Providing Wireless Network Authentication Data to Climate Control System Devices

• US 20150156631A1
• Filed: 12/03/2014
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Ramachandran, Anil
• Granted Patent: US 9,936,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of apparatus and methods for provisioning a wireless-capable climate control system device for a wireless network. In an exemplary embodiment, a method of provisioning a wireless-capable target device for a wireless network includes providing, to the target device, wireless network authentication data for joining the wireless network. The providing is performed using a user-interface-equipped device. The target device attempts to join the wireless network using the wireless network authentication data. In some embodiments the user-interface-equipped device receives a signal from the target device indicating whether the attempt to join the wireless network was successful.

Claims

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

providing, to a target device of a climate control system, wireless network authentication data for joining a wireless network, the providing performed using a user-interface-equipped device; and

the target device attempting to join the wireless network using the wireless network authentication data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the target device performing as a soft access point;

the user-interface-equipped device sending, to the soft access point, information for authenticating the user-interface-equipped device in a soft access point network accessible via the soft access point;

the target device authenticating and connecting the user-interface-equipped device in the soft access point network based on the information; and

the authenticated and connected user-interface-equipped device sending the wireless network authentication data to the target device via the soft access point network.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising accessing a user energy management account with an energy management service to obtain the information for authenticating the user-interface-equipped device in the soft access point network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the user-interface-equipped device receiving information for authenticating the user-interface-equipped device for ad-hoc communication with the target device;

the target device authenticating and connecting with the user-interface-equipped device in an ad-hoc mode based on the information; and

the user-interface-equipped device sending the wireless network authentication data to the target device in the ad-hoc mode.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising accessing a user energy management account with an energy management service to obtain the information for authenticating the user-interface-equipped device for ad-hoc communication with the target device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising encrypting the information and the data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the target device includes one or more of the following:

a thermostat, a climate control system controller, a climate control system monitoring device, and climate control system monitoring equipment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-interface-equipped device receives a signal from the target device indicating whether the attempting to join the wireless network was successful.

9. A climate control system device comprising a processor, memory, and a wireless network interface configured to:

receive, from a user-interface-equipped device, wireless network authentication data for joining a wireless network; and

using the wireless network authentication data, attempt to join the wireless network.

10. The climate control system device of claim 9, wherein the processor, memory, and wireless network interface are further configured to:

perform as a soft access point that receives, from the user-interface-equipped device, information for authenticating the user-interface-equipped device in a soft access point network accessible via the soft access point;

authenticate and connect the user-interface-equipped device in the soft access point network based on the received information; and

receive, from the authenticated and connected user-interface-equipped device, the wireless network authentication data via the soft access point network.

11. The climate control system device of claim 9, wherein the processor, memory, and network interface are further configured to:

receive, from the user-interface-equipped device, information for authenticating the user-interface-equipped device for ad-hoc communication;

authenticate and connect with the user-interface-equipped device in an ad-hoc mode based on the received information; and

receive the wireless network authentication data from the user-interface-equipped device in the ad-hoc mode.

12. The climate control system device of claim 9, comprising one or more of the following:

a thermostat, a climate control system controller, a climate control system monitoring device, and climate control system monitoring equipment.

13. The climate control system device of claim 9, further configured to send a signal to the user-interface-equipped device indicating whether the attempting to join the wireless network was successful.

14. A method of provisioning a climate control system target device for a wireless network, the method comprising:

configuring the target device with a capability for authenticating to a network having a pre-designated network name; and

changing at least a network name of the wireless network to the pre-designated network name;

whereby the target device is capable of joining the wireless network using at least the pre-designated network name.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

changing at least the pre-designated network name of the wireless network to another name after the target device has joined the wireless network, the changing performed using a user-interface-equipped device connected in the wireless network; and

notifying the target device via the wireless network as to the changing.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the target device includes one or more of the following:

a thermostat, a climate control system controller, a climate control system monitoring device, and climate control system monitoring equipment.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising accessing a user energy management account with an energy management service to obtain at least the pre-designated network name.

18. A wireless-capable target device for use in a climate control system, the target device comprising a processor, memory, and a network interface configured to use at least a pre-designated network name to authenticate the target device for connection in a network having the pre-designated name;

whereby the target device is capable of joining a user network connected with the climate control system, after the user network has been named with the pre-designated network name.

19. The wireless-capable target device of claim 18, wherein the target device comprises one or more of the following:

a thermostat, a climate control system controller, a climate control system monitoring device, and climate control system monitoring equipment.

20. The wireless-capable target device of claim 18, further configured to receive, after the target device has joined the user network, authentication information for connecting with the user network after at least the pre-designated network name for the user network has been changed to another network name included in the authentication information.