Optically configured modularized control system to enable wireless network control and sensing of other devices

Abstract

System and method of interfacing arbitrary non-network connected devices to wireless computer networks. The invention provides an optically configurable wireless communications module, in either fixed or removable formats, with wireless (e.g. WiFi) network connectivity. The module also has a programmable arbitrary device controller, associated software, and at least the combination of the arbitrary device and the module also provides a unique ID code. A software token assisted method may be used to associate the unique ID code with appropriate control software and this association stored in network server memory. The invention also uses an internet-based service and a local optical programmer to configure the module's wireless network configuration. Once connectivity is established, the module may upload its unique ID code to the server and receive appropriate arbitrary device control code from the server. Portable version modules may be swapped between arbitrary devices at will, and will automatically configure themselves.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application is U.S. Patent Application 13 / 481,737 "MODULARIZED CONTROL SYSTEM TO ENABLE NETWORKED CONTROL AND SENSING OF OTHER DEVICES" filed on May 25, 2012 by inventor Hugo Fiennes system)”; this application also requires the US provisional application 61 / 647,476 “MODULARIZEDCONTROL SYSTEM TO ENABLE NETWORKED CONTROL AND SENSINGOF OTHER DEVICES (enabling network control of other devices) submitted by the inventor Hugo Fiennes on May 15, 2012 and sensing modular control system)”; this application also claims the US provisional application 61 / 583,299 “Method of transferring network setup information using optical signaling” filed on January 5, 2012 by inventor Hugo Fiennes Method of Signaling Transmission of Network Settings Information)"; U.S. Patent Application 13 / 481,737 also claims inventor Hugo Fiennes' U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 490,498 "MODULARIZED CONTROL SYSTEM TOENABLE NETWORKED CONTROL AND SENSING OF ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0008] Because the implementation of the network portion of these devices is often incomplete and bug-ridden, customers of these network-enabled devices often have poor experiences installing and operating the network portion of these devices

Additionally, customers often find that no single vendor can provide network-enabled versions of all the devices they wish to control or monitor

As a result, customers are often forced to use multiple different and incompatible control or monitoring services, and are often unable to link the results of monitoring one device to the actions of another

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