Methods and systems for transmitting information between electronic devices

• US 9,960,959 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron Colpitts, Michael Flacco, Nicolas Flacco
• Original Assignee: Cameron Colpitts, Michael Flacco
• Inventors: Flacco, Michael, Flacco, Nicolas, Colpitts, Cameron
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THU HA T
• Application Number:
  US13/923,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20140068027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,776 Days
• Field of Search: 709218, 709220, 709224, 709228, 709219, 709221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Various embodiments of methods and systems for establishing communication over a wireless communication network between a master device and a partial function device. The master device and partial function device can use a separate communication channel during setup or configuration for communicating over the wireless communication network. The separate communication channel can be, for example, an audio-based channel or optical-based channel.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a target device on a wireless network comprising the following steps:

transmitting access credentials for the wireless network between a smart device and the target device through a different communication channel that is different from the wireless network, the different communication channel being established by visible light emitted from a lighting source on the smart device, sound emitted from an audio speaker of the smart device, or vibration caused by a vibration actuator of the smart device;

connecting the target device to the wireless network using the access credentials received from the smart device through the different communication channel; and

after connecting the target device to the wireless network, using the wireless network to transmit control information from the smart device to the target device to control a state of the target device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sound source is an audible sound.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the different communication channel is established by sound emitted from an audio speaker and wherein the access credentials for the wireless network are embedded into audible music or a linguistic phrase.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the target device comprises a power plug and outlet power socket, and wherein another target device comprises a power plug and outlet power socket, and further comprising connecting the target device and the another target device together for power transmission after the target device has been set up for communication over the wireless network, and transmitting setup information for the wireless network from the target device to the another target device using a signal over power protocol.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the different communication channel is further established by using visible light emitted from a lighting source on the target device, sound emitted from an audio speaker of the target device, or vibration caused by a vibration actuator of the target device, and wherein feedback information regarding status of enabling the target device to communicate with the smart device over the wireless network is sent by the target device over the different communication channel.