Systems and methods for provisioning devices using acoustic signals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10209690-B2
Application number	US-201614997440-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2016
Priority date	Jan 15, 2016
Publication date	Feb 19, 2019
Grant date	Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

A computer system is communicably coupled to one or more sensor devices. The computer system obtains a database of stored acoustic signatures characterizing predefined acoustic signals generated by passive tags in response to physical motion of the passive tags. The passive tags are associated with non-provisioned devices, and the acoustic signatures are associated with sets of executable instructions for provisioning the non-provisioned devices. A first acoustic signal characterized by a respective acoustic signature and generated by a first passive tag is detected. In response, and based on the respective acoustic signature and information in the database, a first non-provisioned device associated with the respective acoustic signature is identified, and a first set of executable instructions for provisioning the first non-provisioned device is identified. After, the computer system causes execution of the first set of executable instructions, thereby causing to commence a software process for provisioning the first non-provisioned device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of provisioning devices for use in a smart home environment, comprising:
at a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors, wherein the computer system is communicably coupled to one or more sensor devices:
obtaining a database of stored acoustic signatures characterizing predefined acoustic signals generated by passive tags in response to physical motion of the passive tags, wherein the passive tags are electrically non-powered and are associated with non-provisioned devices, and wherein the acoustic signatures are associated with respective sets of executable instructions for provisioning the non-provisioned devices for use in the smart home environment;
receiving a first acoustic signal characterized by a respective acoustic signature and generated by a first one of the passive tags; and
in response to the receiving:
comparing one or more respective characteristics of the respective acoustic signature of the first acoustic signal with one or more respective characteristics of one or more of the stored acoustic signatures from the database;
identifying, from the one or more acoustic signatures from the database, a matching acoustic signature that satisfies a match criterion, wherein the matching acoustic signature is associated with a first non-provisioned device of the non-provisioned devices and a first set of the respective sets of executable instructions corresponding to the first non-provisioned device;
identifying the first non-provisioned device associated with the respective acoustic signature and in accordance with the matching acoustic signature;
identifying the first set of executable instructions for provisioning the first non-provisioned device; and
causing execution of the first set of executable instructions, thereby causing to commence a software process for provisioning the first non-provisioned device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein provisioning the first non-provisioned device comprises pairing or associating an online user account with a respective identifier of the first non-provisioned device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein acoustic signatures, which include the stored acoustic signatures in the database and the respective acoustic signature of the first acoustic signal, are respectively defined by one or more characteristics of acoustic signatures, the characteristics including at least one of:
an acoustic signature length;
one or more amplitude values; and
one or more spectral coefficients for one or more respective frequencies.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each or any combination of the one or more characteristics respectively defining the stored acoustic signatures is associated with: a device type and/or a respective set of executable instructions.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein each or any combination of the one or more characteristics respectively defining the stored acoustic signatures is associated with a respective stage of a plurality of stages of the software process for provisioning the first non-provisioned device.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein each or any combination of the one or more characteristics respectively defining the stored acoustic signatures is associated with a location in which a respective non-provisioned device is configured to operate.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein each or any combination of the one or more characteristics respectively defining the stored acoustic signatures is associated with a current software and/or firmware version of a respective non-provisioned device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first passive tag comprises a material configured to generate the first acoustic signal in response to physical contact when physically moved in a predetermined manner.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first passive tag is a component of a packaging associated with the first non-provisioned device.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after identifying and prior to causing execution of the first set of executable instructions, downloading the identified first set of executable instructions from a remote server.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the execution of the first set of executable instructions comprises executing the first set of executable instructions on the computer system.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the execution of the first set of executable instructions comprises sending a command to the first non-provisioned device, wherein the command causes the first non-provisioned device to execute the first set of executable instructions.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of executable instructions includes instructions for executing installation software.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of executable instructions includes instructions for registering the first non-provisioned device with the computer system.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of executable instructions includes instructions for commencing a pairing operation to establish a communications channel between the computer system and the first non-provisioned device.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
in response to establishing the communications channel between the computer system and the non-provisioned device, causing execution of a second set of executable instructions corresponding to a subsequent stage in the software process.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of executable instructions includes instructions for:
determining, based on the respective acoustic signature and information in the database, whether a respective software version of the first non-provisioned device is outdated; and
commencing a software update process in accordance with a determination that the respective software version of the first non-provisioned device is outdated.

18. A computer system for provisioning devices for use in a smart home environment, comprising:
one or more sensor devices that are communicatively coupled to the computer system;
one or more processors; and
memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
obtaining a database of stored acoustic signatures characterizing predefined acoustic signals generated by passive tags in response to physical motion of the passive tags, wherein the passive tags are electrically non-powered and are associated with non-provisioned devices, and wherein the acoustic signatures are associated with respective sets of executable instructions for provisioning the non-provisioned devices;
receiving from the one or more sensor devices a first acoustic signal characterized by a respective acoustic signature and generated by a first one of a plurality of passive tags; and
in response to the receiving:
comparing one or more respective characteristics of the respective acoustic signature of the first acoustic signal with one or more respective characteristics of one or more of the stored acoustic signatures from the database;
identifying, from the one or more acoustic signatures from the database, a matching acoustic signature that satisfies a match criterion, wherein the matching acoustic signature is associated with a first non-provisioned device of the non-provisioned devices and a first set of the respective sets of executable instructions corresponding to the first non-provisioned device;
identifying the first non-provisioned device asso

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Tannenbaum Harry
• Irvine Benjamin
• Sayadi Shayan
• Singer James Vanhook

Classifications

• G06F16/683

  using metadata automatically derived from the content · CPC title

• G05B2219/2642

  Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house · CPC title

• G06K19/0675

  the resonating marks being of the surface acoustic wave [SAW] kind (SAW devices per se H03H9/64) · CPC title

• G05B15/02 Primary

  electric · CPC title

• H04L12/2816

  Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities (arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00) · CPC title