METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TRANSMITTING INFORMATION BETWEEN ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20140068027A1
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron Colpitts, Michael Flacco, Nicolas Flacco
• Original Assignee: Cameron Colpitts
• Inventors: FLACCO, Michael, Flacco, Nicolas, Colpitts, Cameron
• Granted Patent: US 9,960,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Various embodiments of methods and systems for establishing communication over a wireless communication network between a master device and a partial function device. The master device and partial function device can use a separate communication channel during setup or configuration for communicating over the wireless communication network. The separate communication channel can be, for example, an audio-based channel or optical-based channel.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a plurality of target devices comprising:

a target device having wireless communication components and a processor;

a smart device operable for communicating with the target device for controlling a state of the target device using a wireless communication network; and

a client application on the smart device operable for use in transmitting setup information to the target device, the setup information being directed toward enabling the target device to communicate with the smart device over the wireless communication network, wherein a separate communication channel, separate from the wireless communication network, is provided for use in transmitting information between the target device and the smart device regarding the setup information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the separate communication channel is an audio channel.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the separate communication channel is an optical channel.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the information transmitted on the separate communication channel is feedback information regarding a status of enabling the target device to communicate with the smart device on the wireless communication network.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of target devices, and each target device comprises an independent power plug, each with at least one outlet socket which can be connected to another target device that has been set up for communication over the wireless network, and wherein a previously set up target device has been encoded to transmit the setup information to the another target device using a signal over power protocol, and the another target device can decode the transmission and thereby also be set up for wireless communication with the smart device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the separate communication channel is an audio channel and the information transmitted on the separate communication channel can be embedded into another sound signal conveying an audible song or linguistic phrase without obscuring or disturbing the song or phrase from being detected by human ears.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an un-configured target device operable to transmit through an audio or optical channel, pre-stored access request information to a configured target device, with the configured target device being operable to automatically transmit the pre-stored access request information to a server or smart device for authentication and approval, after which, if such authentication or approval is received at the configured target device, the configured target device and un-configured target device and share setup information through the audio or optical channel to configured the un-configured target device.

8. A method for communicating with a target device comprising:

providing a target device having wireless communication components and a processor; and

communicating between a smart device and the target device by providing wirelessly transmitted information through a wireless communication network and supplementing the communication through a separate communication channel between the smart device and target device which is separate from the wireless communication network.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein supplementing the communication comprises providing setup related information for use in setting up communication for the wireless communication network between the smart device and target device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the wirelessly transmitted information is control information for controlling a state of the target device.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the separate communication channel is a sound-based channel.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the separate communication channel is an optical-based channel.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the separate communication channel is a sound-based channel and wherein the information transmitted on the separate communication channel can be embedded into another sound signal conveying an audible song or linguistic phrase without obscuring or disturbing the song or phrase from being detected by human ears.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the target device comprises a power plug and outlet power socket, and wherein another target device comprises a power plug and outlet power socket, and further comprising connecting the target device and the another target device together for power transmission after the target device has been set up for communication over the wireless communication network, and transmitting setup information for the wireless communication network from the target device to the another target device using a signal over power protocol.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the setup related information comprises feedback information regarding status of enabling the target device to communicate with the smart device over the wireless communication network.

16. A system for wireless communication between electronic devices comprising:

a full function device having components for communication in a wireless communication network;

a partial function device having components for communication in the wireless communication network with the full function device, wherein the full function device and partial function device comprise components for communication in at least one separate communication channel, separate from the wireless communication network, and where the partial function device is configured to provide feedback during setup of communication or during communication between the full function device and partial function device, through the separate communication channel regarding the status of setup or the status of communication on the wireless communication network.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein communication between the full function device and partial function device in the wireless communication network comprises the full function device sending control signals to the partial function device to control a state of the partial function device.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the separate communication channel is a sound-based channel.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the separate communication channel is an optical-based channel.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the separate communication channel is used to provide feedback information regarding status of enabling communication between the partial function device and full function device.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the separate communication channel is used to communicate errors in communication that occur in the wireless communication network.