow implementation of network systems and the configuration of devices to allow wireless communications without the complexity incumbent in traditional approaches. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, disadvantages and problems associated with configuring devices for wireless communication may be substantially reduced or eliminated. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for configuring devices for wireless communication is provided. The method may include transmitting an activation key from an activation broker to a wireless agent. The method may also include transmitting the activation key from the activation broker to a wireless registrar. At least one of the transmission of the activation key to the wireless agent and the transmission of the activation key to the wireless registrar may include transmitting the activation key via a short-range wireless communication technology. In addition, the activation key may include information for authenticating wireless communication between the wireless agent and a wireless access point. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for configuring devices for wireless communication is provided. The method may include receiving at a wireless agent an activation key from an activation broker via a short-range wireless communication technology, the activation key including information for authenticating wireless communication between the wireless agent and a wireless access point. The method may also include authenticating wireless communication between the wireless agent and the wireless access point based at least on the activation key information. The method may further include associating the wireless agent for wireless communication with the wireless access point. 
     In accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for configuring devices for wireless communication is provided. The method may include receiving at a wireless registrar associated with a wireless access point an activation key from an activation broker via a short-range wireless communication technology, the activation key including information for authenticating wireless communication between a wireless agent and the wireless access point. The method may also include authenticating wireless communication between the wireless agent and the wireless access point based at least on the activation key information. The method may further include associating the wireless agent for wireless communication with the wireless access point. 
     Other technical advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following specification, claims, and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an example system for configuring devices for wireless communication, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of an example method for configuring devices for wireless communication, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of a further example method for configuring devices for wireless communication, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a flow chart of another example method for configuring devices for wireless communication, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Preferred embodiments and their advantages are best understood by reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , wherein like numbers are used to indicate like and corresponding parts. 
     For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage resource, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
     For the purposes of this disclosure, computer-readable media may include any instrumentality or aggregation of instrumentalities that may retain data and/or instructions for a period of time. Computer-readable media may include, without limitation, storage media such as a direct access storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive or floppy disk), a sequential access storage device (e.g., a tape disk drive), compact disk, CD-ROM, DVD, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or flash memory; as well as communications media such wires, optical fibers, microwaves, radio waves, and other electromagnetic and/or optical carriers; and/or any combination of the foregoing. 
     For the purposes of this disclosure, the terms “wireless transmissions” and “wireless communication” may be used to refer to all types of electromagnetic communications which do not require a wire, cable, or other types of conduits. Examples of wireless transmissions which may be used include, but are not limited to, short-range wireless communication technologies (e.g., proximity card, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Near Field Communication (NFC), BLUETOOTH, ISO 14443, ISO 15693, or other suitable standard), personal area networks (PAN) (e.g., BLUETOOTH), local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), narrowband personal communications services (PCS), broadband PCS, circuit switched cellular, cellular digital packet data (CDPD), radio frequencies, such as the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1.9 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands, infra-red and laser. 
     For the purpose of this disclosure, “short-range wireless communications technology” refers to any suitable communications transport, protocol, and/or standard allowing two or more suitably-configured devices to communicate via wireless transmissions provided that such devices are within approximately one meter of each other. Examples of short-range communications technologies include, without limitation, BLUETOOTH Class 3, near field communication (NFC), radio frequency identification (RFID), proximity card, vicinity card, ISO 14443, and ISO 15693. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an example system  100  for configuring devices for wireless communication, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As depicted, system  100  may include a wireless access point  112 , a wireless agent  114 , an activation broker  116 , and a wireless registrar  118 . 
     Wireless access point  112  may include any system, device or apparatus operable to communicatively couple one or more devices together to form a network. Wireless access point  112  may be a part of a storage area network (SAN), personal area network (PAN), local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a virtual private network (VPN), an intranet, the Internet or any other appropriate architecture or system that facilitates the communication of signals, data and/or messages (generally referred to as data) via wireless transmissions. For example, wireless access point  112  may be configured to communicate with other devices via wireless transmissions, and thus may communicatively couple a plurality of wireless communication devices together to form a wireless network. In certain embodiments, wireless access point  112  may also be configured to communicate to one or more devices via wire-line transmissions, and thus may relay data among wireless devices and wired devices. Wireless access point  112  may be configured to communicate with other devices via any suitable communication protocol (e.g., TCP/IP) and/or standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Wi-Fi). 
