Provisioning a device in a network

Abstract

In some examples, a headless device that is without an available user interface and that is to be provisioned for access to a network receives information relating to provisioning of the headless device from a network node. The headless device sends, to a mediator device with a user interface, at least a portion of the received information. The headless device receives, from the mediator device, information to proceed with the provisioning of the headless device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a headless device that is without an available user interface and that is to be provisioned for access to a network, information relating to provisioning of the headless device, the information received from a network node in the network;   sending, by the headless device to a mediator device with a user interface, at least a portion of the received information from the network node;   sending, from the headless device to the mediator device, information of the headless device to allow subscription plan selection made in the user interface of the mediator device, the subscription plan selection comprising a selection of a selected subscription plan from among a plurality of different subscription plans relating to use of the network;   receiving, by the headless device from the mediator device in response to the subscription plan selection, information to proceed with the provisioning of the headless device, wherein the information received by the headless device from the mediator device comprises an identifier of a selected provisioning server selected in the user interface of the mediator device; and   provisioning the headless device using the information received by the headless device from the mediator device, the provisioning comprising configuring the headless device with a security credential that is useable by the headless device to establish connectivity with the network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different subscription plans relate to usage of the network for different time lengths. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information received by the headless device from the mediator device comprises information indicating a confirmation to proceed with the provisioning of the headless device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 connecting, by the headless device, with the selected provisioning server identified by the information received by the headless device from the mediator device; and   receiving, by the headless device, provisioning information from the selected provisioning server to which the headless device has connected,   wherein the provisioning of the headless device is based on the provisioning information.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected provisioning server comprises a Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP) configurator. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising receiving, by the headless device, a public key of the DPP configurator from the mediator device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the security credential configured by the provisioning comprises a password. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected provisioning server comprises an online signup (OSU) provider. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the headless device to the mediator device, an identity of the headless device and an indication that the provisioning of the headless device is complete. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disconnecting, by the headless device, from the mediator device in response to a completion of the provisioning of the headless device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information received by the headless device from the network node further comprises information selected from among an identity of the headless device, a date of manufacture of the headless device, a date of last provisioning or revocation of settings of the headless device, a current power level, a control code, an error code, and a provisioning data structure. 
     
     
         12 . A mediator device comprising:
 a display; and   at least one processor configured to:
 receive, from a headless device that is without an available user interface and that is to be provisioned for access to a network, information relating to provisioning of the headless device, the information received by the headless device from a network node in the network; 
 cause display of the received information and a plurality of subscription plans in a user interface in the display; 
 receive a selection of a provisioning server in the user interface in the display; 
 receive, in the user interface, a subscription plan selection that comprises a selection of a selected subscription plan from among the plurality of subscription plans, the plurality of subscription plans relating to different subscriptions relating to usage of the network by the headless device; and 
 send, from the mediator device to the headless device in response to the subscription plan selection, information to cause the provisioning of the headless device to establish connectivity with the network, the information sent by the mediator device to the headless device comprising an identifier of the provisioning server. 
   
     
     
         13 . The mediator device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of subscription plans relate to usage of the network for different time lengths. 
     
     
         14 . The mediator device of  claim 12 , wherein the information sent by the mediator device to the headless device further comprises information indicating a confirmation to proceed with the provisioning of the headless device. 
     
     
         15 . The mediator device of  claim 12 , wherein the received information further comprises an identifier of the headless device. 
     
     
         16 . The mediator device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive, from the headless device, a message to disconnect from the mediator device, responsive to the headless device transitioning to a provisioned state. 
     
     
         17 . The mediator device of  claim 12 , wherein the selected provisioning server comprises a Device Provisioning Protocol (DPP) configurator. 
     
     
         18 . The mediator device of  claim 12 , wherein the selected provisioning server comprises an online signup (OSU) provider. 
     
     
         19 . An enrollee device comprising:
 a communication interface; and   at least one processor configured to:
 receive, through the communication interface from a network node, information relating to provisioning of the enrollee device for access to a network, wherein the enrollee device is a headless device that is without an available user interface; 
 send, by the enrollee device to a mediator device with a user interface, at least a portion of the received information from the network node; 
 send, from the enrollee device to the mediator device, information of the headless device to allow subscription plan selection made in the user interface of the mediator device, the subscription plan selection comprising a selection of a selected subscription plan from among a plurality of different subscription plans relating to use of the network; 
 receive, by the enrollee device from the mediator device in response to the subscription plan selection, information to proceed with the provisioning of the enrollee device, wherein the information received by the enrollee device from the mediator device comprises an identifier of a selected provisioning server selected in the user interface of the mediator device; and 
 provision the enrollee device using the information received from the mediator device, the provisioning comprising configuring the enrollee device with a security credential that is useable by the enrollee device to establish connectivity with the network. 
   
     
     
         20 . The enrollee device of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of different subscription plans relate to usage of the network for different time lengths.