Configuring wireless devices for a wireless infrastructure network

• US 10,560,323 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2019
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• 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:
  US16/528,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20190356545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 195 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 method enable a wireless media player to receive data wireless via an infrastructure wireless network. In a first operational mode, the wireless media player may play digital media content stored on a digital media device via an ad hoc wireless connection with a remote wireless communication device. The remote wireless communication device may also transmit credential data for the infrastructure wireless network to the wireless media player via the ad hoc wireless network. In a second operational mode, the wireless media player plays digital media content from a remote digital media content source via the infrastructure wireless network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a wireless media player for playing digital media content;

a remote wireless communication device that communicates with the wireless media player via an ad hoc wireless network;

a digital media device that is connectable to the remote wireless communication device; and

a remote digital media content source in communication with the wireless media player via a communications network,

wherein;

in a first operational mode, the wireless media player plays digital media content stored on the digital media device via the ad hoc wireless network;

in a second operational mode, the wireless media player plays digital media content from the remote digital media content source via an infrastructure wireless network;

the wireless media player comprises a user control for a user to select between the first and second operational modes; and

the remote wireless communication device transmits credential data for the infrastructure wireless network to the wireless media player via the ad hoc wireless network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless media player comprises a wireless audio player.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wireless audio player comprises a pair of earphones.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the wireless audio player comprises an acoustic speaker.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless media player comprises a wireless video player.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless media player comprises a gaming system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless media player is at least part of a medical device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless media player comprises an indicator that indicates a transition from one of the first and second operational modes to the other of the first and second operational modes.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the indicator is a light emitting diode.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote wireless digital media content source comprises at least two digital media content channels, wherein each of the at least two digital media content channels are selecting by the user using the user control.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the user control is a user touch interface.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the ad hoc wireless network comprises an ad hoc Wi-Fi network; and

the infrastructure wireless network comprises an infrastructure Wi-Fi network.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the credential data for the infrastructure wireless network comprises an identifier for the infrastructure wireless network.

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

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the credential data for the infrastructure wireless network additionally comprises encryption type data for the infrastructure wireless network.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote wireless communication device comprises a non-volatile memory to store an IP address of the wireless media player.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the ad hoc wireless network is established using the IP address of the wireless media player.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the ad hoc wireless network comprises an ad hoc Bluetooth®

connection; and

the infrastructure wireless network comprises an infrastructure Wi-Fi network.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless media player further comprises:

a microphone for picking up audible utterances from a user of the wireless audio output device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the wireless media player is further configured to:

process the audible utterances picked up by the microphone in response to activation of the microphone by the user; and

transmit a wireless communication, based on the audible utterances, to the remote digital content source.