     Wireless agent  114  may include any system, device or apparatus operable to communicate with wireless access point  112  and other devices coupled to wireless access point  112  via wireless transmissions. In some embodiments, wireless agent  114  may include or may be an integral part of a network interface. Such network interface may include any suitable system, apparatus, or device operable to serve as an interface wireless agent  114  and other wireless transmission-enabled devices (e.g., wireless access point  112 ). The network interface may enable wireless agent  114  to communicate with wireless transmission-enabled devices using any suitable wireless transmission protocol (e.g., TCP/IP) and/or standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Wi-Fi). In certain embodiments, the network interface may include a network interface card (NIC). In the same or alternative embodiments, the network interface may provide physical access to a networking medium and/or provide a low-level addressing system (e.g., through the use of Media Access Control addresses). In certain embodiments, the network interface may include a buffer for storing packets received from wireless transmission-enabled devices and/or a controller configured to process packets received from wireless transmission-enabled devices. 
     Wireless agent  114  may include or may be an integral part of a wireless communication device. For example, in one embodiment, wireless agent  114  may be an integral part of a desktop computer, a mobile computer (e.g., a “laptop” or “notebook”), or another suitable information handling system. In another embodiment, wireless agent  114  may be an integral part of a mobile phone, smart phone (e.g., a BLACKBERRY or a TREO), personal digital assistant, or another suitable mobile communication device. Wireless agent  114  may be embodied in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, wireless agent  114  may be embodied in whole or part by a program of instructions stored on a computer-readable medium and operable to execute on a processor. 
     Activation broker  116  may include any system, device or apparatus operable to store and/or generate one or more activation keys, wherein each of such activation keys includes information for authenticating wireless communication between a wireless agent  114  and a wireless access point  112 . In the same or alternative embodiments, activation broker  116  may be operable to transmit an activation key to wireless agent  114  and/or wireless registrar  118 . The transmission of the activation key to wireless agent  114  and/or the transmission of the activation key to wireless registrar  118  includes transmitting the activation key via a short-range wireless communication technology (e.g., BLUETOOTH Class 3, NFC, RFID, proximity card, ISO 14443, ISO 15693, or other suitable standard). 
     Activation broker  116  may include or may be an integral part of a wireless communication device. For example, in one embodiment, activation broker  116  may be an integral part of a desktop computer, a mobile computer (e.g., a “laptop” or “notebook”), wireless transmission-enabled cash register, or another suitable information handling system. In another embodiment, activation broker  116  may be an integral part of a mobile phone, smart phone (e.g., a BLACKBERRY or a TREO), personal digital assistant, or another suitable mobile communication device. Activation broker  116  may be embodied in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, activation broker  116  may be embodied in whole or part by a program of instructions stored on a computer-readable medium and operable to execute on a processor. 
     Wireless registrar  118  may include any system, device or apparatus operable to facilitate wireless communication authentication between wireless accent point  112  and a wireless agent  114  associated with the wireless registrar  118 . For example, in some embodiments, wireless registrar  118  may store one or more configuration parameters associated with wireless access point  112  (e.g., service set identifiers (SSIDs), wireless encryption protocol (WEP) keys, and/or other parameters related to communication with and/or security for wireless access point  112 ). In response to receiving an identical or related (e.g., private/public key pair) activation key from each of activation broker  116  and wireless agent  114 , wireless registrar  118  may authenticate wireless communication between wireless access point  112  and wireless agent  114 . In the same or alternative embodiments, in response to receiving an identical or related (e.g., private/public key pair) activation key from each of activation broker  116  and wireless agent  114 , wireless registrar may communicate to wireless agent  114  the one or more configuration parameters associated with wireless access point  112 . After receiving such configuration parameters, wireless agent  114  may configure itself using the received configuration parameters, thereby allowing it to associate with wireless access point  112 . 
