Phone-Triggered Wi-Fi Protected Setup for Remote Network Pairing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network devices require physical interaction to initiate Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) with client devices, causing inconvenience when users are not in close proximity.
Innovation Solution
A network device initiates WPS with a client device by receiving a feature number code from a connected phone, sending confirmation and acknowledgement signals, and monitoring the connection process, using audio or text messages to inform the user of the status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical interaction with the network device is required to initiate WPS, then the WPS process is simple and direct, but user convenience deteriorates when users are not in close proximity to the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a phone as an intermediary device between the user and the network device. The phone receives a feature number code from the user, sends it to the network device via a connected call, and relays status updates back to the user. This mediator enables remote WPS initiation without requiring physical proximity to the network device, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If remote WPS initiation is enabled through phone integration, then user convenience is improved, but the system complexity increases due to additional communication protocols and interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universal functionality of mobile phones, which already possess keypad input, audio output, and telephony capabilities. By utilizing these existing multi-functional features for WPS initiation, the system avoids adding dedicated remote control hardware or complex proprietary communication protocols, thus improving remote operation capability while minimizing the increase in system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device automatically processes the feature number code received from the phone and autonomously initiates the WPS process with the client device. The system also automatically provides status updates back to the user through the phone without requiring manual intervention or complex user-side processing, thereby enabling remote operation while keeping the control logic centralized and manageable.
3Loss of information
If audio signals and text messages are used to communicate WPS status, then user awareness of connection status is improved, but information transmission complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phone serves as an information intermediary that converts various status signals from the network device into user-friendly formats. Audio signals provide immediate verbal feedback about WPS status, while text messages offer detailed information that can be read at the user's convenience. This dual-channel intermediary approach ensures comprehensive status information delivery without requiring the network device itself to have complex communication capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A network device initiating WPS with a client device based on receiving a signal from a phone. The network device receives a feature number code from a phone connected to the network device. The feature number code is entered on the phone using a keypad and causes the network device to initiate WPS with a client device. The network device sends the phone a first signal indicating that WPS has been triggered. The network device determines a success of the WPS to connect the client device to the Wi-Fi network. The network device sends the phone a second signal indicating that the client device successfully connected to the Wi-Fi network. The first and second signals may be audio signals that are emitted by the speaker of the phone. The network device stores client device connection information in memory.