Identifying a useful wired connection

• US 9,456,037 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Peters, Jeffrey M., Millington, Nicholas A. J., Graziani, Jose, Lin, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Halim, Sahera
• Application Number:
  US14/042,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20150095470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 709/221
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805

Abstract

Certain examples identify a device'"'"'s useful wired connection and, when found, facilitate network configuration according to that useful wired connection. An example method includes periodically transmitting, by a first device, a first message over a wireless network interface. The example method includes listening, by the first device, for the first message over a wired network interface. The example method includes, when the first device at least receives the first message over the wired network interface, transmitting, by the first device to at least one additional device over the wireless network interface, a second message, wherein the second message includes an indication, the indication indicating that the at least one additional device can change its network configuration to utilize the wired network interface of the first device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

periodically transmitting, by a first device having a wired network interface and a wireless network interface, a first message, wherein the first message is transmitted over the wireless network interface to one or more network devices;

listening, by the first device for the first message transmitted by the first device, the first device listening for the first message over the wired network interface; and

when the first device receives, at the wired network interface from at least one of the one or more network devices, the first message transmitted over the wireless network interface, transmitting, by the first device to at least one additional device over the wireless network interface, a second message, wherein the second message includes an indication for the at least one additional device to change its network configuration to utilize the wired network interface of the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication causes the at least one additional device to change its network configuration to a mesh network configuration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second message further includes a MAC address associated with the first device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first device periodically transmits the second message, and wherein the first device includes the indication in the second message until the occurrence of a triggering event.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the triggering event comprises:

receiving, by the first device, a third message; and

determining, by the first device, that the third message includes the MAC address associated with the first device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the triggering event comprises the elapsing of a specified period of time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the first device receives the first message over the wired network interface, changing, by the first device, a network configuration associated with the first device to a mesh network configuration.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for execution by a processor, the set of instructions, when executed, cause a first device to:

transmit a first message over a wireless network interface of the first device to one or more network devices;

listen for the first message transmitted by the first device, the first device listening for the first message over a wired network interface of the first device; and

when the first device receives, at the wired network interface from at least one of the one or more network device, the first message transmitted over the wireless network interface, transmit to at least one additional device over the wireless network interface, a second message, wherein the second message includes an indication, for the at least one additional device to change its network configuration to utilize the wired network interface of the first device.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the indication causes the at least one additional device to change its network configuration to a mesh network configuration.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the second message further includes a MAC address associated with the first device.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first device periodically transmits the second message, and wherein the first device includes the indication in the second message until the occurrence of a triggering event.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the triggering event comprises:

receipt, by the first device, of a third message; and

a determination, by the first device, that the third message includes the MAC address associated with the first device.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the triggering event comprises the elapsing of a specified period of time.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions that when executed, cause the first device to:

change, when the first device receives the first message over the wired network interface, a network configuration associated with the first device to a mesh network configuration.

15. A device comprising:

a wired network interface;

a wireless network interface;

a processor;

data storage; and

program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to;

transmit a first message over the wireless network interface to one or more network devices;

listen for the first message transmitted by the device, the device listening for the first message over the wired network interface; and

when the device receives, at the wired network interface from at least one of the one or more network devices, the first message transmitted over the wireless network interface, transmit to at least one additional device over the wireless network interface, a second message, wherein the second message includes an indication, for the at least one additional device to change its network configuration to utilize the wired network interface of the device.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the indication causes the at least one additional device to change its network configuration to a mesh network configuration.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the second message further includes a MAC address associated with the first device.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the device periodically transmits the second message, and wherein the first device includes the indication in the second message until the occurrence of a triggering event.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the triggering event comprises:

receipt, by the device, of a third message; and

a determination, by the device, that the third message includes the MAC address associated with the device.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the triggering event comprises the elapsing of a specified period of time.