     Wireless registrar  118  may include or may be an integral part of a wireless communication device. For example, in one embodiment, wireless registrar  118  may be an integral part of a desktop computer, a mobile computer (e.g., a “laptop” or “notebook”), wireless transmission-enabled cash register, or another suitable information handling system. In another embodiment, wireless registrar  118  may be an integral part of wireless access point  112 . Wireless registrar  118  may be embodied in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, wireless registrar  118  may be embodied in whole or part by a program of instructions stored on a computer-readable medium and operable to execute on a processor. 
     In certain embodiments of system  100 , each of wireless agent  114 , activation broker  116 , wireless registrar  118  and wireless access point  112  may be integral parts of different devices (e.g., as discussed in  FIG. 2 ). As a specific example of such an embodiment, wireless agent  114  may be an integral part of a mobile computer, activation broker  116  may be an integral part of a mobile phone, and wireless registrar  118  may be an integral part of an information handling system (e.g., home computer). In this specific embodiment, the activation broker  116  of the mobile phone may communicate the activation key to each of the wireless agent  114  of the mobile computer and the wireless registrar  118  of the home computer, and the wireless agent  114  may be authenticated for communication with wireless access point  112  as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     In other embodiments of system  100 , one or more of wireless agent  114 , activation broker  116 , wireless registrar  118  and wireless access point  112  may be integral parts of the same device. For example, wireless agent  114  and activation broker  116  may be integral parts of the same wireless device (e.g., a Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phone) and wireless registrar  118  may be an integral part of wireless access point  312 . In such an embodiment, wireless agent  114  may be authenticated for communication with wireless access point  112  as depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
     As another example, activation broker  116  and wireless registrar  118  may be integral parts of the same device (e.g., a desktop computer, mobile computer, cash register, or other information handling system). In such an embodiment, activation broker  116  may also communicate to wireless agent  114  (e.g., as an integral part of a mobile computer) via a temporary transport device (e.g., a mobile phone or near field communication-enabled card). In such an embodiment, wireless agent  114  may be authenticated for communication with wireless access point  112  as depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of an example method  200  for configuring devices for wireless communication, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. According to one embodiment, method  200  preferably begins at step  202 . As noted above, teachings of the present disclosure may be implemented in a variety of configurations of system  100 . As such, the preferred initialization point for method  200  and the order of the steps  202 - 216   b  comprising method  200  may depend on the implementation chosen. 
     At step  202 , wireless agent  114  may be enabled. For example, a wireless device including wireless agent  114  may be powered on. As another example, a user of a wireless device including wireless agent  114  may manually enable wireless agent  114 . 
     At step  204 , activation broker  116  may be activated. For example, in embodiments where activation broker  116  is an integral part of a mobile phone, a user of the mobile phone may activate activation broker  116  by pressing an appropriate sequence of one or more keys. 
     At step  206 , activation broker  116  may generate an activation key. As discussed above, the activation key may include information for authenticating wireless communication between wireless agent  114  and wireless access point  112 . In certain embodiments, the activation key may be associated with a service level defining one or more parameters (e.g., network access privileges, length of session, allowed websites, allowed applications, allowed protocols, bandwidth limit, priority of service, etc.) associated with an authenticated wireless communication session between wireless agent  114  and wireless access point  112 . For example, in an embodiment where wireless access point  112  is a public wireless access point (e.g., at a coffee shop or library) and wireless agent  114  is an integral part of a notebook computer, the activation key may be associated with a service level that allows wireless agent  114  to associate with wireless access point  112  and/or allows limited network access privileges. As another example, in an embodiment where wireless access point  112  is a private wireless access point (e.g., at a home or business) and wireless agent  114  is an integral part of a notebook computer with a user trusted by the owner of wireless access point  112 , the activation key may be associated with a service level that allows a session of unlimited duration between wireless agent  114  and wireless access point  112  and/or allows unlimited or minimally-limited network access privileges. 
