Systems and methods for enforcing wireless regulatory compliance
First Claim
1. A method for enforcing wireless regulatory compliance for a wirelessly enabled thermostat, the method comprising:
- receiving a user designated location of the thermostat, wherein the user designated location is a geographic location;
initially configuring the thermostat to operate according to a first set of wireless communication channels based on the user designated location;
verifying the user designated location by analyzing at least one line power characteristic;
when the user designated location is verified, enabling the thermostat to operate according to the first set of wireless communication channels; and
when the user designated location is not verified, re-configuring the thermostat to operate according to a second set of wireless communication channels, wherein each of the wireless communication channels of the first and second set of wireless communication channels is characterized by a specific frequency.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for verifying that a device is using its Wi-Fi circuitry in compliance with the regulations governing the location in which the device is located. Embodiments discussed herein can verify the location using location verification tools that evaluate locally ascertainable factors that contribute to a probability determination of the device'"'"'s location. Locally ascertainable factors include information that be gleaned from the surroundings of the device. The surroundings or environment in which the device resides may provide clues as to whether the device is located in a particular regulatory domain.
15 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for enforcing wireless regulatory compliance for a wirelessly enabled thermostat, the method comprising:
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receiving a user designated location of the thermostat, wherein the user designated location is a geographic location; initially configuring the thermostat to operate according to a first set of wireless communication channels based on the user designated location; verifying the user designated location by analyzing at least one line power characteristic; when the user designated location is verified, enabling the thermostat to operate according to the first set of wireless communication channels; and when the user designated location is not verified, re-configuring the thermostat to operate according to a second set of wireless communication channels, wherein each of the wireless communication channels of the first and second set of wireless communication channels is characterized by a specific frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15)
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8. A method for enforcing wireless regulatory compliance for a home network device, the method comprising:
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making an initial compliance determination on how to configure wireless communications circuitry to operate according to a location based wireless regulation; verifying whether the initial compliance determination is accurate by validating the location of the home network device using at least one location verification tool, wherein the at least one verification tool comprises a plurality of location verification tools, wherein the verifying comprises; applying weighting factors to results obtained by each of the location verification tools to obtain weighted results; and determining a probability, based on the weighted results, that the initial compliance determination is accurate; continue operating the wireless communications circuitry according to the initial compliance determination in response to a verified initial compliance determination; and re-configuring the wireless communications circuitry to operate according to a different regulatory compliance scheme in response to a non-verified initial compliance determination. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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16. A thermostat comprising:
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a back plate coupled to line power; wireless communications circuitry for communicating according to an 802.11 protocol; a compliance database including a listing of a plurality of country specific wireless regulations for the 802.11 protocol; a location verification module operative to use at least one location verification tool to assess a location of the thermostat, wherein the at least one location verification tool is coupled to the back plate; and a control unit operative to control the thermostat, the thermostat further operative to; select an initial country specific wireless regulation; use the location verification module to determine a location of the thermostat; determine whether the location of the thermostat invalidates the selected initial country specific wireless regulation; configure the wireless communications circuitry to operate according to the selected initial country specific wireless regulation in response to a non-invalidated determination; and re-configuring the wireless communications circuitry to operate according to a different country specific wireless regulation in response to an invalidated determination. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification