Patents by Inventor Clif Liu

Clif Liu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11153750
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for sharing WiFi credentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Afero, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Altin, Scott Zimmerman, Clif Liu, Stephen Sewerynek
  • Patent number: 10838705
    Abstract: A system and method are described for performing service-initiated updates to IoT devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Afero, Inc.
    Inventors: Erhard Riedl, Clif Liu, Lucas Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 10721208
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are described for a secure IoT wireless network configuration. For example, one embodiment of an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprises: a local wireless communication interface to establish local wireless connections with one or more IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs; a network router to establish network connections over the Internet on behalf of the IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs; an authentication module pre-configured with a passphrase and a hidden service set identifier (SSID), the authentication module to receive a connection requests from the IoT devices and/or an IoT extender hubs and to grant the connection requests when the IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs use the pre-configured passphrase and hidden SSID; and a firewall of the IoT hub to block all outgoing and incoming connection requests other than those directed to designated servers of an IoT service with known host names.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Afero, Inc.
    Inventors: Clif Liu, Robey Pointer, Kerry Quinn
  • Publication number: 20200221295
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for sharing WiFi credentials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: DANIEL ALTIN, SCOTT ZIMMERMAN, CLIF LIU, STEPHEN SEWERYNEK
  • Patent number: 10659961
    Abstract: A method and system for connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) hub to a wireless network. One embodiment of the method includes establishing a secure communication channel between an IoT hub and an IoT service through a client device using a first secret; generating a second secret on the client device and transmitting it to the IoT hub; encrypting a wireless key using the second secret to generate a first-encrypted key and transmitting it to the IoT service; encrypting the first-encrypted key using the first secret to generate a twice-encrypted key and transmitting it to the IoT hub over the secure communication channel; decrypting the twice-encrypted key at the IoT hub using the first secret to generate the first-encrypted key and decrypting it using the second secret to generate the wireless key usable to establish a secure wireless connection between the IoT hub and the local wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Afero, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Zimmerman, Evan Jeng, Shannon Holland, Clif Liu, Chris Aiuto
  • Patent number: 10524119
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for sharing WiFi credentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Afero, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Altin, Scott Zimmerman, Clif Liu, Stephen Sewerynek
  • Patent number: 10405150
    Abstract: A system and method are described for reducing traffic when connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) device to an IoT hub. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) device comprising a wireless communication module to establish communication with a plurality of IoT hubs over local wireless communication channels, advertising control logic to transmit first advertising beacons to the plurality of IoT hubs indicating that the IoT device is connectable; each of the IoT hubs to attempt to connect with the IoT device to provide commands and/or data to the IoT device, the IoT device to establish a connection with a first IoT hub of the plurality of IoT hubs to receive the commands and/or data from the first IoT hub; and the advertising control logic to begin transmitting a second advertising beacon to the IoT hubs indicating that the IoT device is not connectable after establishing the connection with the first IoT hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Afero Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Aiuto, Clif Liu
  • Publication number: 20190250899
    Abstract: A system and method are described for performing service-initiated updates to IoT devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: ERHARD RIEDL, CLIF LIU, LUCAS FINKELSTEIN
  • Publication number: 20190191302
    Abstract: A method and system for connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) hub to a wireless network. One embodiment of the method includes establishing a secure communication channel between an IoT hub and an IoT service through a client device using a first secret; generating a second secret on the client device and transmitting it to the IoT hub; encrypting a wireless key using the second secret to generate a first-encrypted key and transmitting it to the IoT service; encrypting the first-encrypted key using the first secret to generate a twice-encrypted key and transmitting it to the IoT hub over the secure communication channel; decrypting the twice-encrypted key at the IoT hub using the first secret to generate the first-encrypted key and decrypting it using the second secret to generate the wireless key usable to establish a secure wireless connection between the IoT hub and the local wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Scott Zimmerman, Evan Jeng, Shannon Holland, Clif Liu, Chris Aiuto
  • Publication number: 20190109816
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are described for a secure IoT wireless network configuration. For example, one embodiment of an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprises: a local wireless communication interface to establish local wireless connections with one or more IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs; a network router to establish network connections over the Internet on behalf of the IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs; an authentication module pre-configured with a passphrase and a hidden service set identifier (SSID), the authentication module to receive a connection requests from the IoT devices and/or an IoT extender hubs and to grant the connection requests when the IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs use the pre-configured passphrase and hidden SSID; and a firewall of the IoT hub to block all outgoing and incoming connection requests other than those directed to designated servers of an IoT service with known host names.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Clif Liu, Robey Pointer, Kerry Quinn
  • Patent number: 10149154
    Abstract: An apparatus for connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) hub to a wireless network, the apparatus including: 1) a security module to generate a first secret and a second secret, and to encrypt a wireless key using the second secret to generate a first-encrypted key; and 2) a connection logic to establish a secure communication channel between an IoT hub and an IoT service using the first secret, transmit the second secret to the IoT hub and the first-encrypted key to the IoT service, receive from the IoT service a twice-encrypted key generated by encrypting the first-encrypted key using the first secret, and transmit the twice-encrypted key to the IoT hub, which decrypts it using the first secret to generate the first-encrypted key, which is further decrypted using the second secret to generate the wireless key. The IoT hub using the wireless key to connect to the wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Afero, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Zimmerman, Evan Jeng, Shannon Holland, Clif Liu, Chris Aiuto
  • Patent number: 10044674
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are described for a secure IoT wireless network configuration. For example, one embodiment of an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprises: a local wireless communication interface to establish local wireless connections with one or more IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs; a network router to establish network connections over the Internet on behalf of the IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs; an authentication module pre-configured with a passphrase and a hidden service set identifier (SSID), the authentication module to receive a connection requests from the IoT devices and/or an IoT extender hubs and to grant the connection requests when the IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs use the pre-configured passphrase and hidden SSID; and a firewall of the IoT hub to block all outgoing and incoming connection requests other than those directed to designated servers of an IoT service with known host names.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: AFERO, INC.
