System and method for negotiating group membership for audio controllers

• US 9,999,091 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2016
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: D&M Holdings Incorporated (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: D&M Holdings Incorporated (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wachter, Martin Richard, Yamanouchi, Ryouichi, Baxter, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Zaidi, Iqbal
• Application Number:
  US15/152,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20160337190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 370328-339, 455569, 455 412- 413
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks

Abstract

A method for connecting an audio device to a wireless network is provided. A first audio device on a wireless network receives notice that a second audio device not on the network is available to join the wireless network. The first audio device provides a bridge network apart from the wireless network. A bridge channel is established between the first audio device and the second audio device via the bridge network. The first audio device provides network credentials to the second audio device over the bridge channel. The second audio device uses the credentials to establish a connection with the wireless network.

Claims

1. A method for adding a second audio device into a wireless network comprising a wireless network router, a first audio device, and a controller application running on a controller device, comprising the steps of:

receiving by a first audio device on the network notice that a second audio device not on the network is available;

providing a bridge network by the first audio device;

establishing a bridge channel between the first audio device and the second audio device via the bridge network;

providing network credentials to the second audio device over the bridge channel;

using the provided network credentials, establish a network connection for second audio device;

providing a DHCP request to the first audio device by the second audio device via the bridge network;

forwarding the DHCP request by the first audio device to the wireless network router via the wireless network;

receiving the provided network credentials by the first audio device from the wireless network router via the wireless network;

detecting, by the second audio device, the bridge network;

connecting, by the second audio device, to the bridge network;

notifying the controller application the first audio device has established a bridge channel with the second audio device; and

via a GUI on the controller application, requesting the user to initiate an audio device network handshake over the bridge channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first audio device receives from the controller application the notice the second audio device is available.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of discovering the second audio device on the network by the controller application.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of detecting, by the second audio device, the bridge network.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of connecting, by the second audio device, to the bridge network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of via a GUI on the controller application, requesting the user to initiate an audio device network handshake over the bridge channel.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of initiating the DHCP request by the second audio device via an actuator on the second audio device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of discovering the second audio device on the network by the controller application.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving by the controller application from the first audio device, configuration information for an internet access point;

sending, by the controller application, the configuration information for the internet access point to the second device;

using the configuration information for the internet access point, by the second device, to connect to the access point.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of requesting from the first audio device, the configuration information for the internet access point.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving by the controller application from the user, a name for the second audio device;

requesting, by the controller application, a configuration information token from the second device;

receiving, by the controller application, the configuration information token from the second device; and

receiving, by the second audio device, the name for the second audio device from the controller application.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of comparing, by the controller application, information from the configuration token with a preconfigured configuration.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding, by the controller application, the second audio device to a group comprising the first audio device.

14. A system operating within a wireless communication network, comprising:

a first audio device comprising;

a first communication processor and a first network interface configured to communicate via the wireless communication network; and

a first processor and a first memory configured to store non-transitory instructions which, when executed by the first processor, perform the steps of;

receiving notice that a second audio device not on the wireless communication network is available;

providing a bridge network via the communication processor;

establishing a bridge channel with the second audio device via the bridge network; and

providing credentials for the wireless communication network to the second audio device over the bridge channel;

the second audio device comprising;

a second communication processor and a second network interface; and

a second processor and a second memory configured to store non-transitory instructions which, when executed by the second processor, perform the steps of;

detecting the bridge network via the second interface;

establishing a bridge channel with the first audio device via the bridge network;

receiving credentials for the wireless communication network from the second audio device over the bridge channel; and

using the received network credentials, joining the wireless communication network via the second interface; and

a controller device in communication with the wireless communication network comprising;

a third communication processor and a third network interface; and

a third processor and a third memory configured to store non-transitory instructions which, when executed by the third processor, perform the steps of;

providing a controller application comprising a graphical user interface (GUI), the controller application configured to perform the steps of;

notifying the first audio device the second audio device not on the wireless communication network is available;

receiving configuration information via the GUI regarding the second audio device, wherein the second audio device is not configured to communicate over the wireless communication network;

after the second audio device has joined the wireless communication network, discovering the second audio device on the wireless communication network; and

adding the second audio device on the wireless communication network to a group.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the first audio device is further configured to perform the step of notifying the controller application the first audio device has established a bridge channel with the second audio device; and

the controller device is further configured to perform the step of, via a GUI, requesting the user to initiate a bridge channel handshake between the first audio device and the second audio device.