US 6148205

Patent Overview — US 6,148,205

Title: Method and apparatus for secure registration within an in-home wireless network
Inventor: Timothy R. Cotton
Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc.; current assignee listed as VIZIO, Inc.
Application No.: US 09/107,640 | Filing/Priority Date: 1998-06-30 | Grant Date: 2000-11-14
Status as listed: Expired – Lifetime (anticipated expiration 2018-06-30)
Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US6148205/en

Purpose: To securely register devices (phones, stereos, televisions, computers, refrigerators, thermostats, etc.) on a continually changing in-home wireless network, avoiding consumer data-entry errors and the scalability/connectivity limits of a cordless-phone cradle, which suits only one device type.

Plain-language scope: A device and/or base station transmits at a relatively high RF power level during normal operation but a relatively low RF power level during registration, so only a device placed next to the base station can register; other in-range devices do not register or re-register. Registration may be initiated by a registration request message or by the base station (e.g., at fixed intervals or via a switch). The base station may generate a temporary identification number, store it in RAM, encrypt authentication data using an algorithm/key in secure memory, and upon authenticating the response, store a permanent identification in RAM and optional hard disk. The base station reduces RF power by switching in a load via a controller (§ describing FIG. 2). FIG. 3 shows a switch interface; FIG. 5 shows an access device with switch interface and RF power control; FIGS. 6–9 show message ladders and active/passive registration flows.

What the excerpt does not establish: It does not provide full claim language, the complete specification (text is truncated mid-sentence), detailed encryption/authentication methods ("a person skilled in the art... commonly knows encry..."), or independent verification of dates, status, or assignment accuracy.