Network configuration via a wireless device

Abstract

When configuring a network system (10) in a user's residence, a patient to receive home healthcare assistance or other user receives an encoded configuration message. One type of configuration message includes a sequence of code words, each of which corresponds to one or more numerical digits, which the user receives via voice or text message on a mobile phone (28), as an email message, etc., and the user enters the codewords into a set top box (STB) (12). The user enters the codewords by selecting the codewords and/or images representing the codewords displayed on a GUI (18). The STB (12) uses a translation table (40, 42) to decode the codewords to determine the numerical sequences. The complete sequence represents a configuration information sequence, such as a user ID, an IP address, or the like, and is employed by the STB (12) to configure itself and/or other components in the network system (10). If the configuration message is received on a Bluetooth-capable cellular device, the configuration sequence is sent wirelessly to the STB (12).

Description

technical field [0001] This application is specifically applied in health care and health systems, and especially relates to assisting the elderly or the infirm to configure a remote health monitoring system. However, it will be appreciated that the techniques described may also be applied in other remote access systems, other user identification and / or system configuration situations, or other encoding / decoding techniques. Background technique [0002] Complex networked devices installed in consumers' homes often require complex configurations that may vary between users, service providers, countries, and so on. This further increases the difficulty that the user may encounter. For example, network configuration and user ID information may vary in different countries employing different frequencies and / or channels for network service. This variance complicates the creation of generic off-the-shelf systems, as devices or components of the systems often require country-spec...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In addition, older users often have other limitations that may prevent system installation, such as decreased vision and / or lack of experience with newer technologies

For example, vision-impaired users may have difficulty correctly entering encrypted security keys with multiple alphanumeric symbols, varying upper and lower case letters, etc.

Repeated mistakes in security key entry often lead to user frustration and disregard for procedures, which in turn makes network connections insecure and vulnerable

Alternatively, such users may be forced to pay extra to have a professional come to their home to install the system, or to spend longer on the service provider's helpline trying to identify the problem, both of which increase the overall system cost

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