Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)

Simple Device Setup

Despite the enormous success of Wi-Fi, mobile devices have been plagued by difficult procedures for setting up Wi-Fi networks, leading to costly product returns, expensive support calls, and deeply dissatisfied customers. To best meet consumer requirements to make the configuration of personal networks as simple as pushing a button, The Devicescape implementation of Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is included in the Devicescape Easy Wi-Fi software solution for device OEM’s and ODM’s.

Based on a Wi-Fi Alliance specification, WPS makes the configuration of secure personal Wi-Fi networks as simple as pushing a button or entering a PIN code. Manufacturers and designers can now leverage the Devicescape implementation of WPS to offer devices that are supremely simple to get on a home or small business Wi-Fi network.

How Wi-Fi Protected Setup Works

WPS can be enabled using two setup methods. The push button configuration (PBC) method allows users to simply push a button, either an actual or a virtual one, on both WPS devices to connect. The PIN (Personal Identification Number) method allows users to use a PIN (taken either from a sticker label or from a web interface) and enter it in the AP or client WPS device to connect.

Key Benefits to Device Manufacturers

  • Reduces product returns and end-user support costs.
  • Greatly increase consumer satisfaction.
  • Ensures home Wi-Fi devices use secure communications, now a legal requirement in certain jurisdictions.
  • Can be integrated into new or existing device designs as a value-added upgrade.
  • Can work with supplicants that have been designed into existing products.
  • Adds minimal memory and processing overhead to a device design.

Key Technical Features

  • Compliant with the Wi-Fi Simple Config Specification, version 1.0h, published December, 2006.
  • Small memory footprint – adds only 70KB to the Devicescape Supplicant.
  • Enrollee mode for wireless client configuration by an access point.
  • Registrar mode for setting up an un-configured AP without a connecting cable.
  • EAP-WSC 802.1X method plug-in.
  • PIN method and Pushbutton (PBC) method support.
  • Detection of WPS-enabled APs via WPS information elements, and back-up detection via trial (for situations in which APs cannot generate WPS IEs).
  • Discovery mode supported for PBC session overlap.
  • LED API for user visual confirmation.
  • Pushbutton and LED events can be simulated via a command line interface to facilitate testing on hardware lacking pushbutton and LED hardware.
  • Supplied with reference integration to open source wpa_supplicant.
  • Comprehensive WPS simulator and debug / logging support.
  • Frame analysis tool to observe protocol interactions.
  • Sample Graphical User Interface.
  • Validated on Linux 2.4/2.6, Windows CE 5.0, Windows Mobile 5.0/6.0, and Windows XP.
  • Integrated Diffie-Hellman library – no requirement for external SSL library.
  • AP/Registrar firmware update available upon request for Linksys WRT54GL Wi-Fi Router. Based on OpenWRT Project. For testing purposes only – not supported for production.

Easy Wi-Fi Links