Efficient communication for devices of a home network

• US 9,345,058 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Erickson, Grant M., Logue, Jay D., Boross, Christopher J., Smith, Zachary B., Hardison, Osborne B., Schultz, Richard J., Gujjaru, Sunny P., Neeley, Matthew G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faroul, Farah
• Application Number:
  US14/712,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20150257190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370465-467
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 Packet switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/659 Internet protocol version 6 [IPv6] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/254 Centralised controller, i.e. arbitration or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/165 : Combined use of TCP and UDP protocols; selection criteria therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 : Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0861 : Generation of secret information including derivation or calculation of cryptographic keys or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/14 : using a plurality of keys or algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/30 : Public key, i.e. encryption algorithm being computationally infeasible to invert or user's encryption keys not requiring secrecy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 : including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 : involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3265 : using certificate chains, trees or paths; Hierarchical trust model
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0471 : Key exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 : using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 : Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 : Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 : managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/383 : power control in peer-to-peer links
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 : Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 : based on regulatory allocation policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/045 : involving different protocol versions, e.g. MIPv4 and MIPv6
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 : adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 : Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 : Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for efficient communication through a fabric network of devices in a home environment or similar environment. For example, an electronic device may efficiently control communication to balance power and reliability concerns, may efficiently communicate messages to certain preferred networks by analyzing Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) packet headers that use an Extended Unique Local Address (EULA), may efficiently communicate software updates and status reports throughout a fabric network, and/or may easily and efficiently join a fabric network.

Claims

1. A first electronic device, comprising:

memory configured to store instructions to enable the first electronic device to pair with a fabric network comprising a second electronic device;

a processor configured to execute the instructions; and

a network interface configured to access a wireless network protocol of a first type and a wireless network protocol of a second type;

wherein the instructions comprise pairing instructions to;

establish communication with the second electronic device via a first wireless network protocol of the second type, wherein the second electronic device is paired with the fabric network and configured to communicate with a service via a first wireless network protocol of the first type in the fabric network;

receive network configuration information via the second electronic device to enable the first electronic device to join the first wireless network protocol of the first type;

establish communication over the first wireless network protocol of the first type; and

connect to the service via the first wireless network protocol of the first type.

2. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless network protocol of the first type comprises an 802.11 logical network.

3. The first electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first wireless network protocol of the second type comprises an 802.15.4 logical network.

4. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the network interface is configured to receive a communication from the second electronic device via a rendezvous address.

5. The first electronic device of claim 1, configured to receive a code from the service via the second electronic device, wherein the code originates from a client device logged into the service, wherein the code is configured to confirm that a user of the client device is in possession of the first electronic device when the code matches an expected value stored in the memory of the first electronic device.

6. The first electronic device of claim 5, wherein the pairing instructions are configured to establish communication over the first wireless network protocol of the first type only when the code matches the expected value.

7. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the pairing instructions are configured to:

disconnect from the first wireless network protocol of the second type; and

establish communication over a second wireless network protocol of the second type associated with the fabric network when the first electronic device has registered to pair with the fabric network via the communication with the service.

8. The first electronic device of claim 7, wherein the second wireless network protocol of the second type comprises an 802.15.4 logical network.

9. The first electronic device of claim 1, comprising a user interface configured to transmit a signal to the processor to initiate pairing of the first electronic device with the fabric network.

10. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions to enable a first electronic device to pair with a fabric network comprising a second electronic device, wherein the instructions comprise pairing instructions to:

establish communication with the second electronic device via a first wireless network protocol of a second type, wherein the second electronic device is paired with the fabric network and configured to communicate with a service via a first wireless network protocol of a first type in the fabric network;

receive network configuration information via the second electronic device to enable the first electronic device to join the first wireless network protocol of the first type;

establish communication over the first wireless network protocol of the first type; and

connect to the service via the first wireless network protocol of the first type.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the pairing instructions are configured to receive a code from the service via the second electronic device, wherein the code originates from a client device logged into the service.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the pairing instructions are configured to establish communication over the first wireless network protocol of the first type only when the code matches an expected value stored in the memory of the first electronic device.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the pairing instructions are configured to:

disconnect from the first wireless network protocol of the second type; and

establish communication over a second wireless network protocol of the second type associated with the fabric network when the first electronic device has registered to pair with the fabric network via the communication with the service.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the pairing instructions are configured to initiate pairing of the first electronic device with the fabric network based on a user interface generated signal.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first wireless network protocol of the first type comprises an 802.11 logical network and the first wireless network protocol of the second type comprises an 802.15.4 logical network.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions comprise pairing instructions to register to pair with the fabric network via communication with the service.

17. A method, comprising:

executing, via a processor of a first electronic device, instructions to enable the first electronic device to pair with a fabric network comprising a second electronic device, wherein the instructions comprise pairing instructions to;

establish communication with the second electronic device via a first wireless network protocol of a second type, wherein the second electronic device is paired with the fabric network and configured to communicate with a service via a first wireless network protocol of a first type in the fabric network;

receive network configuration information via the second electronic device to enable the first electronic device to join the first wireless network protocol of the first type;

establish communication over the first wireless network protocol of the first type; and

connect to the service via the first wireless network protocol of the first type.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pairing instructions are configured to:

register to pair with the fabric network via communication with the service; and

establish communication with the second electronic device via an 802.15.4 logical network as the first wireless network protocol of the second type.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second electronic device is configured to communicate with the service via an 802.11 logical network as the first wireless network protocol of the first type, wherein register to pair with the fabric network via communication with the service.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising initiating pairing of the first electronic device with the fabric network in response a user input.