Method and apparatus utilizing bluetooth protocols for the remote setting of IP network parameters

• US 20030108017A1
• Filed: 12/10/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telcordia Legacy Inc.
• Original Assignee: Telcordia Technologies Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson), Toshiba Corporation
• Inventors: Famolari, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,042,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

An efficient method and apparatus for rapidly and flexibly setting, on a remote basis, the value of a selected IP parameter(s) in each of a plurality of networked computing devices within a local proximity to support transmission using the IP protocol. In an illustrative embodiment wherein each device is connectable to a common backbone network, each device is also provided with an interface that supports radio transmission using Bluetooth protocols. The desired setting of the selected IP parameter for each device is implemented by means of a prescribed sequence of suitable Bluetooth messages transmitted by a common remote Bluetooth terminal.

Claims

1. A method of configuring an IP network containing a plurality of computing devices each connectable to a backbone network, each device having a first interface for establishing a Bluetooth connection, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting to each device, through its first interface, a first Bluetooth message suitable for discovering at least one network-relevant characteristic of the device;

recording first indicia respectively indicative of the discovered characteristic for each device;

generating, for each device, a second Bluetooth message representing a selectable value of at least one IP parameter with which the device may be configured, the second Bluetooth message being in a form suitable for commanding the associated device to correspondingly set the associated IP parameter;

selecting the value of the IP parameter for each device consistent with the recorded first indicia for such device; and

transmitting each second Bluetooth message to the associated device through its first interface.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, in which the steps of the method are executed with a hand-held Bluetooth terminal.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, in which the IP parameter is the IP address of the associated device.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, in which the IP parameter is the MAC address of the associated device.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, in which the IP parameter is the IP name of the associated device.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, in which the IP parameter is the common Bluetooth name of the associated device.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, in which the IP parameter is the identity of a default gateway.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, in which the IP parameter is the location of a DNS server.

9. A method of configuring an IP network containing a first plurality of computing devices each connectable to a backbone network, each device having a first interface for establishing a Bluetooth connection, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting to each device, through its first interface, a first Bluetooth message suitable for discovering at least one network-relevant characteristic of the device;

recording first indicia indicative of the discovered characteristic for each of the devices;

generating second indicia indicative of a selectable value of at least one IP parameter with which each device may be configured,

selecting the second indicia for each device consistent with the recorded first indicia for such device;

generating, for each device, a second Bluetooth message reflecting the corresponding second indicia, the second Bluetooth message being in a form suitable for commanding the associated device to correspondingly set the associated IP parameter; and

transmitting each second Bluetooth message to the associated device through its first interface.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, in which the first plurality of devices form part of a larger second plurality of devices each having the first and second interfaces, and in which the method further comprises the step, prior to the first Bluetooth message transmitting step, of interrogating the second plurality of devices with a Bluetooth inquiry to seek responses from devices within Bluetooth range, whereby only the first plurality of devices respond to such inquiry.

11. A method as defined in claim 9, in which the IP parameter is the IP address of the associated device.

12. A method as defined in claim 9, in which the IP parameter is the MAC address of the associated device.

13. A method as defined in claim 9, in which the IP parameter is the IP name of the associated device.

14. A method as defined in claim 9 in which the IP parameter is the common Bluetooth name of the associated device.

15. A method as defined in claim 9, in which the IP parameter is the identity of a default gateway.

16. A method as defined in claim 9, in which the IP parameter is the location of a DNS server.

17. For use in updating the configuration of an IP network containing a plurality of computing devices each connectable to a backbone network, each device having a first interface for establishing a Bluetooth connection, a Bluetooth terminal which comprises:

means for transmitting to each device, through its first interface, a first Bluetooth message suitable for discovering the current state of at least one preselected IP parameter with which such device may be configured;

means for recording first indicia respectively indicative of the discovered current state of the IP parameter for each device;

means for selecting a desired state of the IP parameter for at least a first one of the devices;

means responsive to the selecting means for updating the first indicia for the first device to reflect the desired state of the corresponding IP parameter;

means responsive to the updating means for generating a second Bluetooth message suitable for commanding the first device to alter the relevant IP parameter consistent with the updating of the corresponding first indicia;

and means for transmitting the second Bluetooth message to the first device through its first interface.