Patent Application
20070274074
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for provisioning and maintaining a network communications device. In particular, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing visual signals corresponding to the status of a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) terminal adapter.
In just a short time, VoIP has revolutionized the availability of affordable and advanced high-quality audio and visual communications. As VoIP has grown more popular, the size and complexity of service provider networks has increased immensely to handle the increased call volume and various service enhancements made possible by VoIP. As service (and/or equipment) provider networks grow, the task of provisioning service and maintaining it for a large customer base presents technological, logistical, and business challenges.
One example of prior art architecture for the remote end of a VoIP service provider network typically includes a connection device connected between a PSTN-based telephone and the network. The connection device translates analog signals required for the PSTN-based telephones and digital signals transmitted over the network. A failure in the ability to communicate (e.g., component failure, improper connection to the network or a power source, poor network traffic conditions and the like) is highly undesirable. If such condition occurs, it requires extensive assistance to be provided to the end user by service personnel. Further, these service personnel working remotely (e.g., over the phone, via an online “chat” session and the like) encounter difficulties when trying to properly diagnose the technical issues based on the performance issues as described by an end user. In the frequent case that these symptoms or descriptions are incomplete or inaccurate, time and other resources are wasted in attempting to provide a solution to the problem. As a result, customer frustration from expending their effort to deal with service problems grows. This situation often leads to customer churn, which consequently places financial stress on service providers to grow or maintain their services or networks.
Accordingly, there is a need in industry for technological solutions to improve and simplify end user experience in the setup and use of connection devices, especially those used for VoIP, and VoIP services.
Various disclosed embodiments are generally directed to a system for and a method of communicating a status of a device in a packet-based communication network. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed, including detecting a device condition, and generating a visual signal corresponding to the device condition. In certain embodiments, generating the visual signal includes illuminating a light source with a color and according to a cadence. In other embodiments, the generating the visual signal includes illuminating a plurality of light sources according to a cadence.
Various aspects of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying exemplary non-limiting embodiments, wherein:
One aspect of the present disclosure includes communicating a status of a device in a packet-based communication network. In one embodiment of the invention, the packet-based communication network is a VoIP network that establishes voice communication sessions according to the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). SIP messages are exchanged between a VoIP service provider via one or more database and proxy servers) and one or more end users (via a network terminal adapter (TA)) to establish the communication session. One aspect of communicating a status in accordance with the subject invention includes detecting a TA device status. Another aspect includes generating a visual signal corresponding to the TA device status. Yet another aspect includes illuminating a light source with a color. An additional aspect includes illuminating a light source according to a cadence. A further aspect includes illuminating a plurality of light sources. Moreover, another aspect includes illuminating a plurality of light sources according to a cadence. In each aspect, the light source(s) are disposed either on the device whose status is being conveyed, on a display or panel separate from the device or a combination of these options.
Various disclosed embodiments advantageously enable the conveyance of device status information through visual cues using a light source. Categories of device status conditions include, but are not limited to, device actions in progress, successful actions, failed actions, device errors, software errors, firmware errors, network errors, and system errors.
Further, device status conditions include, but are not limited to the following:
In embodiments including a single light source, the single light source is preferably a multi-color light-emitting diode (LED). Generally, suitable light sources include, but are not limited to, lamps, fiber optics, and LEDs. Alternatively, a single source includes an array of single-color light sources, including, but not limited to, single-color LEDs. In embodiments including a plurality of light sources, the plurality of light sources include, but are not limited to, single-color and multi-color light sources.
Suitable light source colors include any color including white. Color choices may be constrained, for example, by the price or availability of certain colored light sources or color filters for use with an uncolored light source. Optionally, light source colors are chosen in accordance with generally-accepted color-associations. For example, green is optionally used to represent a good, normal, or working condition/status, yellow is optionally used to represent a cautionary status, and red is optionally used to represent a warning, problem, failure, or error status. Alternatively, colors are chosen according to a branding strategy. For example, blue and orange colors are optionally used to correspond to a corporate color scheme of a VoIP service or device provider.
In addition to color, a light source is operated according to a cadence or pattern to further convey device status information. Cadence includes a variety of factors, including an on/off status, blink frequency, blink intensity, blink patterns, pauses, and sequence repetition. In one embodiment, the cadence is constant illumination (the light is kept on, for example, as long as a predetermined device status exists). In another embodiment, the cadence includes at least one blink at a predetermined frequency. In yet another embodiment, the cadence includes blinks separated by a pause. In certain embodiments with more than one light source, the cadences of a predetermined number of light sources are optionally synchronized, offset, or operated in sequence. Further, sequences or patterns such as those described above are optionally repeated until a device status changes.
