Indicator on a network device

• US 9,866,447 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Millington, Nicholas A. J., Hainsworth, Paul V.
• Primary Examiner(s): MADAMBA, GLENFORD J
• Application Number:
  US14/486,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20150006685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 709220, 709231, 370254
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/28 Restricting access to network management systems or functions, e.g. using authorisation function to access network configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 : Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 : Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for connection of a device to a network are disclosed. In an example, a playback device includes an amplifier, a speaker, a button, a light indicator, a network interface, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes an application module that, when executed by the processor, causes the playback device to: detect a press of the button; after detecting the press of the button, cause the light indicator to indicate a first indication; determine that the playback device is connected to a wireless network; and after determining that the playback device is connected to the wireless network, cause the light indicator to indicate a second indication.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

an amplifier;

a speaker;

a button;

an indicator light;

a network interface;

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform a method comprising;

while the playback device is not configured to connect to a wireless network provided by a wireless access point, detecting a press of the button;

in response to detecting the press of the button, (i) initiating communications with a controller of the playback device via a first communication channel that does not traverse any wireless access point, and in response to initiating communications with the controller via the first communication channel, receiving one or more wireless network configuration parameters via the first communication channel from the controller, wherein the controller is a device separate from the wireless access point and the playback device, (ii) configuring the playback device to connect to the wireless network via a second communication channel based on the one or more wireless network configuration parameters received from the controller via the first communication channel, and (iii) activating a first indication via the indicator light when configuring the playback device to connect to the wireless network via the second communication channel, wherein after configuring the playback device to connect to the wireless network via the second communication channel, the playback device is configured to automatically connect to the wireless network via the second communication channel after being powered on;

connecting to the wireless network via the second communication channel; and

after connecting to the wireless network, activating a second indication via the indicator light, wherein the second indication confirms that the playback device is configured to communicate over the wireless network via the second communication channel.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first indication is a flashing indication.

3. The playback device of claim 2, wherein the flashing indication is a flashing green indication.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the second indication is a solid indication.

5. The playback device of claim 4, wherein the solid indication is a solid green indication.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first communication channel is a wireless communication channel.

7. The playback device of claim 1, wherein initiating communications with the controller comprises:

before receiving one or more wireless network configuration parameters from the controller via the first communication channel, sending, via the network interface, a first message to the controller.

8. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first indication is a flashing indication, and wherein the second indication is a solid indication.

9. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless network configuration parameters comprises one or more of a network identification, a security password, or a wireless channel frequency.

10. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the first indication is a flashing indication, and wherein the second indication is a solid indication.

11. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

determining that the playback device is connected to the wireless network; and

after determining that the playback device is connected to the wireless network, causing a graphical user interface of the controller to display an indication that the playback device is connected to the wireless network.

12. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

after connecting to the wireless network, receiving, via the network interface, audio information from an audio source over the wireless network via the wireless access point.

13. The playback device of claim 12, wherein the playback device further comprises a digital to analog convertor, and wherein the method further comprises:

causing the digital to analog convertor to convert audio information received via the audio source to an analog signal; and

causing the speaker to playback the analog signal.

14. The playback device of claim 1, wherein receiving one or more wireless network configuration parameters via the first communication channel comprises receiving the one or more wireless network configuration parameters via the network interface.

15. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless network configuration parameters comprises a network identifier for the wireless network.

16. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless network configuration parameters comprises a password for the wireless network.

17. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first communication channel is an unsecure communication channel.

18. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the second communication channel is a secure communication channel.

19. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the wireless network comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless network.

20. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a playback device to perform a method comprising:

while the playback device is not configured to connect to a wireless network provided by a wireless access point, detecting a press of a button on the playback device;

in response to detecting the press of the button, (i) initiating communications with a controller of the playback device via a first communication channel that does not traverse any wireless access point, and in response to initiating communications with the controller via the first communication channel, receiving one or more wireless network configuration parameters via the first communication channel from the controller, wherein the controller is a device separate from the wireless access point and the playback device, (ii) configuring the playback device to connect to the wireless network via a second communication channel based on the one or more wireless network configuration parameters received from the controller via the first communication channel, and (iii) activating a first indication via an indicator light when configuring the playback device to connect to the wireless network via the second communication channel, wherein after configuring the playback device to connect to the wireless network via the second communication channel, the playback device is configured to automatically connect to the wireless network via the second communication channel after being powered on;

after configuring the playback device to connect to the wireless network via the second communication channel, connecting to the wireless network via the second communication channel; and

after connecting to the wireless network via the second communication channel, activating a second indication via the indicator light, wherein the second indication confirms that the playback device is configured to communicate over the wireless network via the second communication channel.

21. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20, wherein the first indication is a flashing indication.

22. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein the flashing indication is a flashing green indication.

23. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20, wherein the second indication is a solid indication.

24. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 23, wherein the solid indication is a solid green indication.

25. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20, wherein the first communication channel comprises a wireless communication channel.

26. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20, wherein the one or more wireless network configuration parameters comprises a network identifier for the wireless network.

27. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20, wherein

the one or more wireless network configuration parameters comprises a password for the wireless network.

28. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20, wherein the first communication channel is an unsecure communication channel.

29. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the second communication channel is a secure communication channel.

30. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 20, wherein the wireless network comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless network.

31. A method performed by a playback device, the method comprising:

while the playback device is not configured to connect to a wireless network provided by a wireless access point, detecting a press of a button on the playback device;

in response to detecting the press of the button, (i) initiating communications with a controller of the playback device via a first communication channel that does not traverse any wireless access point, and in response to initiating communications with the controller via the first communication channel, receiving one or more wireless network configuration parameters via the first communication channel from the controller, wherein the controller is a device separate from the wireless access point and the playback device, (ii) configuring the playback device to connect to the wireless network via a second communication channel based on the one or more wireless network configuration parameters received from the controller via the first communication channel, and (iii) activating a first indication via an indicator light when configuring the playback device to connect to the wireless network via the second communication channel, wherein after configuring the playback device to connect to the wireless network via the second communication channel, the playback device is configured to automatically connect to the wireless network via the second communication channel after being powered on;

after configuring the playback device to connect to the wireless network, connecting to the wireless network via the second communication channel; and

after connecting to the wireless network via the second communication channel, activating a second indication via the indicator light, wherein the second indication confirms that the playback device is configured to communicate over the wireless network.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first indication is a flashing green indication, and wherein the second indication is a solid green indication.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the first communication channel comprises a wireless communication channel.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or more wireless network configuration parameters comprises a password for the wireless network.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or more wireless network configuration parameters comprises a password for the wireless network.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the first communication channel is an unsecure communication channel.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the second communication channel is a secure communication channel.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the wireless network comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless network.