Systems and methods to use digital assistant to join network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10848392-B2
Application number	US-201815897903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2018
Priority date	Feb 15, 2018
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

In one aspect, a first device includes a processor and storage accessible to the processor. The storage includes instructions executable by the processor to receive, via a digital assistant, input pertaining a second device joining a network. The instructions are also executable by the processor to use the input to assist the second device in joining the network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A first device, comprising:
at least one processor;
a microphone accessible to the at least one processor; and
storage accessible to the at least one processor and comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to:
execute a digital assistant;
receive, via the microphone, voice input pertaining to a second device different from the first device; and
based on the voice input, use the digital assistant to permit the second device to join a local area network (LAN);
wherein the voice input indicates a password; and
wherein the password is a one-time use password sent from a network access point to the second device, the network access point one or more of: being in communication with the first device, being operated by the first device.

2. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the voice input indicates information that identifies the second device.

3. The first device of claim 2 , wherein the information that identifies the second device comprises one or more of: a media access control (MAC) address for the second device, an Internet protocol (IP) address for the second device.

4. The first device of claim 2 , wherein the information that identifies the second device comprises an end user-designated name for the second device.

5. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the voice input comprises a command for the second device to be permitted to join the LAN.

6. The first device of claim 5 , wherein the instructions are executable by the at least one processor to:
provide, responsive to receipt of the voice command, information indicated in the voice input to the network access point to permit the second device to join the LAN.

7. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the LAN comprises a Wi-Fi network.

8. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the at least one processor to:
based on the voice input, execute voice recognition to identify a particular user as providing the voice input; and
responsive to identification of the particular user, use the digital assistant to permit the second device to join the LAN.

9. The first device of claim 1 , comprising network access point hardware that operates the LAN.

10. The first device of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are executable by the at least one processor to:
control the network access point hardware to permit the second device to communicate over the LAN for a threshold non-zero period of time that is not indefinite.

11. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable to:
present, on a display, a graphical user interface (GUI) for configuring one or more settings of the first device, the GUI comprising an option that is selectable to enable the first device to receive respective voice inputs indicating respective passwords and to use the digital assistant to permit respective devices to join the LAN based on the respective voice inputs.

12. A method, comprising:
receiving, via a digital assistant, voice input pertaining to a device for the device to join a local area network (LAN);
recognizing the voice input as indicating a request for a password to join the LAN; and
using, based on the voice input, the digital assistant to permit the device to join the LAN at least in part by audibly providing a one-time use password responsive to receipt of the request for the password.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising:
providing the one-time use password to a network access point that manages access to the LAN.

14. The method of claim 12 , comprising:
recognizing the voice input as indicating identifying information for the device; and
providing the identifying information to a network access point that manages access to the LAN.

15. The method of claim 12 , comprising:
executing voice recognition to identify a preregistered user as providing the voice input; and
communicating, responsive to identifying the preregistered user via the voice input, with a network access point that manages access to the LAN to permit the device to join the LAN.

16. The method of claim 12 , comprising:
executing voice recognition to identify a non-adult as providing the voice input; and
refusing, responsive to identifying the non-adult as providing the voice input, to communicate with the network access point to permit the device to join the LAN.

17. The method of claim 12 , comprising:
presenting, on a display, a graphical user interface (GUI) for configuring one or more settings of the digital assistant, the GUI comprising an option that is selectable to enable the digital assistant to audibly provide respective one-time use passwords responsive to receipt of respective requests for passwords to join the LAN.

18. A computer readable storage medium (CRSM) that is not a transitory signal, the computer readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by at least one processor of a first device to:
receive, via a digital assistant, voice input pertaining a second device joining a network, the second device being different from the first device, wherein the voice input comprises a request for a password to join the network; and
use the voice input to assist the second device in joining the network at least in part by audibly providing the password responsive to receipt of the request for the password.

19. The CRSM of claim 18 , wherein the password is a one-time use password.

20. The CRSM of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are executable to:
present, on a display, a graphical user interface (GUI) for configuring one or more settings of the digital assistant, the GUI comprising an option that is selectable to enable the digital assistant to audibly provide respective passwords responsive to receipt of respective requests for passwords to join the network.

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Kapinos Robert James
• Li Scott Wentao
• Kingsbury Timothy Winthrop
• Vanblon Russell Speight

Classifications

• G06F3/167 Primary

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G10L17/00

  Speaker identification or verification techniques · CPC title

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04W12/06

  Authentication · CPC title

• H04L41/22 Primary

  comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title