Patent ID: 8639934

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for securely pairing a new node into a wireless network including a plurality of existing nodes, the method comprising: receiving, at the new node, a plurality of data packets from at least two of the plurality of existing nodes; measuring, at the new node, an attenuation-related characteristic of a radio channel between the new node and the at least two of the plurality of existing nodes in the wireless network based on the plurality of data packets received at the new node from the at least two of the plurality of existing nodes over the wireless network, wherein measuring the attenuation-related characteristic of the radio channel further includes determining a difference between a count number of the plurality of received data packets received at the new node and a specified count number of transmitted data packets transmitted by each of the at least two of the plurality of existing nodes; establishing, at the new node, a signal signature based upon each difference between the count number of the plurality of received data packets and the specified count number of transmitted data packets; and establishing, at the new node, secure communications between the new node and the existing node in the wireless network secured by the signal signature.