System and method for configuring communication devices

• US 9,917,731 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2016
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HM Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: HM Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Gwynn, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ayotunde, Ayodeji
• Application Number:
  US15/203,462
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411- 413
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A communication system that includes a base unit and one or more end units that communicate over a primary communication link using a first communication protocol and a secondary communication link using a second protocol. The secondary communication link may be a shorter range communication link than the primary communication link. The secondary communication link may be used to transmit and receive registration information, configuration settings, and status information between the end units and the base unit.

Claims

1. A system for configuring communication devices within a communication system, wherein the communication devices include one or more portable end units and a base station, the system comprising:

a first communication device configured to communicate over a primary communication link and a secondary communication link different from the primary communication link, wherein the first communication device is a portable end unit of the communication system, and wherein communication over the primary communication link includes two-way audio communication;

a second communication device configured to communicate with the first communication device over the primary communication link and the secondary communication link, wherein the second communication device is the base station of the communication system, wherein the second communication device is further configured to;

send an identification communication to the first communication device over the secondary communication link;

receive identification information from the first communication device over the secondary communication link, in response to the sent identification communication;

obtain a desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device;

transmit, over the secondary communication link, information representing the desired set of configuration settings from the second communication device to the first communication device, causing the first communication device to be configured to facilitate two-way audio communication over the primary communication link in accordance with the desired set of configuration settings.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein obtainment of the desired set of configuration settings is responsive to a determination that either the first communication device has been configured to facilitate two-way audio communication over the primary communication link or the first communication device is due to be configured to facilitate two-way audio communication over the primary communication link, wherein the determination is based on the identification information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second communication device is configured to:

obtain a set of current configuration settings for the first communication device;

compare the set of current configuration settings of the first communication device with the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device;

determine one or more adjustments for the set of current configuration settings based on the comparison; and

,

transmit, over the secondary communication link, the one or more adjustments from the secondary communication device to the first communication device, causing the first communication device to be configured in accordance with the one or more adjustments.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device is obtained from selection and/or entry, at the second communication device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication device includes a microphone, wherein the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device is determined based on one or more parameters of the first communication device, wherein the one or more parameters are determined based on the identification information, and wherein the two-way audio communication over the primary communication link includes audio captured by the microphone of the first communication device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device is determined based on one or more sets of configuration settings for other communication devices that have been previously configured.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second communication device comprises one or more remote communication devices for communicating over the secondary communication link.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more remote communication devices have location information associated with them, and wherein the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device is based on the location information of the one or more remote communication devices.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary communication link is one or more of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) communication link, Bluetooth communication link, and/or a near-field communication (NFC) link.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein communication using the secondary communication link requires proximity of the first communication device to the second communication device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device is obtained through a network connection.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the second communication device is further configured to obtain information representing one or both of an identity and/or a role of a user of the first communication device, and wherein the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device is based on the identification information for the user.

13. A method for configuring communication devices within a communication system, wherein the communication devices include one or more portable end units and a base station, the method being implemented by one or more physical processors in a first and second communication device of the communication system that are configured to execute computer-readable instructions to perform the method, the first communication device being adapted to communicate over a primary communication link and a secondary communication link different from the primary communication link, wherein the first communication device is a portable end unit of the communication system, wherein the second communication device is the base station of the communication system, and wherein communication over the primary communication link includes two-way audio communication, the method comprising:

sending, over a secondary communication link, from the second communication device to the first communication device, an identification communication;

receiving identification information, over the secondary communication link, from the first communication device, in response to the sent identification communication;

obtaining a desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device;

transmitting, from the second communication device to the first communication device, over the secondary communication link, information representing the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device; and

causing the first communication device to be configured to facilitate two-way audio communication over the primary communication link in accordance with the desired set of configuration settings.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining that either the first communication device has been configured to facilitate two-way audio communication over the primary communication link or the first communication device is due to be configured to facilitate two-way audio communication over the primary communication link, wherein the determination is based on the identification information, wherein obtaining the desired set of configuration settings is responsive to the determination.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

registering the first communication device to the second communication device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

obtaining a set of current configuration settings for the first communication device;

comparing the set of current configuration settings of the first communication device with the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device;

determining one or more adjustments for the set of current configuration settings based on the comparing;

transmitting, over the secondary communication link, the one or more adjustments from the secondary communication device to the first communication device; and

causing the first communication device to be configured in accordance with the one or more adjustments.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein obtaining the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device includes obtaining from entry and/or selection by a user at the second communication device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device is based on one or more sets of configuration settings for other communication devices that have been previously configured.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the second communication device comprises one or more remote communication devices for communicating over the secondary communication link.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

associating location information with the one or more remote communication devices, wherein obtaining the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device includes determining one or more configuration settings based on the location information of the one or more remote communication devices.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the secondary communication link is one or more of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) communication link, Bluetooth communication link, and/or a near-field communication (NFC) link.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein communication using the secondary communication link requires proximity of the first communication device to the second communication device.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the first communication device includes a microphone, wherein the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device is obtained through a network connection, and wherein the two-way audio communication over the primary communication link includes audio captured by the microphone of the first communication device.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

obtaining information representing one or both of an identity and/or a role of a user of the first communication device, wherein the desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device is based on the identification information for the user.

25. A system for configuring communication devices within a communication system, wherein the communication devices include one or more portable end units and a base station, the system comprising:

a first communication device configured to communicate over a first primary communication link and a first secondary communication link different from the first primary communication link, wherein the first communication device is a first portable end unit of the communication system, and wherein communication over the first primary communication link includes two-way audio communication;

a second communication device configured to communicate over a second primary communication link and a second secondary communication link different from the second primary communication link, wherein the second communication device is a second portable end unit of the communication system, and wherein communication over the second primary communication link includes two-way audio communication;

a third communication device configured to communicate with the first communication device over the first primary communication link and the first secondary communication link, wherein the third communication device is the base station of the communication system, wherein the third communication device is further configured to communicate with the second communication device over the second primary communication link and the second secondary communication link, wherein the third communication device is further configured to;

send a first identification communication to the first communication device over the first secondary communication link;

send a second identification communication to the second communication device over the second secondary communication link;

receive first identification information from the first communication device over the first secondary communication link, in response to the sent first identification communication;

receive second identification information from the second communication device over the second secondary communication link, in response to the sent second identification communication;

obtain a first desired set of configuration settings for the first communication device;

obtain a second desired set of configuration settings for the second communication device;

transmit, over the first secondary communication link, first information representing the first desired set of configuration settings from the third communication device to the first communication device, causing the first communication device to be configured to facilitate two-way audio communication over the first primary communication link in accordance with the first desired set of configuration settings; and

transmit, over the second secondary communication link, second information representing the second desired set of configuration settings from the third communication device to the second communication device, causing the second communication device to be configured to facilitate two-way audio communication over the second primary communication link in accordance with the second desired set of configuration settings, wherein the first desired set of configuration settings is different from the second desired set of configuration settings.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein configuration settings of the first primary communication link and the second primary communication link are the same.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein contents of the two-way audio communication via the first primary communication link is different from contents of the two-way audio communication via the second primary communication link.