Using power-line networks to facilitate network access

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium for implementing network connectivity using power lines are described. After a device is connected to a power line, wireless network credentials that enable the device to access to a wireless network are transmitted to the device through the power line. A request is received from the device to connect to the wireless network. The request includes the wireless network credentials transmitted to the device through the power line. The device is determined to be authorized to access the wireless network based on the one or more credentials received in the request. In response to determining that the one or more wireless network credentials received in the request from the device are valid, wireless network access is provided to the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system comprising:
 one or more computing devices and one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:
 determining that an electronic device has connected to a power line that is configured to provide electric power to a plurality of devices; 
 receiving a request from the electronic device to connect to a wireless network, the request comprising one or more network credentials transmitted by the one or more computing devices to the electronic device through the power line; 
 determining whether one or more criteria for connecting a device to the wireless network are satisfied using data included in the request to join the wireless network received from the electronic device; and 
 in response to determining that the one or more criteria for connecting a device to the wireless network are satisfied, providing the electronic device an authorized wireless connection to the wireless network. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the operations comprise:
 after providing the electronic device the authorized wireless connection, determining that the electronic device is not connected to the power line; and   terminating the authorized wireless connection between the electronic device and the wireless network in response to determining that the electronic device is not connected to the power line.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein determining that the electronic device is not connected to the power line comprises:
 receiving disconnection data from a power line connector that is an interface between the electronic device and the power line, the disconnection data indicating that:
 the electronic device has been powered off or disconnected from the power line connector; or 
 a change in an electrical current or a voltage at the power line connector has occurred, the change being indicative of a device being powered off or disconnected from the power line connector. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein terminating the authorized wireless connection between the electronic device and the wireless network comprises one or more of:
 changing the one or more network credentials for accessing the wireless network;   revoking a digital certificate for the electronic device for accessing the wireless network; and   removing data associated with the electronic device from a registration database that stores data of one or more devices connected to the wireless network, the data associated with the electronic device indicating a time when the electronic device was added to the wireless network, an identification of the electronic device, and one or more permissions granted to the electronic device.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the operations comprise:
 in response to changing the one or more network credentials for accessing the wireless network, transmitting an updated password, key, or digital certificate to devices other than the electronic device that are connected to the wireless network.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the operations comprise:
 in response to determining that the electronic device has connected to the power line, transmitting the one or more network credentials of the wireless network to the electronic device through the power line, wherein the one or more network credentials authorize access to the wireless network; and   wherein determining whether the one or more criteria for connecting the device to the wireless network are satisfied comprises:
 determining that certificate data or key information in the one or more wireless network credentials are valid at a time the request from the electronic device to connect to the wireless network is received. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein determining that the electronic device has connected to the power line comprises one or more of:
 determining a change in electrical current or voltage in the power line;   receiving a signal from a power line controller of the power line indicating that a device has connected to the power line connector; and   receiving a message from the electronic device indicating that the electronic device is connected to a power line network.   
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 determining that an electronic device has connected to a power line that is configured to provide electric power to a plurality of devices;   receiving a request from the electronic device to connect to a wireless network, the request comprising one or more network credentials transmitted by the one or more computing devices to the electronic device through the power line;   determining whether one or more criteria for connecting a device to the wireless network are satisfied using data included in the request to join the wireless network received from the electronic device; and   in response to determining that the one or more criteria for connecting a device to the wireless network are satisfied, providing the electronic device an authorized wireless connection to the wireless network.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 after providing the electronic device the authorized wireless connection, determining that the electronic device is not connected to the power line; and   terminating the authorized wireless connection between the electronic device and the wireless network in response to determining that the electronic device is not connected to the power line.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein determining that the electronic device is not connected to the power line comprises:
 receiving disconnection data from a power line connector that is an interface between the electronic device and the power line, the disconnection data indicating that:
 the electronic device has been powered off or disconnected from the power line connector; or 
 a change in an electrical current or a voltage at the power line connector has occurred, the change being indicative of a device being powered off or disconnected from the power line connector. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein terminating the authorized wireless connection between the electronic device and the wireless network comprises one or more of:
 changing the one or more network credentials for accessing the wireless network;   revoking a digital certificate for the electronic device for accessing the wireless network; and   removing data associated with the electronic device from a registration database that stores data of one or more devices connected to the wireless network, the data associated with the electronic device indicating a time when the electronic device was added to the wireless network, an identification of the electronic device, and one or more permissions granted to the electronic device.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 in response to changing the one or more network credentials for accessing the wireless network, transmitting an updated password, key, or digital certificate to devices other than the electronic device that are connected to the wireless network.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that the electronic device has connected to the power line, transmitting the one or more network credentials of the wireless network to the electronic device through the power line, wherein the one or more network credentials authorize access to the wireless network; and   wherein determining whether the one or more criteria for connecting the device to the wireless network are satisfied comprises:
 determining that certificate data or key information in the one or more wireless network credentials are valid at a time the request from the electronic device to connect to the wireless network is received. 
   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein determining that the electronic device has connected to the power line comprises one or more of:
 determining a change in electrical current or voltage in the power line;   receiving a signal from a power line controller of the power line indicating that a device has connected to the power line connector; and   receiving a message from the electronic device indicating that the electronic device is connected to a power line network.   
     
     
         16 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions comprising:
 determining that an electronic device has connected to a power line that is configured to provide electric power to a plurality of devices;   receiving a request from the electronic device to connect to a wireless network, the request comprising one or more network credentials transmitted by the one or more computing devices to the electronic device through the power line;   determining whether one or more criteria for connecting a device to the wireless network are satisfied using data included in the request to join the wireless network received from the electronic device; and   in response to determining that the one or more criteria for connecting a device to the wireless network are satisfied, providing the electronic device an authorized wireless connection to the wireless network.   
     
     
         17 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 16 , wherein the operations comprise:
 after providing the electronic device the authorized wireless connection, determining that the electronic device is not connected to the power line; and   terminating the authorized wireless connection between the electronic device and the wireless network in response to determining that the electronic device is not connected to the power line.   
     
     
         18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 17 , wherein determining that the electronic device is not connected to the power line comprises:
 receiving disconnection data from a power line connector that is an interface between the electronic device and the power line, the disconnection data indicating that:
 the electronic device has been powered off or disconnected from the power line connector; or 
 a change in an electrical current or a voltage at the power line connector has occurred, the change being indicative of a device being powered off or disconnected from the power line connector. 
   
     
     
         19 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 17 , wherein terminating the authorized wireless connection between the electronic device and the wireless network comprises one or more of:
 changing the one or more network credentials for accessing the wireless network;   revoking a digital certificate for the electronic device for accessing the wireless network; and   removing data associated with the electronic device from a registration database that stores data of one or more devices connected to the wireless network, the data associated with the electronic device indicating a time when the electronic device was added to the wireless network, an identification of the electronic device, and one or more permissions granted to the electronic device.   
     
     
         20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 19 , wherein the operations comprise:
 in response to changing the one or more network credentials for accessing the wireless network, transmitting an updated password, key, or digital certificate to devices other than the electronic device that are connected to the wireless network.   
     
     
         21 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 16 , wherein the operations comprise:
 in response to determining that the electronic device has connected to the power line, transmitting the one or more network credentials of the wireless network to the electronic device through the power line, wherein the one or more network credentials authorize access to the wireless network; and   wherein determining whether the one or more criteria for connecting the device to the wireless network are satisfied comprises:
 determining that certificate data or key information in the one or more wireless network credentials are valid at a time the request from the electronic device to connect to the wireless network is received.