     At step  208   a , activation broker  116  may transmit the activation key to wireless agent  114 . In certain embodiments, activation broker  116  may transmit the activation key to wireless agent  114  via a short-range wireless communication technology (e.g., BLUETOOTH Class 3, NFC, RFID, proximity card, ISO 14443, ISO 15693, or other suitable standard). Similarly, at step  208   b , activation broker  116  may transmit the activation key to wireless registrar  118 . In certain embodiments, activation broker  116  may transmit the activation key to wireless registrar  118  via a short-range wireless communication technology (e.g., BLUETOOTH Class 3, NFC, RFID, proximity card, ISO 14443, ISO 15693, or other suitable standard). 
     At steps  210   a  and  210   b , wireless agent  114  may establish a secure wireless channel (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Wi-Fi) with wireless registrar  118 . In certain embodiments, the secure channel may use a Diffe-Hellman key exchange protocol or other suitable means of establishing a secure communication channel between wireless agent  114  and wireless registrar  118 . At step  210   a , wireless agent  114  may also transmit the activation key to wireless registrar  118 . At step  210   b , wireless registrar  118  may compare the activation key received from activation broker  116  to the activation key received from wireless agent  114 . If wireless registrar  118  determines that the two received activation keys are identical or related (e.g., private/public key pair), method  200  may proceed to step  212   a  where it may authenticate communication between wireless agent  114  and wireless accent point  112 . 
     At steps  212   a  and  212   b , wireless registrar  118  may, in response to determining that the two received activation keys are identical or related, transmit one or more configuration parameters associated with wireless access point  112  (e.g., service set identifiers (SSIDs), wireless encryption protocol (WEP) keys, and/or other parameters related to communication with and/or security for wireless access point  112 ) to wireless agent  114 . 
     Although  FIG. 2  depicts the communications in steps  212   a ,  212   b ,  214   a , and  214   b  as being directly between wireless agent  114  and wireless registrar  118 , in certain embodiments, such communications may be routed through wireless access point  112 . 
     At step  214   a , wireless agent  114  may use the received wireless configuration parameters to configure itself for wireless communication with wireless access point  112  and/or associate with wireless access point  112 . At step  214   b , wireless access point  112  may accept association with wireless agent  114  if wireless access point  112  determines the configuration parameters of the wireless agent  114  are identical or related to those of wireless access point  112 . 
     At steps  216   a  and  216   b , wireless agent  114  may commence wireless communication with wireless access point  112 . 
     Although  FIG. 2  discloses a particular number of steps to be taken with respect to method  200 , it is understood that method  200  may be executed with greater or lesser steps than those depicted in  FIG. 2 . In addition, although  FIG. 2  discloses a certain order of steps to be taken with respect to method  200 , the steps comprising method  200  may be completed in any suitable order. For example, in certain embodiments, step  202  may executed before, after, or substantially contemporaneous with step  204 . Method  200  may be implemented using system  100  or any other system operable to implement method  200 . In certain embodiments, method  200  may be implemented partially or fully in software embodied in tangible computer-readable media. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of an example method  300  for configuring devices for wireless communication for a specific embodiment of system  100  wherein wireless agent  114  and activation broker  116  are integral parts of the same wireless device (e.g., a Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phone) and wireless registrar  118  is an integral part of wireless access point  312 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. According to one embodiment, method  300  preferably begins at step  302 . As noted above, teachings of the present disclosure may be implemented in a variety of configurations of system  100 . As such, the preferred initialization point for method  300  and the order of the steps  302 - 316   b  comprising method  300  may depend on the implementation chosen. 
     At step  302 , wireless agent  114  may be enabled. For example, the wireless device including wireless agent  114  may be powered on. As another example, the user of the wireless device including wireless agent  114  may manually enable wireless agent  114 . 
     At step  304 , activation broker  116  may be activated. For example, a user of the wireless device including activation broker  116  may activate activation broker  116  by pressing an appropriate sequence of one or more keys. 
