Provisioning a Wireless-Capable Device for a Wireless Network

• US 20140329461A1
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Ramachandran, Anil, McAdams, Matt
• Granted Patent: US 9,014,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of apparatus and methods for provisioning a wireless-capable device for a wireless network. In an exemplary embodiment, a wireless-capable device, e.g., a thermostat, generally includes provisioning component(s) configured to receive from, and without a wired connection to, a wireless user device at least a network profile for provisioning the wireless-capable device for a wireless network. The provisioning components have no capability to receive the network profile through the wireless network. The provisioning component(s) are further configured to provide information for provisioning control of the wireless-capable device to a user account accessible through the wireless network.

Claims

1. A method of provisioning a wireless-capable device for a wireless network, the method comprising:

capturing an image or near field communication (NFC) transmission generated by a user device and extracting information including at least a network profile of the wireless network from the image or transmission, the capturing performed by one or more provisioning components of the wireless-capable device, the provisioning components having no capability to receive the network profile through the wireless network; and

using the extracted information to provision control of the wireless-capable device to a user account accessible through the wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracted information identifies the user account.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless-capable device is a thermostat.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless-capable device includes a disturbance sensing device and the extracted information is used to connect the wireless-capable device into the network, the method further comprising:

reporting a mutual disturbance of the wireless-capable device and the user device or a second user device, the reporting performed by at least the wireless-capable device to a service in the network; and

the wireless-capable device receiving an identification of the user account from the user device or the second user device through the network service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more provisioning components of the wireless-capable device include a label on which is made available, for visual capture, account-related information for relating the wireless-capable device to the user account, and the extracted information is used to connect the wireless-capable device into the network, the method further comprising:

using an image-acquiring component of the user device or of a second user device, capturing an image including the account-related information, and extracting the account-related information from the image; and

using the extracted account-related information to provision control of the wireless-capable device to the user account.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the label includes (a) an image on the wireless-capable device and/or (b) a serial number of the wireless-capable device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the provisioning of control to the user account is performed in coordination with a network application related to the user account.

8. A wireless-capable device comprising:

one or more provisioning components configured to receive from, and without a wired connection to, a wireless user device at least a network profile for provisioning the wireless-capable device for a wireless network, the provisioning components having no capability to receive the network profile through the wireless network;

the one or more provisioning components further configured to provide information for provisioning control of the wireless-capable device to a user account accessible through the wireless network.

9. The wireless-capable device of claim 8, wherein the one or more provisioning components are capable of receiving at least the network profile in an image and/or in a near-field communication (NFC) transmission.

10. The wireless-capable device of claim 8, wherein the one or more provisioning components comprise one or more of the following:

a camera, a scanner, a NFC interface, a disturbance sensor, and a physical label.

11. The wireless-capable device of claim 8, further comprising:

a processor and memory configured to store the network profile and information for provisioning control of the wireless-capable device to a user account received by the one or more provisioning components.

12. The wireless-capable device of claim 8, wherein the one or more provisioning components comprise a disturbance sensor, and the information for provisioning control of the wireless-capable device is provided after an impact between the wireless-capable device and a wireless device when the wireless-capable device is connected with the network.

13. The wireless-capable device of claim 8, wherein the one or more provisioning components comprise a physical label that includes one or more of the following:

a visible code and a device serial number.

14. The wireless-capable device of claim 8, comprising a thermostat.

15. A method of provisioning a wireless-capable thermostat for a wireless network, the method comprising:

obtaining, on a user device, provisioning information identifying at least the wireless network;

using the user device, converting the provisioning information into an image and displaying the image;

using an image-acquiring provisioning component of the thermostat, capturing the displayed image on the thermostat, and extracting the provisioning information from the image; and

using the extracted information to provision control of the thermostat to a user account accessible through the wireless network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein converting the provisioning information into an image comprises using a software application to convert the provisioning information into a barcode or other code.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the extracted information is used to connect the thermostat into the wireless network, and wherein the method further comprises using a pair of disturbance sensors to invoke a service for provisioning control of the thermostat to the user account.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the extracted information is used to connect the thermostat into the wireless network, and wherein the method further comprises using an image of a physical label of the thermostat to provision control of the thermostat to the user account.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the physical label includes a barcode and/or a serial number.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein using an image-acquiring provisioning component of the thermostat comprises using a camera and/or scanner embedded in the thermostat.

21. The method of claim 15, performed in the absence of a wired connection between the thermostat and the user device.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the extracted information includes at least a service set identifier.