Provisioning wireless device profiles

• US 10,271,200 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Inventors: Lloyd, Kevin, Aiuto, Chris, Eidelman, Steven, Jacobs, Ben
• Primary Examiner(s): Htun, San
• Application Number:
  US13/843,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20140302842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,230 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for provisioning wireless device profiles of a wireless computing device. In this context, a wireless device profile generally may comprise one or more network and device settings including network identifiers, network security types, network keys, and other configuration information that enables a computing device to connect to a particular wireless computer network. According one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises establishing, with a first device, a first wireless connection of a first wireless connection type; receiving, from the first device via the first wireless connection, provisioning data for establishing, with a second device, a second wireless connection of a second wireless connection type that is different than the first wireless connection type; establishing, based on the provisioning data, the second wireless connection with the second device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

sending, to a headless tracking device via a first wireless connection of a first wireless connection type, a request causing the headless tracking device to detect one or more wireless networks of a second wireless connection type that is different than the first wireless connection type, wherein the request comprises a request for the tracking device to detect one or more wireless networks of the second wireless connection type, and wherein the headless tracking device comprises

circuitry that collects data related to location or movement of the headless tracking device;

receiving, from the headless tracking device, wireless network data comprising identifiers of one or more detected wireless networks of the second wireless connection type;

generating a display of the identifiers of the one or more detected wireless networks of the second wireless connection type;

receiving user input provisioning data comprising of, for a particular wireless network of the detected wireless networks, one or more of a wireless network security type and a wireless network key, wherein the provisioning data represents a wireless device profile comprising one or more of a wireless network name, a wireless network security type, and a wireless network key; and

sending, to the headless tracking device, the provisioning data for establishing a second wireless connection with a particular wireless network of the one or more detected wireless networks;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sending provisioning data causes the headless tracking device to establish a wireless connection of the second wireless type with the particular wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless connection type is associated with a first radio frequency band and the second wireless connection type is associated with a second radio frequency band, and wherein the first radio frequency band overlaps with the second radio frequency band.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless connection type is a Bluetooth wireless connection and the second wireless connection type is a Wi-Fi wireless connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the identifiers comprises a service set identifier (SSID).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the headless tracking device is a tracking device attached to a non-human animal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the headless tracking device further comprises circuitry that periodically sends information collected by the headless tracking device to one or more resources via one or more of the particular wireless networks.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the headless tracking device further comprises circuitry that stores and analyzes data related to location or movement of the headless tracking device.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

sending, to a headless tracking device via a first wireless connection of a first wireless connection type, a request causing the headless tracking device to detect one or more wireless networks of a second wireless connection type that is different than the first wireless connection type, wherein the request comprises a request for the tracking device to detect one or more wireless networks of the second wireless connection type, and wherein the headless tracking device comprises

circuitry configured to collect data related to location or movement of the headless tracking device;

receiving, from the headless tracking device, wireless network data comprising identifiers of one or more detected wireless networks of the second wireless connection type;

generating a display of the identifiers of the one or more detected wireless networks of the second wireless connection type;

receiving user input provisioning data comprising of, for a particular wireless network of the detected wireless networks, one or more of a wireless network security type and a wireless network key, wherein the provisioning data represents a wireless device profile comprising one or more of a wireless network name, a wireless network security type, and a wireless network key; and

sending, to the headless tracking device, the provisioning data for establishing a second wireless connection with a particular wireless network of the one or more detected wireless networks;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein sending provisioning data causes the headless tracking device to establish a wireless connection of the second wireless type with the particular wireless network.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first wireless connection type is associated with a first radio frequency band and the second wireless connection type is associated with a second radio frequency band, and wherein the first radio frequency band overlaps with the second radio frequency band.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first wireless connection type is a Bluetooth wireless connection and the second wireless connection type is a Wi-Fi wireless connection.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein each of the identifiers comprises a service set identifier (SSID).

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the headless tracking device is a tracking device attached to a non-human animal.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the headless tracking device further comprises circuitry configured to periodically send information collected by the headless tracking device to one or more resources via one or more of the particular wireless networks.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the headless tracking device further comprises circuitry configured to store and analyze data related to location or movement of the headless tracking device.

17. A method, comprising:

by circuitry of a headless tracking device;

collecting data related to location or movement of the headless tracking device; and

by one or more computers;

sending, to the headless tracking device via a first wireless connection of a first wireless connection type, a request causing the headless tracking device to detect one or more wireless networks of a second wireless connection type that is different than the first wireless connection type, wherein the request comprises a request for the tracking device to detect one or more wireless networks of the second wireless connection type;

receiving, from the headless tracking device, wireless network data comprising identifiers of one or more detected wireless networks of the second wireless connection type;

generating a display of the identifiers of the one or more detected wireless networks of the second wireless connection type;

receiving user input provisioning data comprising of, for a particular wireless network of the detected wireless networks, one or more of a wireless network security type and a wireless network key, wherein the provisioning data represents a wireless device profile comprising one or more of a wireless network name, a wireless network security type, and a wireless network key; and

sending, to the headless tracking device, the provisioning data for establishing a second wireless connection with a particular wireless network of the one or more detected wireless networks.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising sending, by circuitry of the headless tracking device, information collected by the headless tracking device to one or more resources via the one or more of particular wireless networks.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising storing and analyzing, by circuitry of the headless tracking device, data related to location or movement of the headless tracking device.