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US 11,456,928 B2Granted
Playback device connection
AssigneeSonos, Inc.
InventorsNicholas A. J. Millington, Paul V. Hainsworth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques for automatically configuring necessary parameters of a device to be coupled to a network with minimum human intervention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wired and/or wireless Ad-hoc network is established to facilitate communications among a group of devices. When a new device is added to the network, a rudimentary communication path is initially established between one of the devices in the network and the new device such that necessary parameters (e.g., SSID, WEP security, channel frequency) can be exchanged for the new device to function properly in the network. To ensure the parameters are exchanged in a secure fashion, an additional public security procedure can be used between the two devices.
Claims41
A computing device comprising:
- a user interface;
- a network interface;
- at least one processor;
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium;
- and
- program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:
- while connected to a secure wireless network for exchanging digital data packets that is defined by one or more network devices:
- receive, via a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with an application for controlling one or more playback devices, user input indicating a user selection of a playback device to be set up for operation on the secure wireless network;
- and
- receive a first set of one or more messages collectively indicating that the playback device is available for setup;
- after receiving the user input and receiving the first set of one or more messages, transmit a response to the first set of one or more messages that facilitates establishing an initial communication path with the playback device, wherein the initial communication path with the playback device does not traverse any of the one or more network devices;
- transmit, to the playback device via the initial communication path, a second set of one or more messages collectively comprising network configuration parameters for the secure wireless network, wherein the network configuration parameters comprise an identifier of the secure wireless network and security information for the secure wireless network;
- after transmitting the second set of one or more messages collectively comprising the network configuration parameters, detect an indication that the playback device has connected to the secure wireless network;
- and
- after detecting the indication, transition from communicating with the playback device via the initial communication path to communicating with the playback device via the secure wireless network.
12 more elements
A non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computing device to:
- while connected to a secure wireless network for exchanging digital data packets that is defined by one or more network devices:
- receive, via a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with an application for controlling one or more playback devices, user input indicating a user selection of a playback device to be set up for operation on the secure wireless network;
- and
- receive a first set of one or more messages collectively indicating that the playback device is available for setup;
- after receiving the user input and receiving the first set of one or more messages, transmit a response to the first set of one or more messages that facilitates establishing an initial communication path with the playback device, wherein the initial communication path with the playback device does not traverse any of the one or more network devices;
- transmit, to the playback device via the initial communication path, a second set of one or more messages collectively comprising network configuration parameters for the secure wireless network, wherein the network configuration parameters comprise an identifier of the secure wireless network and security information for the secure wireless network;
- after transmitting the second set of one or more messages collectively comprising the network configuration parameters, detect an indication that the playback device has connected to the secure wireless network;
- and
- after detecting the indication, transition from communicating with the playback device via the initial communication path to communicating with the playback device via the secure wireless network.
6 more elements
A method carried out by a computing device, the method comprising:
- while connected to a secure wireless network for exchanging digital data packets that is defined by one or more network devices:
- receiving, via a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with an application for controlling one or more playback devices, user input indicating a user selection of a playback device to be set up for operation on the secure wireless network;
- and
- receiving a first set of one or more messages collectively indicating that the playback device is available for setup;
- after receiving the user input and receiving the first set of one or more messages, transmitting a response to the first set of one or more messages that facilitates establishing an initial communication path with the playback device, wherein the initial communication path with the playback device does not traverse any of the one or more network devices;
- transmitting, to the playback device via the initial communication path, a second set of one or more messages collectively comprising network configuration parameters for the secure wireless network, wherein the network configuration parameters comprise an identifier of the secure wireless network and security information for the secure wireless network;
- after transmitting the second set of one or more messages collectively comprising the network configuration parameters, detecting an indication that the playback device has connected to the secure wireless network;
- and
- after detecting the indication, transitioning from communicating with the playback device via the initial communication path to communicating with the playback device via the secure wireless network.
6 more elements
A system comprising:
- a computing device configured to communicate over at least one data network;
- and
- a playback device configured to communicate over at least one data network;
- the computing device comprising:
- at least one first processor;
- a first non-transitory computer-readable medium;
- and
- program instructions stored on the first non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one first processor such that the computing device is configured to:
- while connected to a secure wireless network for exchanging digital data packets that is defined by one or more network devices:
- receive, via a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with an application for controlling one or more playback devices, user input indicating a user selection of a playback device to be set up for operation on the secure wireless network;
- and
- receive a first set of one or more messages collectively indicating that the playback device is available for setup;
- after receiving the user input and receiving the first set of one or more messages, transmit a response to the first set of one or more messages that facilitates establishing an initial communication path with the playback device, wherein the initial communication path with the playback device does not traverse any of the one or more network devices;
- transmit, to the playback device via the initial communication path, a second set of one or more messages collectively comprising network configuration parameters for the secure wireless network, wherein the network configuration parameters comprise an identifier of the secure wireless network and security information for the secure wireless network;
- after transmitting the second set of one or more messages collectively comprising the network configuration parameters, detect an indication that the playback device has connected to the secure wireless network;
- and
- after detecting the indication, transition from communicating with the playback device via the initial communication path to communicating with the playback device via the secure wireless network;
- the playback device comprising:
- at least one second processor;
- a second non-transitory computer-readable medium;
- and
- program instructions stored on the second non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one second processor such that the playback device is configured to:
- transition from communicating with the computing device via the initial communication path to communicating with the computing device via the secure wireless network.
20 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.