     At step  306 , activation broker  116  may generate an activation key. As discussed above, the activation key may include information for authenticating wireless communication between wireless agent  114  and wireless access point  112 . In certain embodiments, the activation key may be associated with a service level defining one or more parameters (e.g., network access privileges, length of session, allowed websites allowed applications, allowed protocols, bandwidth limit, priority of service, etc.) associated with an authenticated wireless communication session between wireless agent  114  and wireless access point  112 . 
     At step  308   a , activation broker  116  may transmit the activation key to wireless agent  114 . Similarly, at step  308   b , activation broker  116  may transmit the activation key to wireless registrar  118 . In certain embodiments, activation broker  116  may transmit the activation key to wireless registrar  118  via a short-range wireless communication technology (e.g., BLUETOOTH Class 3, NFC, RFID, proximity card, ISO 14443, ISO 15693, or other suitable standard). 
     At steps  310   a  and  310   b , wireless agent  114  may establish a secure wireless channel (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Wi-Fi) with wireless registrar  118 . In certain embodiments, the secure channel may use a Diffe-Hellman key exchange protocol or other suitable means of establishing a secure communication channel between wireless agent  114  and wireless registrar  118 . At step  310   a , wireless agent  114  may also transmit the activation key to wireless registrar  118 . At step  310   b , wireless registrar  118  may compare the activation key received from activation broker  116  to the activation key received from wireless agent  114 . If wireless registrar  118  determines that the two received activation keys are identical or related (e.g., private/public key pair), method  300  may proceed to step  312   a  where it may authenticate communication between wireless agent  114  and wireless accent point  112 . 
     At steps  312   a  and  312   b , wireless registrar  118  may, in response to determining that the two received activation keys are identical or related, transmit one or more configuration parameters associated with wireless access point  112  (e.g., service set identifiers (SSIDs), wireless encryption protocol (WEP) keys, and/or other parameters related to communication with and/or security for wireless access point  112 ) to wireless agent  114 . 
     At step  314   a , wireless agent  114  may use the received wireless configuration parameters to configure itself for wireless communication with wireless access point  112  and/or associate with wireless access point  112 . At step  314   b , wireless access point  112  may accept association with wireless agent  114  if wireless access point  112  determines the configuration parameters of the wireless agent  114  are identical or related to those of wireless access point  112 . 
     At steps  316   a  and  316   b , wireless agent  114  may commence wireless communication with wireless access point  112 . 
     Although  FIG. 3  discloses a particular number of steps to be taken with respect to method  300 , it is understood that method  300  may be executed with greater or lesser steps than those depicted in  FIG. 3 . In addition, although  FIG. 3  discloses a certain order of steps to be taken with respect to method  300 , the steps comprising method  300  may be completed in any suitable order. For example, in certain embodiments, step  302  may executed before, after, or substantially contemporaneous with step  304 . Method  300  may be implemented using system  100  or any other system operable to implement method  300 . In certain embodiments, method  300  may be implemented partially or fully in software embodied in tangible computer-readable media. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flow chart of an example method  400  for configuring devices for wireless communication for a specific embodiment of system  100  wherein activation broker  116  and wireless registrar  118  are integral parts of the same wireless device (e.g., a desktop computer, mobile computer, cash register, or other information handling system) and activation broker communicates with wireless agent  114  via an intermediate key transport device (e.g., a mobile phone), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. According to one embodiment, method  400  preferably begins at step  402 . As noted above, teachings of the present disclosure may be implemented in a variety of configurations of system  100 . As such, the preferred initialization point for method  400  and the order of the steps  402 - 416   b  comprising method  400  may depend on the implementation chosen. 
     At step  402 , wireless agent  114  may be enabled. For example, a wireless device (e.g., a mobile computer) including wireless agent  114  may be powered on. As another example, a user of a wireless device including wireless agent may manually enable wireless agent  114 . 