Using various combinations of the disclosed light sources, colors, and cadences, a variety of device status conditions are unambiguously communicated to an observer, such as an end-user. Accordingly, network & device conditions can be more easily determined and problems diagnosed. For example, during a troubleshooting session between service personnel and an end user, the end user can “read” the device status based on the color, frequency and cadence of the light sources and relay this information to the service personnel. In one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of different TA devices exist, yet they all contain the same visual signaling protocol so that diagnosis of a problem can rapidly be determined without having to consult various manufacturer brochures or specifications.
The table below illustrates various exemplary implementations of LED blink sequences used in a VoIP TA device communicating according to the SIP protocol:
*When there is data activity, the WAN light will blink
**When there is voice activity, the PHONE light will blink
***When there is wireless activity, the WIRELESS light will blink
Upon detection of a voice error condition, an LED 201 blinks according to a predetermined cadence. If the LED is a single color, the LED is optionally red. If the LED is multi-color, the LED optionally selects to illuminate red. In one embodiment, the predetermined cadence includes a first blink at 1 Hz (where a blink includes an on-state and an off-state completed in approximately a second) 291, a pause of a predetermined length (for instance, 1 second) 293, and a second blink at 1 Hz 295. Optionally, the first and second blinks are at first and second predetermined blink frequencies. The first and second predetermined blink frequencies are optionally different. Further, the sequence optionally repeats for the duration of the detected condition.
Upon detection of a successful registration and not ready device condition, a first voice light 307 and a second voice light 309 illuminate in unison according to predetermined cadences. Optionally, the predetermined cadences are staggered or different. In one embodiment, the predetermined cadence includes rapid blinking at a predetermined frequency. Preferably, the predetermined frequency is 3 Hz (where a blink includes an on-state and an off-state completed three times in approximately a second). The predetermined frequencies are optionally different for the first voice light 307 and the second voice light 309. Further, the sequence optionally repeats for the duration of the detected condition. If a multicolor LED is used, the color optionally cycles through the available colors of the LED.
Further, if the condition of the power is good or normal, the power LED 311 is optionally illuminated green for a constant duration. The LED is optionally illuminated using any suitable color. Similarly, if the wide-area network, local-area network, and wireless conditions were good or normal, then the WAN LED 301, the LAN LED 303, and the WRL LED 305 are optionally illuminated for a constant duration. Illumination of the LEDs is optionally green or any other color.
The TA device 401 further includes a timing device 417 and a driving circuit 419. The driving circuit 419 is configured to selectively illuminate the light source or plurality of light sources according to color and/or cadence. The TA device 401 optionally includes a textual or graphical display 421. Optionally, the display 421 is used to convey status or condition information in addition to, or in place of, the light source 403. The display optionally uses graphical display icons for these functions.
In selected embodiments, the TA device 401 includes an interface 491. The interface is optionally used to transmit device status/condition information and other data from the TA device 401 to an external device such as a computer, diagnostic equipment, or external display. Further, the interface optionally receives data or information for reconfiguring various operational aspects of the TA device 401. These operational aspects include, but are not limited to, the color and cadence of various status displays using the light 403, plurality of lights, or optional display 421.
In various embodiments, the cordless device includes a textual or graphical display 521. Optionally, the display 521 is used to convey status or condition information in addition to, or in place of, the light source 503. The display 521 optionally uses graphical display icons for these functions. The number of light sources or icons is optionally chosen in accordance with the number of device conditions desired to be communicated. Optionally, the network communications device includes a charging dock or receiver 599. The dock/receiver is operably connected to the Internet via a computer, a router, a repeater, or other networked device. A condition detector is optionally included in either the cordless device 501 or the dock 599. Alternatively, a condition detector is included in both the cordless device 501 and the dock 599. If the condition detector is included separate from the light source 503 (or plurality of light sources) or the display 521 (if the display is used to convey device conditions), then communications channels between the device 501 and dock/receiver 599 are utilized to convey detected operational condition signals to one or more light sources for generating a visual signal corresponding to the device condition.
Additional device statuses or conditions are optionally represented by additional light sources, colors, and cadences. Alternate cadences include various combinations of blinks at predetermined frequencies or irregular intervals, pauses, and illumination held for a predetermined duration.
In alternative embodiments, the intensity of illumination of a light source is used to provide an additional dimension of visual information, for instance, to represent additional device conditions or sub-conditions. For example, intensity is optionally altered instead of, or in addition to, the color or cadence. Further, pulsing or oscillating the light source at irregular or changing frequencies is also optionally employed.
Process descriptions or blocks in flow charts may be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of computer software or code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process, and alternate implementations (including implementations without a computer) are included within the scope of the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure.
It may be emphasized that the above-described embodiments, particularly any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present disclosure and protected by the following claims.
The embodiments disclosed herein for provisioning and maintaining a network device can be implemented using computer usable medium having a computer readable code executed by special purpose or general purpose computers.
The disclosure claims the filing-date benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/763,886, filed Feb. 1, 2006, the specification of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60763886 | Feb 2006 | US |
