DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR CONFIGURING A WIRELESS DEVICE

• US 20120083228A1
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Inventors: Baumert, Joel, Kumpf, Bill
• Granted Patent: US 8,583,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

Various embodiments include a devices, systems, and methods to configure a wireless device. A wireless device may comprise a housing, a wireless communication interface, and a configuration interface. The housing may be configured to be mounted to an outlet supplying power to the wireless device via an electrical conductor. The wireless communication interface may be capable of connecting the wireless device to a wireless network. The configuration interface may be coupled to both the electrical conductor and the wireless communication interface and communicate with a configuration device directly attached to the electrical conductor. The configuration device may communicate configuration instructions to the wireless device over the electrical conductor by modulating power on the electrical conductor. The configuration interface may configure the wireless interface to connect the wireless device to the wireless network based on the configuration instructions.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing is configured to be mounted to an outlet supplying power to the wireless device via an electrical conductor;

a wireless communication interface capable of connecting the wireless device to a wireless network; and

a configuration interface coupled to the electrical conductor and the wireless communication interface, wherein the configuration interface communicates with a configuration device directly connected to the electrical conductor, wherein the configuration device communicates configuration instructions to the wireless device over the electrical conductor by modulating power on the electrical conductor, and wherein the wireless interface is configured, by the configuration interface, to connect the wireless device to the wireless network based on the configuration instructions.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the housing is permanently sealed and closed.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the configuration interface communicates status information to the configuration device via the electrical conductor by modulating power on the electrical conductor.

4. The wireless device of claim 3, wherein the status information includes at least one of wireless signal strength or diagnostic information.

5. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a mesh network.

6. A wireless device comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing is configured to be mounted to an outlet supplying power to the wireless device;

a first wireless communication interface configured to use a first communications mechanism;

a second wireless communication interface capable of connecting the wireless device to a wireless network via a second communications mechanism; and

a configuration interface coupled to the first wireless communication interface and the second wireless communication interface, wherein a configuration device communicates configuration instructions to the wireless device using the first communications mechanism, and wherein the second wireless interface is configured, by the configuration interface, to connect to the wireless network using the second communications mechanism based on the configuration instructions.

7. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the housing is permanently sealed and closed.

8. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the configuration device communicates status information to the configuration device via the first wireless communication interface using the first communications mechanism.

9. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the status information includes at least one of wireless signal strength or diagnostic information.

10. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the wireless network is a mesh network.

11. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the first communication interface includes an infrared transmitter and receiver, and wherein the infrared transmitter and receiver are used to implement the first communications mechanism.

12. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the first communication interface includes an induction based transmitter and receiver, and wherein the induction based transmitter and receiver are used to implement the first communications mechanism.

13. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the first communication interface uses a radio frequency transmitter and receiver, and wherein the radio frequency transmitter and receiver are used to implement the first communications mechanism.

14. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the first communication interface is preconfigured to communicate with the configuration device.

15. A configuration device comprising:

a power module to power a wireless device via an electrical conductor;

a communication interface coupled to the electrical conductor and configured to transmit information over the electrical conductor by power modulation; and

a configuration module to;

receive, from an operator, configuration instructions for the wireless device; and

communicate, using the communication interface, the configuration instructions to the wireless device.

16. The configuration device of claim 15, wherein the configuration device is designed to be placed between the wireless device and a mains power outlet supplying power to the configuration device.

17. The configuration device of claim 16, wherein the configuration device holds the wireless device proximate to the mains power outlet.

18. The configuration device of claim 15, wherein to communicate the configuration instructions to the wireless device includes receiving status information from the wireless device via the communication interface and communicating the status information to the operator.

19. The configuration device of claim 18, wherein the status information includes at least one of wireless signal strength or diagnostic information.

20. The configuration device of claim 15, wherein to receive the configuration instructions includes communicating with an operator terminal, and wherein the operator terminal includes a user interface to generate configuration instructions and display status information.

21. The configuration device of claim 15, wherein the power module is configured to power the wireless device from a battery supplying power to the configuration device.

22. A configuration device comprising:

a communication interface capable of communicating with a wireless device using a first wireless communications mechanism, wherein the wireless device is capable of communicating with a wireless network using a second wireless communications mechanism, and wherein the wireless device includes a housing to mount the wireless device to an outlet supplying power to the wireless device; and

a configuration module to;

receive, from an operator, configuration instructions for the wireless device; and

communicate, using the communication interface, the configuration instructions to the wireless device using the first wireless communications mechanism.

23. The configuration device of claim 22, wherein the first wireless communications mechanism includes an infrared transmitter and receiver to send and receive data.

24. The configuration device of claim 22, wherein the first wireless communications mechanism includes an induction based transmitter and receiver to send and receive data.

