US Patent 8949949 Network element authentication in communication networks

In an embodiment, a method enables authentication of devices connected to a network. The method also enables the devices to digitally sign communication on the network with private keys. When a new device is added to the network, a mobile device may be connected to the new device. The mobile device receives identification from the new device and sends the identification to an authorization server, over a public network. The mobile device also sends a request for a private key to the authorization server. The authorization server contains an inventory of the devices authorized to communicate over the network. If the identification of the new device exists in the inventory, the authorization server sends a private key to the mobile device, over the public network. The mobile device forwards the private key to the new device.