Device and communication connection method for connecting multiple devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11032862-B2
Application number	US-201815923362-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2018
Priority date	Apr 11, 2017
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A device for controlling a communication interface and a method therefor are provided. The device includes a communication interface, a memory, and a processor to control the communication interface and the memory. The memory may store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the operations of connecting with an electronic apparatus via the communication interface by using first data stored in the memory, receiving identification information of an access point from the electronic apparatus, connecting with the access point by using the identification information of the access point, connecting with a server by using the identification information of the access point, receiving second identification information of the electronic apparatus from the server and storing the received second identification information in the memory, and when disconnected from the access point, connecting with the electronic apparatus by using the second identification information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device management system comprising:
a first device;
a second device;
an electronic apparatus;
an access point; and
a server configured to manage a user account and register the first device and the second device under the user account,
wherein the electronic apparatus is configured to:
store identification information of the access point in a memory of the electronic apparatus, and
transmit the identification information of the access point,

wherein each of the first device and the second device is configured to:
receive the identification information of the access point transmitted from the electronic apparatus,
establish a communication link with the access point by using the identification information of the access point, and
access the server via the access point,

wherein the electronic apparatus is further configured to:
store an updated identification information of the access point, and
transmit the updated identification information of the access point based on disconnecting the communication link with the access point.

2. An electronic apparatus configured to support a communicative connection of a first device and a second device and allow the first device and the second device to connect with a first access point, the electronic apparatus comprising:
a communication interface;
a memory; and
at least one processor configured to control the communication interface and the memory,
wherein the memory is configured to store instructions and, in response to the at least one processor executing the instructions, the at least one processor is further configured to control the electronic apparatus to perform operations comprising:
storing first identification information of the first access point in the memory,
transmitting the first identification information of the first access point to the first device and the second device for allowing the first device and the second device to establish a first communication link with the first access point,
storing updated second identification information of a second access point, and
transmitting the second identification information of the second access point to the first device and the second device based on disconnecting the communication link with the first access point for allowing the first device and the second device to establish a second communication link with the second access point.

3. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first identification information of the first access point includes a first service set identifier (SSID) of the first access point, and the second identification information of the second access point includes a second service set identifier (SSID) of the second access point.

4. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform an operation of transmitting information relating to the first device communicatively connected with the electronic apparatus and the second device communicatively connected with the electronic apparatus to a server.

5. A communication setting method of a device management system, the communication setting method comprising:
storing identification information of an access point with which an electronic apparatus is communicatively connected in a memory of the electronic apparatus;
transmitting, by the electronic apparatus, the identification information of the access point; and
receiving, by a device, the identification information of the access point transmitted from the electronic apparatus,
establishing, by the device, a communication link with the access point by using the identification information of the access point;
accessing, by the device, a server via the access point,
storing, by the electronic apparatus, an updated identification information of the access point; and
transmitting, by the electronic apparatus, the updated identification information of the access point based on disconnecting the communication link with the access point.

6. A communication setting supporting method of an electronic apparatus, the communication setting supporting method comprising:
storing first identification information of a first access point in a memory of the electronic apparatus;
transmitting the first identification information of the first access point to a plurality of home appliances via a communication interface of the electronic apparatus for allowing the plurality of the home appliances to establish a first communication link with the first access point;
storing second identification information of a second access point; and
transmitting the second identification information of the second access point based on disconnecting the first communication link with the first access point for allowing the plurality of the home appliances to establish a second communication link with the second access point.

7. The communication setting supporting method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first identification information of the first access point includes a first service set identifier (SSID) of the first access point, and the second identification information of the second access point includes a second service set identifier (SSID) of the second access point.

8. The communication setting supporting method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:
transmitting information, relating to the plurality of the home appliances communicatively connected with the electronic apparatus, to a server.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kang Hee-Jun

Classifications

• H04W76/11 Primary

  Allocation or use of connection identifiers · CPC title

• H04W48/08 Primary

  Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery (signalling during connection H04W76/00) · CPC title

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04W88/08

  Access point devices · CPC title

• H04W76/15 Primary

  Setup of multiple wireless link connections · CPC title