Provisioning a Wireless-Capable Device for a Wireless Network

• US 20150327084A1
• Filed: 07/20/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• 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 9,531,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 wireless-capable user device comprising:

a camera; and

a processor and memory configured to;

obtain, from an image obtained by the camera, at least network profile information for provisioning a wireless-capable thermostat for a wireless network; and

send the at least network profile information wirelessly to the thermostat.

2. The wireless-capable user device of claim 1, comprising one or more of the following:

a smart phone, and a mobile device.

3. The wireless-capable user device of claim 1, wherein the processor and memory are further configured to use the at least network profile information to provision control of the thermostat to a user account accessible through the wireless network.

4. The wireless-capable user device of claim 1, wherein the processor and memory are configured to obtain and send the information as instructed by a software application on or available to the wireless-capable user device.

5. A wireless-capable thermostat 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 thermostat 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 thermostat to a user account accessible through the wireless network.

6. The wireless-capable thermostat of claim 5, 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.

7. The wireless-capable thermostat of claim 5, 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.

8. The wireless-capable thermostat of claim 5, wherein the one or more provisioning components comprises a disturbance sensor, and the information for provisioning control of the thermostat is provided after an impact between the thermostat and a wireless device when the thermostat is connected with the network.

9. The wireless-capable thermostat of claim 5, further comprising:

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

10. The wireless-capable thermostat of claim 5, 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.