    Inventors: Clif Liu, Robey Pointer, Kerry Quinn
  • Publication number: 20180146367
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for sharing WiFi credentials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: DANIEL ALTIN, SCOTT ZIMMERMAN, CLIF LIU, STEPHEN SEWERYNEK
  • Publication number: 20180103371
    Abstract: An apparatus for connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) hub to a wireless network, the apparatus including: 1) a security module to generate a first secret and a second secret, and to encrypt a wireless key using the second secret to generate a first-encrypted key; and 2) a connection logic to establish a secure communication channel between an IoT hub and an IoT service using the first secret, transmit the second secret to the IoT hub and the first-encrypted key to the IoT service, receive from the IoT service a twice-encrypted key generated by encrypting the first-encrypted key using the first secret, and transmit the twice-encrypted key to the IoT hub, which decrypts it using the first secret to generate the first-encrypted key, which is further decrypted using the second secret to generate the wireless key. The IoT hub using the wireless key to connect to the wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Scott Zimmerman, Evan Jeng, Shannon Holland, Clif Liu, Chris Aiuto
  • Patent number: 9843929
    Abstract: A method and system for connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) hub to a wireless network. One embodiment of the method includes establishing a secure communication channel between an IoT hub and an IoT service through a client device using a first secret; generating a second secret on the client device and transmitting it to the IoT hub; encrypting a wireless key using the second secret to generate a first-encrypted key and transmitting it to the IoT service; encrypting the first-encrypted key using the first secret to generate a twice-encrypted key and transmitting it to the IoT hub over the secure communication channel; decrypting the twice-encrypted key at the IoT hub using the first secret to generate the first-encrypted key and decrypting it using the second secret to generate the wireless key usable to establish a secure wireless connection between the IoT hub and the local wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Afero, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Zimmerman, Evan Jeng, Shannon Holland, Clif Liu, Chris Aiuto
  • Publication number: 20170195318
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are described for a secure IoT wireless network configuration. For example, one embodiment of an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprises: a local wireless communication interface to establish local wireless connections with one or more IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs; a network router to establish network connections over the Internet on behalf of the IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs; an authentication module pre-configured with a passphrase and a hidden service set identifier (SSID), the authentication module to receive a connection requests from the IoT devices and/or an IoT extender hubs and to grant the connection requests when the IoT devices and/or IoT extender hubs use the pre-configured passphrase and hidden SSID; and a firewall of the IoT hub to block all outgoing and incoming connection requests other than those directed to designated servers of an IoT service with known host names.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Clif Liu, Robey Pointer, Kerry Quinn
  • Publication number: 20170171728
    Abstract: A system and method are described for reducing traffic when connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) device to an IoT hub. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) device comprising a wireless communication module to establish communication with a plurality of IoT hubs over local wireless communication channels, advertising control logic to transmit first advertising beacons to the plurality of IoT hubs indicating that the IoT device is connectable; each of the IoT hubs to attempt to connect with the IoT device to provide commands and/or data to the IoT device, the IoT device to establish a connection with a first IoT hub of the plurality of IoT hubs to receive the commands and/or data from the first IoT hub; and the advertising control logic to begin transmitting a second advertising beacon to the IoT hubs indicating that the IoT device is not connectable after establishing the connection with the first IoT hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Chris Aiuto, Clif Liu
  • Publication number: 20170055148
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for connecting an Internet of Things (IoT) hub to a wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: SCOTT ZIMMERMAN, EVAN JENG, SHANNON HOLLAND, CLIF LIU, CHRIS AIUTO
  • Patent number: 5359626
    Abstract: A serial interface bus system for transmitting and receiving a plurality of bus signals which collectively allow communication of data between a digital audio source (12, 22, 24, 26, 56, 82) such as a compact disc and a digital sink (42, 52, 62, 64, 66) such as a digital signal processor. The plurality of bus signals provided by the interface bus system allow many different audio sources and sinks to be used without glue logic. The plurality of bus signals allow multiple transceivers to be configured in a daisy chain (20, 60) wherein a master is selectively chosen to optimize performance of such a system. The daisy chain configuration may be implemented to provide digital data to a wide variety of storage circuits for digital information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Kloker, Thomas L. Wernimont, Clif Liu
  • Patent number: 5278874
    Abstract: A phase lock loop circuit (10) which locks to a frequency within a range of input signal frequencies. A frequency discriminator (12) of phase lock loop circuit (10) determines a maximum pulse width of the input signal by counting a number of pulses of a reference signal in each of a series of pulses of the input signal. A coarse frequency controller (16) compares the maximum pulse width to two threshold values to determine whether the reference signal should be coarsely or finely adjusted. If the reference signal is coarsely adjusted, control circuit (16) provides a coarse frequency control signal to indicate whether a voltage controlled oscillator, VCO, (26) should increase or decrease the reference frequency. If the reference frequency is finely adjusted, a phase discriminator (22) provides a fine frequency control signal to the VCO to either increase or decrease the frequency of the reference signal with greater resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Clif Liu, Kevin L. Kloker, Thomas L. Wernimont