Patent ID: 8745695

Claim:
A hybrid network having first and second sub-networks operating according to first and second communication protocols, respectively, wherein the first and second communication protocols are different and are selected from a HomePlug protocol and a wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol, the hybrid network including a first device comprising: a first network interface of the first communication protocol; a first processor; and a first memory coupled to the first processor and having stored therein first computer-executable instructions that when executed by the first processor cause the first device to: receive a master passphrase from a user; transform the master passphrase into a first password compliant with the first communication protocol by selectively truncating, adding, or replacing characters of the master passphrase to generate the first password in response to the first communication protocol; authenticate the first device to the first sub-network using the first password; hash the first password to derive a first key compliant with the first communication protocol; and join the first device to the first sub-network using the first key.