25. The configuration device of claim 22, wherein the first wireless communications mechanism includes a radio frequency transmitter and receiver to send and receive data.

26. The configuration device of claim 25, wherein the wireless device is preconfigured to communicate with the configuration device using the first communications mechanism.

27. The configuration device of claim 22, wherein to communicate the configuration instructions to the wireless device includes receiving status information from the wireless device via the communication interface and communicating the status information to the operator.

28. The configuration device of claim 27, wherein the status information includes at least one of wireless signal strength or diagnostic information.

29. The configuration device of claim 22, wherein to receive the configuration instructions includes communicating with an operator terminal, and wherein the operator terminal includes a user interface to generate configuration instructions and display status information.

30. A system comprising:

one or more wireless devices capable of operating as a wireless network, wherein each wireless device comprises;

a housing, wherein the housing is configured to be mounted, via an electrical conductor, to an outlet supplying power to the wireless device;

a wireless communication interface capable of connecting the wireless device to the wireless network; and

a configuration interface coupled to both the electrical conductor and the wireless communication interface; and

a configuration device comprising;

a power module to power the wireless device via the electrical conductor;

a communication interface coupled to the electrical conductor; and

a configuration module to;

receive, from an operator, configuration instructions for the wireless device; and

communicate, using the communication interface, the configuration instructions to the wireless device via the electrical conductor by modulating power on the electrical conductor, wherein the wireless interface is configured, by the configuration interface, to connect to the wireless network based on the configuration instructions.

31. A system comprising:

one or more wireless devices capable of operating as a wireless network, wherein each wireless device comprises;

a housing, wherein the housing is configured to be mounted to an outlet supplying power to the wireless device;

a first wireless communication interface capable of using a first communications mechanism;

a second wireless communication interface capable of connecting the wireless device to a wireless network via a second communications mechanism; and

a configuration interface coupled to both the first wireless communication interface and the second wireless communication interface; and

a configuration device comprising;

a communication interface capable of communicating with the wireless device using the first wireless communications mechanism; and

a configuration module to;

receive, from an operator, configuration instructions for the wireless device; and

communicate, using the communication interface, the configuration instructions to the wireless device using the first communications mechanism, wherein the second wireless interface is configured, by the configuration interface, to connect to the wireless network using the second communications mechanism based on the configuration instructions.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the first wireless communications mechanism includes an infrared transmitter and receiver to send and receive data.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the first wireless communications mechanism includes an induction based transmitter and receiver to send and receive data.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the first wireless communications mechanism includes a radio frequency transmitter and receiver to send and receive data.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless device is preconfigured to communicate with the configuration device using the first communications mechanism.

36. In a system with a wireless device comprising a configuration interface coupled to both an electrical conductor supplying power to the wireless device from an outlet and a wireless communication interface, and a configuration device comprising a configuration module and a communication interface coupled to the electrical conductor, a method to configure the wireless device comprising:

receiving, from an operator via the configuration module, configuration instructions for the wireless device;

communicating, using the communication interface, the configuration instructions to the wireless device via the electrical conductor by modulating power on the electrical conductor; and

configuring, using the configuration interface, the wireless communication interface to connect the wireless device to a wireless network based on the configuration instructions.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the wireless network is a mesh network.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein communicating the configuration instructions to the wireless device includes receiving status information from the wireless device via the communication interface and communicating the status information to the operator.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the status information includes at least one of wireless signal strength or diagnostic information.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein receiving the configuration instructions includes communicating with an operator terminal, and wherein the operator terminal includes a user interface to generate configuration instructions and display status information.

41. In a system with a wireless device comprising a configuration interface coupled to both a first wireless communication interface capable of using a first communications mechanism and a second wireless communication interface capable of using a second communications mechanism, and a configuration device comprising a configuration module and a communication interface, a method to configure the wireless device comprising:

receiving, from an operator via the configuration module, configuration instructions for the wireless device;

communicating, using the communication interface, the configuration instructions to the wireless device using the first communications mechanism; and

configuring, using the configuration interface, the second communication interface to connect the wireless device to a wireless network using the second communications mechanism based on the configuration instructions.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the wireless network is a mesh network.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the first wireless communications mechanism uses infrared light to transmit and receive data.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the first communications mechanism uses induction to transmit and receive data.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the first communications mechanism uses radio frequencies to transmit and receive data.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the first communication interface is preconfigured to communicate with the configuration device.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein communicating the configuration instructions to the wireless device includes receiving status information from the wireless device via the communication interface using the first communications mechanism and communicating the status information to the operator.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the status information includes at least one of wireless signal strength or diagnostic information.

49. The method of claim 41, wherein receiving the configuration instructions includes communicating with an operator terminal, and wherein the operator terminal includes a user interface to generate configuration instructions and display status information.