     At step  404 , activation broker  116  may be activated. For example, in embodiments where activation broker  116  is an integral part of an information handling system (e.g., a cash register), a user of the information handling system may activate activation broker  116  by pressing an appropriate sequence of one or more keys. 
     At step  406 , activation broker  116  may generate an activation key. As discussed above, the activation key may include information for authenticating wireless communication between wireless agent  114  and wireless access point  112 . In certain embodiments, the activation key may be associated with a service level defining one or more parameters (e.g., network access privileges, length of session, allowed websites, allowed applications, allowed protocols, bandwidth limit, priority of service, etc.) associated with an authenticated wireless communication session between wireless agent  114  and wireless access point  112 . 
     At step  407 , activation broker may transmit the activation key to a temporary key transport of a key transport device (e.g., a mobile phone or near field communication-enabled proximity card). In certain embodiments, activation broker  116  may transmit the activation key to the temporary key transport via a short-range wireless communication technology (e.g., BLUETOOTH Class 3, NFC, RFID, proximity card, ISO 14443, ISO 15693, or other suitable standard). 
     At step  408   a , the temporary key transport may transmit the activation key to wireless agent  114 . In certain embodiments, activation broker  116  may transmit the activation key to wireless agent  114  via a short-range wireless communication technology (e.g., BLUETOOTH Class 3, NFC, RFID, proximity card, ISO 14443, ISO 15693, or other suitable standard). Similarly, at step  408   b , activation broker  116  may transmit the activation key to wireless registrar  118 . 
     At steps  410   a  and  410   b , wireless agent  114  may establish a secure wireless channel (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Wi-Fi) with wireless registrar  118 . In certain embodiments, the secure channel may use a Diffe-Hellman key exchange protocol or other suitable means of establishing a secure communication channel between wireless agent  114  and wireless registrar  118 . At step  410   a , wireless agent  114  may also transmit the activation key to wireless registrar  118 . At step  410   b , wireless registrar  118  may compare the activation key received from activation broker  116  to the activation key received from wireless agent  114 . If wireless registrar  118  determines that the two received activation keys are identical or related (e.g., private/public key pair), method  400  may proceed to step  412   a  where it may authenticate communication between wireless agent  114  and wireless accent point  112 . 
     At steps  412   a  and  412   b , wireless registrar  118  may, in response to determining that the two received activation keys are identical or related, transmit one or more configuration parameters associated with wireless access point  112  (e.g., service set identifiers (SSIDs), wireless encryption protocol (WEP) keys, and/or other parameters related to communication with and/or security for wireless access point  112 ) to wireless agent  114 . 
     Although  FIG. 4  depicts the communications in steps  412   a ,  412   b ,  414   a , and  414   b  as being directly between wireless agent  114  and wireless registrar  118 , in certain embodiments, such communications may be routed through wireless access point  112 . 
     At step  414   a , wireless agent  114  may use the received wireless configuration parameters to configure itself for wireless communication with wireless access point  112  and/or associate with wireless access point  112 . At step  414   b , wireless access point  112  may accept association with wireless agent  114 , if wireless access point  112  determines the configuration parameters of the wireless agent  114  are identical or related to those of wireless access point  112 . 
     At steps  416   a  and  416   b , wireless agent  114  may commence wireless communication with wireless access point  112 . 
     Although  FIG. 4  discloses a particular number of steps to be taken with respect to method  400 , it is understood that method  400  may be executed with greater or lesser steps than those depicted in  FIG. 4 . In addition, although  FIG. 4  discloses a certain order of steps to be taken with respect to method  400 , the steps comprising method  400  may be completed in any suitable order. For example, in certain embodiments, step  402  may executed before, after, or substantially contemporaneous with step  404 . Method  400  may be implemented using system  100  or any other system operable to implement method  400 . In certain embodiments, method  400  may be implemented partially or fully in software embodied in tangible computer-readable media. 
     Using the methods and systems disclosed herein, a network system may be provided that allows for the configuration of devices for wireless communication, with little or no input from a user, thus reducing or eliminating difficulties associated with wireless network configuration. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.