US 10541883

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 10541883:

Title: Playback device connection

Assignee: The original assignee is Sonos Inc. As of October 15, 2021, a security agreement assigned the patent to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Inventors: Nicholas A. J. Millington and Paul V. Hainsworth.

Filing Date: March 11, 2019.

Issue Date: January 21, 2020.

Abstract: An example playback device includes programming to perform functions including detecting a triggering event that causes the playback device to transmit a first message indicating that the playback device is available for setup. The functions also include receiving a response to the first message that facilitates establishing an initial communication path with a computing device operating on a secure wireless local area network (WLAN), where the initial communication path is outside of the secure WLAN. The functions also include receiving, from the computing device via the initial communication path, a second message containing network configuration parameters for the secure WLAN including an identifier of, and a security key for, the secure WLAN. The functions also include using the network configuration parameters to connect to the secure WLAN and transitioning from communicating with the computing device via the initial communication path to communicating with the computing device via the secure WLAN.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a method for a playback device to connect to a secure wireless network. The method involves the playback device detecting a specific event that prompts it to send a message indicating it's ready for setup. It then receives a response that helps set up a temporary communication link with a computing device; this temporary link is separate from the main secure wireless network. Over this temporary link, the playback device receives network settings (like the network name and password) for the secure network. Finally, the playback device uses these settings to join the secure network and switches its communication with the computing device from the temporary link to the secure network.

• Claim 10 (Non-Transitory Computer Readable Medium): This claim covers a computer-readable storage medium (like a memory chip) that contains instructions. When a playback device executes these instructions, it performs the same method described in Claim 1: detecting a triggering event, transmitting a setup message, establishing a temporary communication path outside the secure WLAN, receiving network configuration parameters over that path, using them to connect to the secure WLAN, and transitioning communication to the secure WLAN.

• Claim 19 (Playback Device): This claim defines a playback device itself, including its hardware components (a network interface, a processor, and memory). The memory stores instructions which, when run by the processor, cause the playback device to execute the same sequence of actions as detailed in Claim 1: detecting a triggering event, sending a setup message, forming an initial communication path outside the secure WLAN, receiving secure WLAN configuration from a computing device via that path, connecting to the secure WLAN using those parameters, and then switching its communication to be directly over the secure WLAN.

USPTO Database Search: The information for this patent, including its details and status, is available via the USPTO's Patent Public Search tools.

CAFC 2026 Dockets: A search of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 did not reveal any specific cases involving patent 10541883.