Configuring wireless devices for a wireless infrastructure network

• US 10,079,717 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2018
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Original Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Inventors: Koss, Michael J., Pelland, Michael J., Haynie, Joel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jae Y
• Application Number:
  US15/927,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20180219730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 181 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems and methods permit a wireless device to receive data wirelessly via an infrastructure wireless network, without physically connecting the wireless device to a computer in order to configure it, and without having an existing infrastructure wireless network for the wireless device to connect to. A remote server hosts a website that permits a user of the wireless device to input via a computer credential data for at least one infrastructure wireless network. The content access point transmits the credential data for the at least one infrastructure wireless network to the wireless device via the ad hoc wireless network, such that, upon receipt of the credential data for the at least one infrastructure wireless network, the wireless device is configured to connect to the at least one infrastructure wireless network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a wireless access point;

a remote network server;

a wireless audio output device that comprises multiple acoustic transducers;

a mobile computer device that is in communication with the wireless audio output device via an ad hoc wireless communication link; and

one or more host servers that are in communication with the mobile computer device via the Internet, wherein the one or more host servers receive and store credential data for an infrastructure wireless network provided by the wireless access point,

wherein;

the mobile computer device is for transmitting to the wireless audio output device, wirelessly via the ad hoc wireless communication link between the wireless audio output and the mobile computer device, the credential data for the infrastructure wireless network stored by the one or more host servers; and

the wireless audio output device is for, upon receiving the credential data for the infrastructure wireless network from the mobile computing device;

connecting to the wireless access point via the infrastructure wireless network;

streaming audio content from the remote network server via the infrastructure wireless network; and

playing, by the multiple acoustic transducers of the wireless output device, the audio content streamed from the remote network server, such that the wireless audio output device is enabled to play audio streamed via the infrastructure wireless network without having to be physically plugged into the mobile computing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computer device comprises a smartphone.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the smartphone comprises a radio module for communicating wirelessly via the ad hoc wireless network with the wireless audio output device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the infrastructure wireless network comprises an infrastructure Wi-Fi network; and

the credential data for the infrastructure Wi-Fi network comprises an identifier for the infrastructure Wi-Fi network.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the credential data for the infrastructure Wi-Fi network additionally comprises a password for the infrastructure Wi-Fi network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the credential data for the infrastructure Wi-Fi network additionally comprises encryption type data for the infrastructure Wi-Fi network.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the ad hoc wireless network comprises a Bluetooth wireless network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless audio output device further comprises:

a user-accessible control button; and

an indicator light.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more host servers host a website through which, via the mobile computer device, a user of the wireless audio output device specifies the credential data for the infrastructure wireless network, such that the one or more host servers receive and store the credential data, and such that the credential data are stored by the one or more host servers for an account associated with the user.

10. A system comprising:

a wireless audio output device that comprises multiple acoustic transducers; and

a mobile computer device that is in communication with the wireless audio output device via an ad hoc wireless communication link; and

one or more host servers that are in communication with the mobile computer device via the Internet, wherein the one or more host servers receive and store credential data for an infrastructure wireless network provided by the wireless access point,

wherein;

the mobile computer device is for transmitting to the wireless audio output device, wirelessly via an ad hoc wireless communication link between the wireless audio output and the mobile computer device, the credential data for the infrastructure wireless network stored by the one or more host servers; and

the wireless audio output device is for, upon receiving the credential data for the infrastructure wireless network from the mobile computing device;

connecting to the infrastructure wireless network;

streaming audio content from a remote network server via the infrastructure wireless network; and

playing, by the multiple acoustic transducers of the wireless output device, the audio content streamed from the remote network server, such that the wireless audio output device is enabled to play audio streamed via the infrastructure wireless network without having to be physically plugged into the mobile computing device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the mobile computer device comprises a smartphone.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the smartphone comprises a radio module for communicating wirelessly via the ad hoc wireless network with the wireless audio output device.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the infrastructure wireless network comprises an infrastructure Wi-Fi network; and

the credential data for the infrastructure Wi-Fi network comprises an identifier for the infrastructure Wi-Fi network.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the credential data for the infrastructure Wi-Fi network additionally comprises a password for the infrastructure Wi-Fi network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the credential data for the infrastructure Wi-Fi network additionally comprises encryption type data for the infrastructure Wi-Fi network.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the ad hoc wireless network comprises a Bluetooth wireless network.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the wireless audio output device further comprises:

a user-accessible control button; and

an indicator light.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more host servers host a website through which, via the mobile computer device, a user of the wireless audio output device specifies the credential data for the infrastructure wireless network, such that the one or more host servers receive and store the credential data, and such that the credential data are stored by the one or more host servers for an account associated with the user.