METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VERIFYING INSTALLATION OF A DEVICE

• US 20160142258A1
• Filed: 08/06/2015
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altair Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Candi Controls, Inc.
• Inventors: RADSLIFF, Peter, RASCHKE, Steve, ANDERSON, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 9,923,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/04 Network management architectures or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/344 Out-of-band transfers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Methods and systems for verifying installation of a networked device are disclosed. Short message service (SMS) messages are used to communicate between an in-field device and a central computer system after an installation of a network device. The in-field device request an installation verification process be executed by the central computer system. The central computer system first requests an installation number from the in-field device, and then contacts a gateway networked to the network device to perform an installation verification test. The results of the test are sent to the in-field device via SMS.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for verifying installation of a networked device, said method comprising:

sending a short message service (SMS) message from an in-field device to a central computer system after an installation of a network device wherein said SMS message comprises a command to start an installation verification process;

receiving a second SMS message at said in-field device from said central computer system requesting an installation number;

sending said installation number from said in-field device to said central computer system in a third SMS message;

receiving a fourth SMS message at said in-field device from said central computer system verifying whether said network device was properly installed based on said central computer system running an installation verification test of said networked device.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 1 wherein said fourth SMS message further comprises a verification code number verifying that said network device was properly installed.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 1 wherein said network device was not properly installed and said fourth SMS message further comprises a phone number to call for further support.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 1 wherein said network device was not properly installed and said fourth SMS message further comprises an error code indicating a type of error in said installation.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 1 wherein said installation verification test indicates that said network device was not properly installed and said fourth SMS message further comprises an option to perform a second installation verification test.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 1 wherein said in-field device is a mobile handheld cellular phone and said in-field device communicates with said central computer system over a cellular network.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 1 wherein said network device is selected from the group of network devices consisting of:

a router, a modem, a security system, a heater, a camera, a network equipment, a lighting control, an appliance, a thermostat, a door lock, and a building control system.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 1 wherein said verifying is accomplished via said central computer system contacting a gateway networked to said network device wherein said gateway performs an installation verification test.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 8 wherein said gateway communicates with said central computer system over an Internet connection.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

before said receiving said fourth SMS message, receiving a token request message at said in-field device from said central computer system requesting a token identification number; and

sending said token identification number from said in-field device to said central computer system.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 1 wherein all SMS messages between said in-field device and said central computer system are relayed through a third party computer system.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for verifying installation of a networked device, said method comprising:

receiving a short message service (SMS) message at a central computer system after from an in-field device after an installation of a network device wherein said SMS message comprises a command to start a verification process;

sending a second SMS message from said central computer system to said in-field device requesting an installation number;

receiving said installation number from said in-field device at said central computer system in a third SMS message;

authenticating said installation number at said central computer system;

contacting a gateway networked to said network device from said central computer system with a command to run an installation verification test of said networked device;

receiving results of said installation verification test at said central computer system from said gateway; and

sending a fourth SMS message from said central computer system to said in-field device with said results of said installation verification test.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

upon verification that said network device was installed properly, sending a bill to a customer for performing said installation of said networked device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

before said contacting said gateway, sending a token request message from said central computer system to said in-field device requesting a token identification number; and

receiving said token identification number from said in-field device at said central computer system.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 12 where said fourth SMS message further comprises a verification code number verifying that said network device was installed properly.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 12 wherein said in-field device is a mobile handheld cellular phone and said in-field device communicates with said central computer system over a cellular network.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 12 wherein said network device is selected from the group of network devices consisting of:

a router, a modem, a security system, a heater, a camera, a network equipment, a lighting control, an appliance, a thermostat, a door lock, and a building control system.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 12 wherein all SMS messages between said in-field device and said central computer system are relayed through a third party computer system.

19. A system for verifying installation of a networked device, said method comprising:

an in-field device associated with an installer capable of sending and receiving short message service (SMS) messages;

a central computer system capable of sending and receiving short message service (SMS) messages;

a gateway networked to a networked device wherein said gateway is capable of performing an installation verification test of said networked device to verify whether said network device has been properly installed by said installer;

said in-field device and said central computer system are further for;

sending a short message service (SMS) message from said in-field device to said central computer system after an installation of a network device wherein said SMS message comprises a command to start an installation verification process;

receiving a second SMS message at said in-field device from said central computer system requesting an installation number;

sending said installation number from said in-field device to said central computer system in a third SMS message; and

receiving a fourth SMS message at said in-field device from said central computer system verifying whether said network device was properly installed based on said installation verification test of said networked device.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for verifying installation of a networked device, said method comprising:

receiving a short message service (SMS) message at a central computer system after from an in-field device after an installation of a network device wherein said SMS message comprises a command to start a verification process;

sending a second SMS message from said central computer system to said in-field device requesting an installation number;

receiving said installation number from said in-field device at said central computer system in a third SMS message;

authenticating said installation number at said central computer system;

contacting a gateway networked to said network device from said central computer system with a command to run an installation verification test of said networked device;

receiving results of said installation verification test at said central computer system from said gateway; and

sending a fourth SMS message from said central computer system to said in-field device with said results of said installation verification test.