METHOD OF REGISTERING A DEVICE AT A REMOTE SITE FEATURING A CLIENT APPLICATION CAPABLE OF DETECTING THE DEVICE AND TRANSMITTING REGISTRATION MESSAGES BETWEEN THE DEVICE AND THE REMOTE SITE

• US 20140375438A1
• Filed: 09/09/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Rezvani, Babak, Kalin, Edward B., Chen, Jack L., Jalili, Reza
• Granted Patent: US 9,191,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3672 initialising or reloading thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/02 Mechanical actuation of the alarm, e.g. by the breaking of a wire
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• 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 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 : Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 : Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 : Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 : Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 : for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 : characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 : comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 : by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 : Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 : Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 : providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 : Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 : Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 : Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 : Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 : for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 : Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 : Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 : Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 : Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 : using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing registration at a remote site that may include, for example, a monitoring module that may communicate with a remote site. A registration protocol may be used by the monitoring module and the remote site in generating the messages communicated during the registration process. The monitoring module may gather and generate various identification information to be included in the registration protocol messages. The registration information provided by the monitoring module maybe stored at the remote site in a database server having a database. A confirmation message may be communicated from the remote site to the monitoring module that may either acknowledge successful registration or report that an error occurred during the registration process.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a client application running on a client device, registration information for registering a device at a remote site, the registration information including user account information, wherein the device is configured to perform a function at a location, wherein the client application receives the registration information via user input to the client device during installation of the device at the location, wherein the device is configured to wirelessly transmit a string of identification data, wherein the wirelessly transmitted string of identification data causes the device to be detectable by the client device, wherein the device transmits the string of identification data responsive to user input received by a user-interface component of the device;

causing a device identifier that identifies the device to be communicated to the remote site that is located remote from the location of the device;

transmitting, by the client application running on the client device, to the remote site the registration information, wherein the remote site did not have the registration information before, wherein the remote site is configured to;

use the account information included in the registration information to locate or create a user account at the remote site; and

register the device at the remote site to the user account, wherein being configured to register the device at the remote site to the user account includes being configured to associate the device identifier with the user account in a data store remote from the location of the device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

detecting, by the client device, the device being installed at the location by detecting the string of identification data that is wirelessly transmitted by the device;

establishing, by the client application running on the client device, a wireless connection that enables the client application to communicate with the device, wherein the client application establishes the wireless connection by instructing the client device to wirelessly connect with the device;

generating, by the client application running on the client device, a user interface including one or more selectable components for inputting a plurality of parameter settings to be implemented by the device at the location;

receiving, by the client application running on the client device via the user interface, user input specifying the plurality of parameter settings to be transmitted to the device; and

wirelessly transmitting, by the client device via the wireless connection, from the client application to the device the plurality of parameter settings, wherein device is configured to operate in accordance with at least some of the plurality of parameter settings.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

establishing, by the client application, a second wireless connection that enables communication between the device at the location and the remote site via the Internet, wherein the client application establishes the second wireless connection by facilitating connection of the device to a wireless local-area network that is connected to the Internet, wherein the second wireless connection enables the remote site to send commands to the device via the Internet and the wireless local-area network, wherein the second wireless connection enables the device to send requests to the remote site via the wireless local-area network and the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device wirelessly transmits a handshake periodically, wherein the device transmits the string of identification data responsive to the handshake.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the device at the location is a thermostat.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the client application running on the client device is configured to generate a user interface including a virtual representation of the thermostat.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device on which the client application runs is a cellular mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device on which the client application runs is a system controller, wherein the system controller is located at the location of the device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a camera, a radio, a smoke or fire detector, a contact sensor, a light switch, an audio device, a video device, a display device, a washer, a dryer, a microwave oven, a cooking range, a car alarm, a plant watering device, a sprinkler, a carbon monoxide detector, a humidistat, or a rain gauge.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the remote site is configured to:

transmit an unsolicited command to the device at the location, wherein the unsolicited command is a command to download a software update, a command to synchronize polling intervals, a command to change a state of the device, or a command to transmit the information related to a condition of the location.

11. Non-transitory machine-readable storage medium for use in a system, wherein the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium is encoded with machine-readable instructions for performing a method comprising:

receiving registration information for registering a device at a remote site, the registration information including user account information, wherein the device is configured to perform a function at a location, wherein the registration information is received via user input provided during installation of the device at the location, wherein the device is configured to wirelessly transmit a string of identification data, wherein the wirelessly transmitted string of identification data causes the device to be detectable, wherein the device transmits the string of identification data responsive to user input received by a user-interface component of the device;

causing a device identifier that identifies the device to be communicated to the remote site that is located remote from the location of the device;

transmitting to the remote site the registration information, wherein the remote site did not have the registration information before, wherein the remote site is configured to;

use the account information included in the registration information to locate or create a user account at the remote site; and

register the device at the remote site to the user account, wherein being configured to register the device at the remote site to the user account includes being configured to associate the device identifier with the user account in a data store remote from the location of the device

12. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting the device being installed at the location by detecting the string of identification data that is wirelessly transmitted by the device;

establishing a wireless connection with the device, wherein the wireless connection enables communication with the device;

generating a user interface including one or more selectable components for inputting a plurality of parameter settings to be implemented by the device at the location;

receiving, via the user interface, user input specifying the plurality of parameter settings to be transmitted to the device; and

wirelessly transmitting, via wireless connection, to the device the plurality of parameter settings, wherein device is configured to operate in accordance with at least some of the plurality of parameter settings.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

establishing a second wireless connection that enables communication between the device at the location and the remote site via the Internet, wherein the second wireless connection is established by facilitating connection of the device to a wireless local-area network that is connected to the Internet, wherein the second wireless connection enables the remote site to send commands to the device via the Internet and the wireless local-area network, wherein the second wireless connection enables the device to send requests to the remote site via the wireless local-area network and the Internet.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

wirelessly transmitting a handshake on a periodic basis, wherein the device transmits the string of identification data responsive to the handshake.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the device is a thermostat.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

generating a user interface including a virtual representation of the thermostat.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium is disposed on a cellular mobile device and the encoded machine-readable instructions cause a processor of the cellular mobile device to execute the method.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium is disposed on a system controller and the encoded machine-readable instructions cause a processor of the system controller to execute the method, wherein the system controller is located at the location of the device.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the device is a camera, a radio, a smoke or fire detector, a contact sensor, a light switch, an audio device, a video device, a display device, a washer, a dryer, a microwave oven, a cooking range, a car alarm, a plant watering device, a sprinkler, a carbon monoxide detector, a humidistat, or a rain gauge.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the remote site is configured to:

transmit an unsolicited command to the device at the location, wherein the unsolicited command is a command to download a software update, a command to synchronize polling intervals, a command to change a state of the device, or a command to transmit the information related to a condition of the location.