Wireless Network Configuration Method and System for Smart Appliance

• US 20150139025A1
• Filed: 01/02/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Global Scientific Industrial Company Limited (ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.), Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. (ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Universal Global Scientific Industrial Company Limited (ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.), Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. (ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: LEE, Chun-Huang, KUO, Meng-Hsiu
• Granted Patent: US 9,241,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/73 Access point logical identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/75 Temporary identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A wireless network configuration method and system for a smart appliance, wherein the smart appliance can start a client mode and an AP mode to connect with a wireless network AP and a portable electronic device separately. When the smart appliance established the connection with the wireless network AP, it will switch from the AP mode to a hidden SSID mode automatically. If an SSID and password of the access point have been stored in the portable electronic device, the portable electronic device will transmit these data to the smart appliance to simplify the operation for wireless network configuration. Besides, the smart appliance will keep connecting with the portable electronic device and disappearing in an available wireless network list of the portable electronic device in the hidden SSID mode. The advantages of this invention are full function and ease of operation.

Claims

1. A wireless network configuration method for a smart appliance, the method comprising the steps of:

a)turning on a smart appliance to start an access point mode (AP mode), and create a connection to a portable electronic device;

b) using the portable electronic device to exercise remote control and choose a wireless network access point (wireless network AP) intended to create a connection to the smart appliance, wherein, if a service set identifier (SSID) and a login password of the wireless network AP are stored in the portable electronic device, the portable electronic device will send the SSID and the login password to the smart appliance automatically, otherwise a user will manually enter the SSID and the login password of the wireless network AP into the portable electronic device which will then send the SSID and the login password to the smart appliance; and

c) attempting to create a connection to the wireless network AP upon receipt of the SSID and the login password of the wireless network AP by the smart appliance, and switching from the AP mode to a hidden SSID mode automatically by the smart appliance upon completion of connection, such that the smart appliance remains connected to the portable electronic device but is not on an available wireless network list of the portable electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step c), the smart appliance starts a client mode for creating a connection to the wireless network AP and switches from the AP mode to the hidden SSID mode automatically without ending the client mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, in step b), the portable electronic device exercises remote control over the smart appliance for conducting a wireless network search and then sending a result to the portable electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, in step a), the portable electronic device conducts a wireless network search for the smart appliance and creates a connection to the smart appliance automatically after finding the smart appliance and confirming having stored the SSID and the login password of the smart appliance.

5. A wireless network configuration system for a smart appliance, the system comprising:

a wireless network access point (wireless network AP);

a smart appliance being connectable to the wireless network AP and, upon connection to the wireless network AP, switching from an access point mode (AP mode) to a hidden SSID mode automatically; and

a portable electronic device connectable to the smart appliance to exercise remote control over the smart appliance and send a stored service set identifier (SSID) and a stored login password of the wireless network AP to the smart appliance automatically,

wherein, after switching from the AP mode to the hidden SSID mode, the smart appliance remains connected to the portable electronic device but is not on an available wireless network list of the portable electronic device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the portable electronic device exercises remote control over the smart appliance in conducting a wireless network search.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the smart appliance creates a connection to the wireless network AP and the portable electronic device simultaneously.