Devices, systems, and methods for configuring a wireless device

• US 8,583,040 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Inventors: Baumert, Joel, Kumpf, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US12/895,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20120083228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/41.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/90.3, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

Various embodiments include a devices, systems, and methods to configure a wireless device. A wireless device may comprise a housing, a wireless communication interface, and a configuration interface. The housing may be configured to be mounted to an outlet supplying power to the wireless device via an electrical conductor. The wireless communication interface may be capable of connecting the wireless device to a wireless network. The configuration interface may be coupled to both the electrical conductor and the wireless communication interface and communicate with a configuration device directly attached to the electrical conductor. The configuration device may communicate configuration instructions to the wireless device over the electrical conductor by modulating power on the electrical conductor. The configuration interface may configure the wireless interface to connect the wireless device to the wireless network based on the configuration instructions.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing is configured to be mounted to an outlet supplying power to the wireless device;

a first wireline communication interface including a power line transmitter and receiver configured to implement a first communications mechanism;

a second wireless communication interface capable of connecting the wireless device to a wireless network via a second communications mechanism; and

a configuration interface coupled to the first communication interface and the second wireless communication interface, wherein a configuration device communicates configuration instructions to the wireless device using the first communications mechanism, and wherein the second wireless interface is configured, by the configuration interface, to connect to the wireless network using the second communications mechanism based on the configuration instructions.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the housing is permanently sealed and closed.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the configuration interface communicates status information to the configuration device via the first communication interface using the first communications mechanism.

4. The wireless device of claim 3, wherein the status information includes at least one of wireless signal strength or diagnostic information.

5. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a mesh network.

6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the first communication interface further includes an infrared transmitter and receiver, configured to implement the first communications mechanism.

7. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the first communication interface further includes a radio frequency transmitter and receiver, configured to implement the first communications mechanism.

8. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the first communication interface is preconfigured to communicate with the configuration device.

9. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the first communication interface further includes an induction based transmitter and receiver, configured to implement the first communications mechanism.

10. A configuration device comprising:

a communication interface capable of communicating with a wireless device using a first wireline communications mechanism, the first wireline communications mechanism including a power line transmitter and receiver to send and receive data, wherein the wireless device is capable of communicating with a wireless network using a second wireless communications mechanism, and wherein the wireless device includes a housing to mount the wireless device to an outlet supplying power to the wireless device; and

a configuration module to;

receive, from an operator, configuration instructions for the wireless device; and

communicate, using the communication interface, the configuration instructions to the wireless device using the first wireless communications mechanism.

11. The configuration device of claim 10, wherein the first communications mechanism further includes an infrared transmitter and receiver to send and receive data.

12. The configuration device of claim 10, wherein the first communications mechanism further includes a radio frequency transmitter and receiver to send and receive data.

13. The configuration device of claim 12, wherein the wireless device is preconfigured to communicate with the configuration device using the first communications mechanism.

14. The configuration device of claim 10, wherein to communicate the configuration instructions to the wireless device includes receiving status information from the wireless device via the communication interface and communicating the status information to the operator.

15. The configuration device of claim 14, wherein the status information includes at least one of wireless signal strength or diagnostic information.

16. The configuration device of claim 10, wherein to receive the configuration instructions includes communicating with an operator terminal, and wherein the operator terminal includes a user interface to generate configuration instructions and display status information.

17. The configuration device of claim 10, wherein the first communications mechanism further includes an induction based transmitter and receiver to send and receive data.

18. A system comprising:

one or more wireless devices capable of operating as a wireless network, wherein each wireless device comprises;

a housing, wherein the housing is configured to be mounted to an outlet supplying power to the wireless device;

a first wireline communication interface capable of using a first wireline communications mechanism including a power line transmitter and receiver to send and receive data;

a second wireless communication interface capable of connecting the wireless device to a wireless network via a second communications mechanism; and

a configuration interface coupled to both the first communication interface and the second wireless communication interface; and

a configuration device comprising;

a communication interface capable of communicating with the wireless device using the first communications mechanism; and

a configuration module to;

receive, from an operator, configuration instructions for the wireless device; and

communicate, using the communication interface, the configuration instructions to the wireless device using the first communications mechanism, wherein the second wireless interface is configured, by the configuration interface, to connect to the wireless network using the second communications mechanism based on the configuration instructions.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first communications mechanism further includes an infrared transmitter and receiver to send and receive data.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the first communications mechanism further includes a radio frequency transmitter and receiver to send and receive data.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the wireless device is preconfigured to communicate with the configuration device using the first communications mechanism.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the first communications mechanism further includes an induction based transmitter and receiver to send and receive data.

23. In a system with a wireless device comprising a configuration interface coupled to both a first communication interface capable of using a first communications mechanism and a second wireless communication interface capable of using a second communications mechanism, and a configuration device comprising a configuration module and a communication interface, a method to configure the wireless device comprising:

receiving, from an operator via the configuration module, configuration instructions for the wireless device;

communicating, using the communication interface, the configuration instructions to the wireless device using the first wireline communications mechanism, the first wireline communications mechanism using power line communications to transmit and receive data; and

configuring, using the configuration interface, the second communication interface to connect the wireless device to a wireless network using the second communications mechanism based on the configuration instructions.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the wireless network is a mesh network.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first communications mechanism further uses infrared light to transmit and receive data.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the first communications mechanism further uses radio frequencies to transmit and receive data.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first communication interface is preconfigured to communicate with the configuration device.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein communicating the configuration instructions to the wireless device includes receiving status information from the wireless device via the communication interface using the first communications mechanism and communicating the status information to the operator.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the status information includes at least one of wireless signal strength or diagnostic information.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving the configuration instructions includes communicating with an operator terminal, and wherein the operator terminal includes a user interface to generate configuration instructions and display status information.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the first communications mechanism further uses induction to transmit and receive data.