Wireless Device Profile Provisioning for Headless IoT Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Headless wireless computing devices, lacking displays and input controls, face challenges in provisioning for wireless network connectivity due to size limitations and design constraints, making it difficult to establish necessary network settings for connection to personal or specific wireless networks.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a secondary device with wireless connectivity to provision headless devices by establishing a first wireless connection, receiving provisioning data, and configuring a second wireless connection of a different type to connect to a wireless access point, using a computer-implemented process that includes generating and sending wireless device profiles to enable network access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If headless devices use sealed housings without physical connectors, then device aesthetics and form factor are improved, but provisioning capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary device as an intermediary to perform provisioning operations on the headless device. The secondary device establishes a wireless connection with the headless device, retrieves provisioning information, and configures network settings remotely, thereby eliminating the need for physical connectors while maintaining provisioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical provisioning system (physical connectors and direct device interaction) with a wireless electronic system. The headless device communicates provisioning information wirelessly to the secondary device, which then configures network settings through wireless communication, substituting mechanical interfaces with wireless electromagnetic communication.
2Volume of moving object
If headless devices lack displays and input controls, then device size is reduced, but user configuration capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary device serves as a mediator that provides the display and input control interfaces needed for user configuration. The user interacts with the secondary device's display and controls to configure network settings, which are then applied to the headless device, transferring the configuration capability from the headless device to the secondary device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the display and input control functions from the headless device and relocates them to the secondary device. This allows the headless device to maintain its small size while the secondary device provides the necessary user interface capabilities for configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manufacturers cannot provision devices before distribution, then device adaptability is improved, but provisioning efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables manufacturers to perform preliminary provisioning actions by pre-configuring device profiles and storing provisioning information in the headless device during manufacturing. This preliminary configuration allows for faster deployment and reduced provisioning time when devices are distributed to users.
Data Source
AI summary
Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for provisioning wireless device profiles of a wireless computing device. In this context, a wireless device profile generally may comprise one or more network and device settings including network identifiers, network security types, network keys, and other configuration information that enables a computing device to connect to a particular wireless computer network. According one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises establishing, with a first device, a first wireless connection of a first wireless connection type; receiving, from the first device via the first wireless connection, provisioning data for establishing, with a second device, a second wireless connection of a second wireless connection type that is different than the first wireless connection type; establishing, based on the provisioning data, the second wireless connection with the second device.