# US 8,274,913 B2 · Method and system for configuring wireless communication of survey sensors and controllers

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- Number: US 8,274,913 B2
- Document ID: US8274913B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/188,529
- Filed: 2008-08-08
- Published: 2010-02-11
- Granted: 2012-09-25
- Earliest claimed: 2008-08-08
- Assignees: Trimble Navigation Limited
- Inventors: Stuart Edward Ralston
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8274913B2

## CPC

- H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information
- H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition
- H04L 69/24: Negotiation of communication capabilities
- H04L 67/52: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
- H04W 8/005: {Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals}
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A method and system for configuring wireless communication of survey sensors and controllers is recited. In one embodiment, a survey device controller is configured to receive a first wireless communication comprising a sequence indicating that a survey device is configured to participate in an automatic configuration process with the survey device controller. The system further comprises the survey device which is configured to generate a second wireless communication indicating the reception of a selection event to communicatively couple the survey device with the survey device controller. The survey device controller is further configured to automatically initiate a wireless communication connection comprising the survey device controller and the survey device in response to receiving the second wireless signal contemporaneous with receiving a signal which is generated by the survey device controller to communicatively couple the survey device controller with the survey device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for configuring wireless communication of a survey device and a survey device controller, said system comprising:
a survey device controller configured to receive a first wireless communication comprising a sequence indicating that a survey device is configured to participate in an automatic configuration process with said survey device controller; and
said survey device which is configured to generate a second wireless communication conveying that a first button disposed on said survey device indicating the reception of a selection event to communicatively couple said survey device with said survey device controller has been pressed and wherein said survey device controller is further configured to automatically initiate a wireless communication connection between said survey device controller and said survey device in response to receiving said second wireless communication contemporaneous with receiving a signal generated by said survey device controller which indicates that a second button disposed on said survey device controller has been pressed to communicatively couple said survey device controller with said survey device and wherein said survey device controller is further configured to automatically generate a third wireless communication to initiate discovery of said survey device in response to said signal and wherein said survey device is configured to automatically generate said first wireless communication in response to receiving said third wireless communication.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said survey device controller is configured to generate a Bluetooth® discovery command as said third wireless communication.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2 wherein said survey device controller is configured to ignore a reply from a device when said reply does not comprise said sequence.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said survey device controller is configured to suspend initiating said wireless communication connection in response to receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of survey devices concurrent with receiving said signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said survey device controller is configured to automatically monitor a radio channel pre-selected for configuring said wireless communication connection in response to receiving said signal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5 wherein said survey device is configured to broadcast said second wireless communication on said radio channel pre-selected for configuring said wireless communication connection in response to receiving said signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6 wherein said survey device controller is configured to randomly select a second radio channel from a set of pre-selected radio channels and to randomly select a network identification from a pre-selected set of network identifications and to convey said second radio channel and said network identification to said survey device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein said survey device and said survey device controller implement said wireless communication connection using said second radio channel and said network identification.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7 wherein said survey device controller and said survey device are configured to establish a second wireless communication connection comprising said survey device and said survey device controller using said second radio channel and said network identification and to terminate said wireless communication connection when said second wireless communication connection is established.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said survey device controller is configured to generate a second signal indicating that establishing said wireless communication connection is in progress and to generate a third signal indicating that establishing said wireless communication connection has been completed.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said first wireless communication and said second wireless communication are exchanged via a WiFi wireless communication connection.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein said first wireless communication and said second wireless communication are exchanged via a cellular wireless communication connection.

### Claim 13

A method for configuring wireless communication of a survey device and a survey device controller, said method comprising:
receiving by a survey device controller a first wireless communication comprising a sequence indicating that a survey device is configured to participate in an automatic configuration process with said survey device controller;
receiving by said survey device controller a second wireless communication from said survey device indicating the reception of a selection event to communicatively couple said survey device with said survey device controller and wherein said selection event comprises an indication of a first button disposed on said survey device has been pressed;
receiving a signal which is generated by said survey device controller to communicatively couple said survey device controller with said survey device said signal comprising an indication of a second button disposed on said survey device controller has been pressed and wherein said receiving said signal is contemporaneous with said receiving said second wireless communication;
initiating a wireless communication connection by said survey device controller in response to said receiving said second wireless communication contemporaneous with said receiving said signal and wherein said wireless communication connection comprises said survey device controller and said survey device;
using said survey device controller to automatically generate a third wireless communication to initiate discovery of said survey device in response to said signal; and
automatically generating said first wireless communication by said survey device in response to receiving said third wireless communication.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said generating said third wireless communication further comprises:
generating a Bluetooth® discovery command by said survey device controller as said third wireless communication.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising:
said survey device controller ignoring a communication from a device when said communication does not comprise said sequence.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising:
suspending said initiating said wireless communication connection in response to said survey device controller receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of survey devices concurrent with receiving said signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising:
automatically monitoring a radio channel pre-selected for configuring said wireless communication connection in response to said survey device controller receiving said signal.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising:
broadcasting said second wireless communication by said survey device on said radio channel pre-selected for configuring said wireless communication connection in response to receiving said signal.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method as recited in claim 18 further comprising:
randomly selecting a second radio channel by said survey device controller from a set of pre-selected radio channels;
randomly selecting a network identification by said survey device controller from a pre-selected set of network identifications; and
conveying said second radio channel and said network identification to said survey device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method as recited in claim 19 further comprising:
using said second radio channel and said network identification to implement said wireless communication connection by said survey device and said survey device controller.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method as recited in claim 19 further comprising:
establishing a second wireless communication connection comprising said survey device and said survey device controller using said second radio channel and said network identification; and
terminating said wireless communication connection when said second wireless connection is established.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising:
generating a second signal by said survey device controller indicating that establishing said wireless communication connection is in progress; and
generating a third signal by said survey device controller indicating that establishing said wireless communication connection has been completed.

