Home Network Commissioning via Parent-Child Hierarchy
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing popularity of wireless communication devices poses challenges in inhibiting unaffiliated devices from forming unwanted wireless networks, especially in residential settings where physical proximity can lead to unintended network connections.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication device with a transceiver, non-volatile memory, and a controller, capable of entering a network set-up mode, scans for a parent device to adopt its network name, and operates in a time-limited mode to prevent unaffiliated devices from joining, using a unique network name as a virtual barrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless communication devices use ad hoc or automatic network configuration, then ease of operation is improved, but unaffiliated devices may form unwanted networks with physically proximate devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a parent-child relationship hierarchy before network formation. The parent device is designated in advance and configured to share its network name with child devices, creating a controlled network structure before unaffiliated devices can join. This preliminary hierarchical setup prevents unwanted network formation while maintaining automatic configuration benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a parent device as an intermediary that mediates network formation between child devices and the network. The parent device acts as a gatekeeper by controlling which devices can join the network through the network name sharing mechanism, thereby preventing unaffiliated devices from forming unwanted networks while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If devices share network names to form networks, then ease of operation is improved, but network security and integrity may be compromised by unaffiliated devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a parent-child relationship hierarchy before network formation. The parent device is designated in advance and configured to share its network name with child devices, creating a controlled network structure before unaffiliated devices can join. This preliminary hierarchical setup prevents unwanted network formation while maintaining automatic configuration benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a parent device as an intermediary that mediates network formation between child devices and the network. The parent device acts as a gatekeeper by controlling which devices can join the network through the network name sharing mechanism, thereby preventing unaffiliated devices from forming unwanted networks while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and methods for commissioning a home network and inhibiting unaffiliated wireless communication devices that are physically proximate to each other from forming a wireless network. A wireless communication device may include a transceiver capable of communicating with at least a second device, a non-volatile memory capable of storing a network name, a controller, and a user input acceptance element capable of placing the controller in a network set-up mode. The controller may have a plurality of modes including the network set-up mode, as well as a status indicator for providing an indication of whether the device is operating with one of a parent status and a child status. A method for joining a wireless network may include entering a network set up mode, and scanning for a second device operating with a parent status. If the second device is operating with the parent status, the network name of the second device may be adopted as the network name. However, if there is no second device operating with the parent status, the network name may be established as either a new name or an existing name.