Configuring wireless devices for a wireless infrastructure network

• US 10,601,652 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2019
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• 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:
  US16/375,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20190229988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 355 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 for configuring a wireless audio output device of a user, the system comprising:

a first remote network server that stores an identifier and password for an infrastructure wireless network pre-specified by the user of the wireless audio output device;

a second remote network server;

the wireless audio output device of the user, wherein the wireless audio output device comprises a transceiver circuit, a processor circuit, a user touch interface, a microphone, and 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 in communication with the first remote network server via a data communications network;

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 device and the mobile computer device, the identifier and password, stored at the first remote network server, for the infrastructure wireless network pre-specified by the user; and

the wireless audio output device is for, upon receiving the identifier and password for the infrastructure wireless network pre-specified by the user from the mobile computing device;

connecting to the infrastructure wireless network;

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

playing, by the multiple acoustic transducers of the wireless audio output device, the audio content streamed from the second 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 multiple acoustic transducers comprise:

a first acoustic transducer for transmitting higher audible frequencies; and

a second acoustic transducer for transmitting lower audible frequencies.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the microphone is activated by a user control.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the user control comprises a button on the touch interface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the microphone is for picking up audible utterances from a user of the wireless audio output device; and

the processor circuit is for;

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

transmitting a wireless communication, based on the audible utterances, to a remote device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user touch interface is operable to enable a user to select a mode of operation of the wireless audio output device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless audio output device comprises a light emitting diode (LED) that indicates the mode of operation of the wireless audio output device.

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

9. A system comprising:

a wireless audio output device of a user, wherein the wireless audio output device comprises;

an indicator light that indicates a mode of operation of the wireless audio output device;

a transceiver circuit;

a processor circuit;

a user touch interface;

a microphone; and

multiple acoustic transducers;

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

a first remote network server that is in communication with the mobile computer device via an interconnected network, wherein the first remote network server stores an identifier and password for an infrastructure wireless network pre-specified by the user; and

a second remote network server, wherein;

the mobile computer device is for transmitting the identifier and password, stored at the first remote network server, to the wireless audio output device, wirelessly via the ad hoc wireless communication link between the wireless audio output device and the mobile computer device, for the infrastructure wireless network pre-specified by the user; and

the wireless audio output device is for, upon receiving the identifier and password for the infrastructure wireless network from the mobile computing device;

connecting to the infrastructure wireless network pre-specified by the user;

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

playing, by the multiple acoustic transducers of the wireless audio output device, audio content streamed via the infrastructure wireless network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the indicator light comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the multiple acoustic transducers comprise:

a first acoustic transducer for transmitting higher audible frequencies; and

a second acoustic transducer for transmitting lower audible frequencies.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the user touch interface is operable to enable a user to select the mode of operation.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile computer device comprises a smartphone.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the smartphone comprises a radio module for communicating wirelessly via the ad hoc wireless communication link with the wireless audio output device.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the ad hoc wireless communication link comprises a Bluetooth wireless communication link.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the microphone is for picking up audible utterances from a user of the wireless audio output device; and

the processor circuit is for;

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

transmitting a wireless communication, based on the audible utterances, to a remote device.