### Claim 23 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising:
utilizing a WiFi wireless communication connection exchange said first wireless communication and said second wireless communication.

### Claim 24 (depends on 13)

The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising:
utilizing a cellular wireless communication connection exchange said first wireless communication and said second wireless communication.

### Claim 25

A method for configuring wireless communication, said method comprising:
receiving by a first device a first wireless communication comprising a sequence indicating that a second device is configured to participate in an automatic configuration process with said first device;
receiving by said second device an indication of a selection event wherein a first button disposed on said second device has been pressed;
receiving by said first device a second wireless communication from said second device indicating the reception of said selection event to communicatively couple said second device with said first device;
receiving a signal which is generated by said first device to communicatively couple said first device with said second device wherein receiving said signal comprises an indication of a second button disposed on said first device has been pressed and wherein said receiving said signal is contemporaneous with said receiving said second wireless communication;
initiating a wireless communication connection by said first device in response to said receiving said second wireless communication contemporaneous with said receiving said signal and wherein said wireless communication connection comprises said first device and said second device;
using said first device to automatically generate a third wireless communication to initiate discovery of said second device in response to said signal; and
automatically generating said first wireless communication by said second device in response to receiving said third wireless communication.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method as recited in claim 25 wherein said generating said third wireless communication further comprises:
generating a Bluetooth® discovery command by said first device as said third wireless communication.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method as recited in claim 26 further comprising:
said first device ignoring a communication from a device when said communication does not comprise said sequence.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
suspending said initiating said wireless communication connection in response to said first device receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of second devices concurrent with receiving said signal.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
automatically monitoring a radio channel pre-selected for configuring said wireless communication connection in response to said first device receiving said signal.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method as recited in claim 29 further comprising:
broadcasting said second wireless communication by said second device on said radio channel pre-selected for configuring said wireless communication connection in response to receiving said signal.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method as recited in claim 30 further comprising:
randomly selecting a second radio channel by said first device from a set of pre-selected radio channels;
randomly selecting a network identification by said first device from a pre-selected set of network identifications; and
conveying said second radio channel and said network identification to said second device.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method as recited in claim 31 further comprising:
using said second radio channel and said network identification to implement said wireless communication connection by said second device and said first device.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The method as recited in claim 31 further comprising:
establishing a second wireless communication connection comprising said second device and said first device using said second radio channel and said network identification; and
terminating said wireless communication connection when said second wireless connection is established.

### Claim 34 (depends on 25)

The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
generating a second signal by said first device indicating that establishing said wireless communication connection is in progress; and
generating a third signal by said first device indicating that establishing said wireless communication connection has been completed.

### Claim 35 (depends on 25)

The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
selecting said first device and said second device from the group consisting of: a camera, a laser tracking device, an optical total station, a robotic total station, a Geographic Information System (GIS) device, and a controller.

### Claim 36 (depends on 25)

The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
receiving by said first device a third wireless communication comprising a sequence indicating that a third device is configured to participate in an automatic configuration process with said first device;
receiving by said first device a fourth wireless communication from said third device indicating the reception of a selection event to communicatively couple said third device with said first device;
receiving a signal which is generated by said first device to communicatively couple said first device with said third device and wherein said receiving said signal is contemporaneous with said receiving said fourth wireless communication; and
initiating a wireless communication connection by said first device in response to said receiving said fourth wireless communication contemporaneous with said receiving said signal and wherein said wireless communication connection comprises said first device and said third device.

### Claim 37 (depends on 25)

The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
utilizing a WiFi wireless communication connection exchange said first wireless communication and said second wireless communication.

### Claim 38 (depends on 25)

The method as recited in claim 25 further comprising:
utilizing a cellular wireless communication connection exchange said first wireless communication and said second wireless communication.